The deadline is fast approaching for youth ages 13 to 18 in military families to get in the running for a $10,000 cash prize, a trip to Washington, D.C., and other donated gifts in the Military Child of the Year Awards competition. Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit with the mission of building strong, stable, and secure military families, will accept nominations for the 2018 Military Child of the Year Awards as well as applications for the 2018 Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation through Monday, Dec. 4.

The annual awards will recognize seven outstanding young people ages 13 to 18. The six recipients of the Military Child of the Year Award will represent a branch of the armed forces –the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard – for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life.

The seventh award is the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation presented by global technology and consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. This award goes to a military child who has designed a bold and creative solution to address a local, regional or global challenge. In addition to the $10,000, the trip to Washington, D.C., and other prizes, the Military Child of the Year Award for Innovation recipient will work with a Booz Allen Hamilton team to develop a plan to scale the recipient’s project – drawing on technology and strategic thinking as a part of the corporation’s competitive Summer Games.

Anyone may nominate a favorite military child for a service branch Military Child of the Year Award. Parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, clergy, neighbors, grandparents and anyone who knows a child’s talents may nominate. Simply go to www.militarychildoftheyear.org and click the Nominate tab. Youth interested in the Innovation Award do not need to be nominated, and may apply directly at www.militarychildoftheyear.org.

All awards will be presented at the 10th annual recognition gala April 19, 2018, in the nation’s capital, during which senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards.

Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves America’s military families.

For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.