{"id":7623,"date":"2026-04-23T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7623"},"modified":"2026-04-23T13:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T13:30:00","slug":"supporting-military-children-during-a-permanent-change-of-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7623","title":{"rendered":"Supporting military children during a permanent change of station"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-04-23T13:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Every April,\u00a0VA\u00a0recognizes\u00a0the resilience, strength and sacrifice of military children during the\u00a0Month of the Military Child. While\u00a0service members wear the uniform, their children are adapting to new schools, new friendships and new communities, often with little notice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For military families, spring and summer mark the height of\u00a0Permanent Change of Station\u00a0(PCS)\u00a0season\u2014a\u00a0time filled with both opportunity and uncertainty. In a time of change, many of these families look to the\u00a0VA Home Loan Program<\/a>\u00a0to provide security for the next chapter in their lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMilitary children experience\u00a0unique\u00a0challenges that\u00a0some\u00a0of their civilian peers\u00a0may\u00a0never encounter,\u201d said Patrick Zondervan,\u00a0executive director of VA\u2019s\u00a0Loan Guaranty Service.\u00a0\u201cI know firsthand\u00a0how\u00a0challenging\u00a0it is for children\u00a0of military families\u00a0to pack up and\u00a0begin\u00a0anew,\u00a0because I watched my\u00a0own\u00a0children\u00a0go through the hardships\u00a0of\u00a0starting all over every time my PCS changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHomeownership is a powerful\u00a0source of stability for families navigating PCS transitions, and I\u2019m proud to lead a team that\u00a0helps\u00a0these\u00a0families find a place to call home during\u00a0a time that can often be challenging.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

On average,\u00a0children\u00a0of military families\u00a0move six to nine times before graduating high school. Each move means saying goodbye to friends, teachers and familiar surroundings\u2014and starting over again.\u00a0This is where stability at home becomes essential.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The VA Home Loan<\/a> program offers unique\u00a0benefits\u00a0that can help military families\u00a0establish\u00a0roots quickly in a new community.\u00a0With no down payment (in most cases), limited closing costs and no private mortgage insurance, VA home loans make homeownership more accessible\u2014and\u00a0help provide the stability\u00a0military families need for a new beginning.\u00a0A home\u00a0becomes a place where traditions continue, milestones are celebrated and children feel grounded, no matter where\u00a0PCS orders take them\u00a0across\u00a0the United States or its territories.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since 1944, VA has guaranteed\u00a0more than 29\u00a0million loans for\u00a0Veterans and\u00a0military families to buy\u00a0homes across America.\u00a0Steps\u00a0to\u00a0begin\u00a0the homebuying process\u00a0include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Securing\u00a0your\u00a0Certificate of Eligibility\u00a0(COE)\u00a0\u2014\u00a0https:\/\/www.va.gov\/housing-assistance\/home-loans\/how-to-request-coe\/.<\/li>\n
  2. Reviewing\u00a0your\u00a0financial status\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0what\u00a0you\u00a0can afford to pay for a home. Here are some resources to help:\n