WHAT IS A MILITARY BRAT? (Definition)

A Military Brat Is:"

  • A child (any age) of an active-duty service member

  • A child (any age) regardless of discharged status

  • A child (any age) of a Reserve or National Guard member

  • A child (any age) of a Coast Guard member or auxiliary member

  • A child (any age) with a deployed parent

  • An adult (any age) who grew up as a military brat

  • A spouse (any age) of an active-duty or veteran service member

  • A guardian or caregiver raising a military-connected child

““The ‘brat’ identity doesn’t expire. You’re a military brat at 10, 25, 45, 65, and beyond.””
— Brat Corps

ELIGIBLE AGE GROUPS & PROGRAMS

BRANCH & SERVICE STATUS ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility Note:

Brat Corps™ | Battle of the Bases™ believes military-brat identity and lived experience extend beyond discharge classifications or individual service circumstances. Children and family members of veterans who did not receive an honorable discharge are not automatically excluded from participation consideration.

If you have questions regarding eligibility or unique family circumstances, please contact us directly at eligibility@bratcorps.com. Every inquiry is reviewed individually with compassion, privacy, and respect for the military-connected experience.

Active-Duty (All Branches)

  • U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard

  • Stateside, overseas, deployed – all eligible

  • [View active-duty bases with teams] (link to map or list)

Reserve & National Guard

  • Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Space Force Reserve

  • Army National Guard, Air National Guard

  • Active drill members and dependents qualify

Coast Guard & Auxiliary

  • Active-duty and reserve Coast Guard families

  • Coast Guard Auxiliary members' dependents fully eligible and celebrated

  • [Find Coast Guard teams] (link)

Veterans (Honorably Discharged)

  • Children of honorably discharged veterans eligible

  • No time limit (Vietnam-era, Gulf War, post-9/11, all eras welcome)

  • Parents must be honorably discharged (note on disqualification: dishonorable discharge – contact for case review)

Deployed Parents

  • Youth with currently deployed parents qualify, regardless of branch/component

Military Spouses

  • Spouses (any age) of active-duty or veteran service members welcome

BASE REPRESENTATION FOR VETERAN BRATS

How Do Veteran Brats Represent?"

"Military families move every 2–3 years. When your parent leaves active duty, you might move to a civilian community or stay near a base. Battle of the Bases™ ensures you always have a home base, even when your parent isn't active-duty anymore."

  • (Recommended for Most Veteran Brats)

    What it is:

    • Permanent national hub for all veteran-connected military brats

    • Home base for any brat whose parent is honorably discharged or no longer stationed on active base

    • Nationwide online community and regional tournament access

    • No geographic limitations

    • Veteran brats in civilian communities (not near bases)

    • Multiple-PCS families without a "last station" affiliation

    • Brats whose parents served multiple eras (want unified identity)

    • International veteran brats

    • National hub access (Twitch, Discord, mentorship)

    • Regional tournament participation (online or travel to nearest regional)

    • Guaranteed team affiliation (never "baseout")

    • Lifetime connection to military-brat community

    • Eligible for national championships

  • At registration, choose: [Veteran Brat – HQ Post #1 (National)

    • Represent your parent's last duty assignment as your team affiliation

    • Honors military heritage and family legacy

    • Regional qualifiers tie to last-station geography (logistics permitting)

    • Creates connection to parent's military community

    • Brats with strong connection to parent's last base

    • Families living near parent's last base (even after they left)

    • Brats wanting to honor specific military heritage

    • Example: "Dad retired from Fort Bragg; we still live in Fayetteville, NC"

    • Legacy team affiliation (Fort Bragg Brat Post, Naval Station Norfolk Brat Post, etc.)

    • Potential local base connections for mentorship/watch parties

    • Regional qualifiers in familiar geography

    • Honors parent's service at specific location

  • At registration, choose: [Veteran Brat – Last PCS Station] and enter base name from dropdown

  • Select your parent's last duty station:

    • Fort Hood (Texas)

    • Naval Base San Diego (California)

    • Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Hawaii)

    • Ramstein Air Base (Germany)

    • Naval Station Norfolk (Virginia)

    • Fort Bragg (North Carolina)

    • 100+ more bases

    Example: "Parent retired from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in 2015. Family now lives in Honolulu. Veteran brat registers as Pearl Harbor Legacy Brat Post. Competes locally in Hawaii region, qualifies for nationals if top placement achieved."

    • As regional Brat Posts open (San Diego Brat Post, DC Metro Brat Post, Chicago Brat Post, etc.), veteran brats in those regions can transition to local representation

    • Combines veteran brats + active-duty brats in same geographic area

    • Provides stronger local community and mentorship

    • 2027: HQ Post #1 is primary veteran hub

    • 2028+: Regional Brat Posts launch in major metro areas (San Diego, DC, Chicago, Austin, etc.)

    • Veteran brats can transition from HQ Post #1 to regional post

    • Veteran brats in major metro areas

    • Families wanting local, in-person community

    • Post-XO and Heritage members looking for regional leadership roles

  • In 2027, veteran brat competes as HQ Post #1. In 2028, San Diego Brat Post launches. Brat transitions to San Diego Brat Post, competes locally with mix of active-duty (San Diego bases) and veteran brats, gains regional mentorship.

Last PCS Station (Optional Legacy Choice)

OPTION 3: Regional Affiliate Post (Future Option, 2028+)

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATION

STEP 1: SELECT YOUR MILITARY STATUS:

  • Active-Duty (Current duty station)

  • Veteran / Honorably Discharged

  • Reserve / National Guard (Active)

  • Spouse of Service Member

STEP 2: If you selected "Veteran" or "Honorably Discharged": SELECT YOUR BASE REPRESENTATION:

  • HQ Post #1 (Permanent National Hub) "Choose this if you're in a civilian community or want national affiliation"

  • Last PCS Station (Legacy Choice) Select from dropdown: [Fort Hood, Naval Base San Diego, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, ...]

  • Regional Affiliate Post (Available 2028+) "Check back in 2028 if regional posts are launching in your area" [See list of planned regional posts]

STEP 3: If you selected "Active-Duty" or "Reserve":

SELECT YOUR CURRENT DUTY STATION: Dropdown of 50+ active bases

EXAMPLE SCENARIOS (Critical for Understanding)

Brat Corps™ | Battle of the Bases™ Will Not Discriminate Against:

  • Branch of service (all branches welcome, including Coast Guard)

  • Reserve component status (Reserve, National Guard, active duty—all equal)

  • Discharge status (honorably discharged veterans only; dishonorable discharge – case review)

  • Geographic location (stateside, overseas, deployed—all welcome)

  • Family structure (single-parent, two-parent, guardians, foster families—all welcome)

  • Socioeconomic status (full scholarships and waivers available)

  • Ability or neurodiversity (comprehensive accessibility and adaptive options available)

WHAT WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST

Big Ideas, Real Impact.

How Do We Verify Military-Brat Status

At registration, you'll provide one of the following:

    • Military dependent ID (active-duty family card)

    • Copy of parent's military orders or current duty station confirmation

    • DD214 (Certificate of Honorable Discharge) or discharge paperwork

    • Birth certificate or legal documentation linking you to service member

    • Current military orders or membership card

    • Reserve/NG unit confirmation from parent

    • Coast Guard ID or Auxiliary documentation

    • Current orders or discharge papers

    • Marriage certificate

    • Spouse's military ID or discharge papers

    • Current military orders or deployment letter

    • All documents handled securely (encrypted, HIPAA-compliant)

    • No documents shared with sponsors or media

    • Verification for eligibility purposes only