FORT WORTH, Texas –
On April 21, Naval Information Force Reserve (NAVIFORES) honored its youngest heroes with a special “Bring Your Child to Work Day” celebration, held in recognition of the Month of the Military Child. Hosted at NAVIFORES headquarters in Fort Worth, the event welcomed the children of military and civilian personnel for a day of fun, recognition, and heartfelt appreciation.
Organized by the command’s Social Committee, the event transformed the command’s workspace into a cheerful and lively atmosphere. NAVIFORES is an Echelon III Reserve TYCOM dedicated to warfighting excellence by ensuring the Information Force Reserve is always “Ready on Day One.” Our building, which is usually filled with the quiet rhythm of typing and meetings instead echoed with the sounds of laughter and playful chatter. The day featured a movie screening, Easter egg hunt, photo booth, and lunch for attendees. The event coincided with a local school holiday, to ensure maximum participation of children and their families.
“Our greatest asset is our people, and that includes their families,” said RADM Greg Emery, CNIFR. “Military children make sacrifices that are often difficult to see. Today gave us a chance to pause and recognize their resilience and unique sacrifices.”
April is officially recognized as the Month of the Military Child, a Department of Defense initiative started in 1986 by then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. The month honors the more than 1.6 million military children worldwide, many of whom grow up moving every two to three years, navigating new schools and communities, and enduring long periods of separation from loved ones.
Participants in the day’s event wore purple, a color that holds special significance during this month. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all military branches and represents unity among military children from Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force families. Wearing purple during April is a visual way to show support and solidarity with these children and the shared experiences they navigate.
YN1 Matthew Gallagher, Social Committee President, said the team was proud to organize the event: “It was truly an honor to help bring this together. When the Secretary of the Navy encouraged commands to mark the Month of the Military Child, we knew we wanted to create something meaningful.” HM1 Remi Jaramillo, Vice President of the committee, added, “We wanted our kids to feel seen and appreciated—and based on the smiles, I think we did just that.”
LS1 Olin Gamble attended the event with his son and daughter. “This was a great opportunity to recognize the sacrifices families make behind the scenes,” he said. “Balancing service and parenthood is no small task. And I sincerely appreciate the family-friendly command climate we have.”
When asked how she enjoyed the day, LS1 Gamble’s young daughter didn’t hesitate: “I had so much fun!”
CNIFR was proud to join the Department of Defense and military communities around the world in celebrating the Month of the Military Child, recognizing not just the service of those in uniform, but also the strength, adaptability, and heart of those who support them from home.