Our Military Kids (OMK) is a national nonprofit group that provides extracurricular activity scholarships to children and teens (ages 3-18) of deployed National Guard and Reserve and post-9/11 combat-injured veterans in treatment. OMK has expanded its eligibility criteria to include children of post-9/11 combat wounded, ill or injured veterans with a VA individual disability rating of 30% or higher who are receiving treatment for a presumptive condition outlined in the PACT Act.

"The PACT Act is crucial for our veteran community to seek the health care they need as a result of service to our country," said OMK Executive Director Kara Dallman, a Navy veteran. "We are grateful to be able to offer their children a positive outlet during an extremely stressful time in their young lives."

Since 2008, OMK has awarded nearly 11,000 extracurricular activity grants to children of combat-injured service members. Earlier this year, OMK awarded the first two activity grants of this program expansion to the children of a veteran with a medical condition caused by toxic exposure while deployed in 2005.

"It's changed our lives in a lot of ways, but we try to make the best of it," said their mother. "Getting involved in (their activities) challenges them and puts them in a place where they feel successful."

Julian, 17, is funding an exclusive percussion group with his OMK grant to advance his skills and pursue his passion for music, which has been "a great emotional outlet." Faith, 12, is using her OMK grant to cover swim team fees, keeping her active and connected to friends and mentors.

Your child(ren) are eligible if you are a

1. Post-9/11 veteran or service member in any branch of service who sustained combat related injuries; and
2. Have a disability rating of at least 30% or more in one of the following categories of TBI, PTSD, amputation, spinal cord injury, burns, mental health or one of the presumptive conditions outlined in the PACT Act; and
3. Are actively engaged in treatment for your injury. 

How to apply

Eligible applicants can visit OMK's website to submit an online application or download a PDF of the application. Hard-copy applications are accepted through mail, fax or email. The required documents with the application are a

• Case Manager/Medical Practitioner treatment letter on official letterhead/dated/signed verifying the veteran is continuing treatment for his/her combat-related injuries
• Individual VA disability ratings, not a combined overall rating
• DD214
• Form of ID for child showing the child is the veteran's dependent (ex., birth certificate or eBenefits profile page listing dependents)
• Documentation verifying the cost of the activity (ex., brochure, flyer, registration form)

Learn more about the application process and required documentation on OMK's website.

What to expect after application

Once your application(s) are received, it takes two weeks to fully process the grant(s). If there are any questions or missing documentation, OMK staff will contact you by email or phone. After the grant(s) are approved, each child will receive his or her own approval packet in the mail that includes a personalized award certificate, dog tags, an iron-on patch and a check made out to the activity provider. The veteran's family has the responsibility to hand-deliver the check to the activity provider.