Date:    3/22/04
Contact: Barbara Brown, (803) 773-5561; babrwn@clemson.edu
Writer:  Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876; sbeding@clemson.edu

Military families reap benefit
of Clemson Extension grant

	CLEMSON - Military families in Richland, Charleston and Sumter 
Counties will reap the benefits of a $23,000 grant to Clemson Extension
for 4-H programming at three military facilities.
	The 4-H Military Program is funded by a partnership grant 
shared among the United States Department of Agriculture, Unites States 
Army Child and Youth Services and United States Air Force Family Member 
Programs. It will be implemented at Fort Jackson, Charleston Air Force 
Base (AFB) and Shaw AFB.
	"Extension will expand opportunities to share resources that 
will give support to all military families and offer ongoing support, 
training and partnership opportunities with youth centers on these 
bases," said Barbara Brown, Extension agent and 4-H Military liaison.	
	According to recent reports, more than 5,000 youths are located 
at Fort Jackson, 2,000 children connected to Charleston AFB and records 
indicate Shaw AFB houses almost 12,000 dependents.
	Although Fort Jackson is a training facility, the grant will be
used to provide a positive youth development experience to the families
of new recruits by providing 4-H programs at base facilities.
	"We have worked with Extension and had 4-H clubs at Fort 
Jackson for about five years in each of the curriculum areas: fine 
arts, science and technology, citizenship and photography," said Craig 
Plowman, Fort Jackson Youth Service Center director. "Having these 
educational materials available is wonderful for our youth. We look 
forward to working more closely with Extension. I would like the 
children here at Fort Jackson to be able to attend more 4-H activities 
off the base."
	Charleston AFB has the highest deployment rate from May to 
October. This deployment caused a time and care burden for the single 
parent left while the children are home from school. Extension will 
work with youth center staff at the AFB to develop a plan for 4-H and 
offer youths and parents options for after school programming.
	The key mission of Shaw AFB is to offer air combat power 
support from its four squadrons of the 20th Fighter Wing to the Persian 
Gulf area. Deployment is commonplace. Working with the Shaw AFB Youth 
Center director, Extension will offer programs to the children and 
families of base personnel.  
	"We are also in the process of seeing how Extension can give 
support to the families of South Carolina National Guard and 
Reservists, who are now deployed and fighting the war on terrorism," 
said Brown." 
	By mid 2004, the grant will also bring Extension, statewide 
resources and National Guard and Reservist personnel together to 
further explore and develop approaches for Extension support to the 
families of deployed troops.
	"Military life is hard on families and it can be especially 
difficult for children," said Plowman. "Having a program like 4-H that 
they can take with them and can be a part of their lives is a great 
benefit."
 	The 4-H program is one of the nation's most diverse 
organizations and crosses all economic, racial and social barriers to 
engage all youths in programs that help them succeed.  
	Local 4-H agents are youth development professionals who 
provide program leadership in each county as part of the nationwide 
Cooperative Extension Service, which is a partnership among the United 
States Department of Agriculture, state land-grant universities and 
local county governments.
	For more information on Clemson Extension 4-H, check out the 
South Carolina web site at http://www.clemson.edu/4H/index.htm.
				END