Military Families Show Their Science Smarts

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a Math and Science Bowl at Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 14, 2011. The First Lady and Dr. Biden attended the event to help bring awareness to the need for advanced placement courses in math and science at schools like Fountain-Fort Carson, which serves many military children. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Last Thursday, the First Lady and Dr. Biden were joined by stars from the television show Myth Busters for a Science Bowl competition between parents and students at Fort Carson High School in Colorado.  Many Fort Carson students are from military families.

The visit came during the First Lady and Dr. Biden's national tour kicking off Joining Forces, the campaign mobilizing support for America's military families.  As part of their Joining Forces commitment, the National Math Science Initiative is expanding its work helping military children and other students excel in Advanced Placement classes.  Military children have to learn and perform academically like any other child, but often face the unique challenges growing up moving schools every couple of years as their family moves to new duty stations and managing the stress of having a parent deployed, wounded or fallen.  All Americans can find ways to support military children, from being a good neighbor and friend to military children and families to ensuring programs support children and youth in the community serve military children as well.  Everyone can do something.

And, by the way, the parents won 4-3.

First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a Math and Science Bowl at Fountain-Fort Carson High School in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 14, 2011. The First Lady and Dr. Biden attended the event to help bring awareness to the need for advanced placement courses in math and science at schools like Fountain-Fort Carson, which serves many military children. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Trooper Sanders is Deputy Director of Policy to the First Lady.