"These kids are not doing well -- they are not doing well academically, they are not doing well socially, they are not doing well emotionally. It's wearing thin," said Barbara Critchfield, a guidance counselor at Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas. The town is located outside Fort Hood, the largest Army base in the country.

According to Critchfield, of the 396 teens expected to graduate this June, 75 to 80 have either dropped out or have skipped too many classes to graduate on time. "They're dropping like flies," she said.

Schools located near other military bases across the country are seeing similar problems. There are about 1.2 million school-age children of parents in the military's active-duty force. About 650,000 children are impacted by the current deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. Jean Silvernail, an analyst for the Pentagon's Military Children in Transition and Deployment program, said the Department of Defense has requested the help of organizations like the Military Impacted Schools Association and Generations United, a group of retired military personnel and veterans who go to school districts to offer tutoring services.

In addition, the Defense Department has created a website that links to information, resources, and personal contacts for teachers, students, and parents. Teachers are also watching for warning signs and providing personal attention where needed.

Said Silvernail: "We are truly trying hard to do the best we can for these kids."

Editor's Note: This story is a good head's-up to other military communities and those who deal with military families, to keep an eye out for a spike in alcohol and other drug use, violence, and other behavioral problems among children of soldiers.

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