Little Trooper of the Month

Esmae Hartley

November 2024

Esmae Hartley lives with her Mum, Dad and older sister Abigail (10). Both of Esmae’s parents serve in the RAF at RAF Leeming.

In August, just as Esmae’s Dad was deployed on a military-tour overseas, Esmae was diagnosed with autism and severe mental impairments. The deployment has been particularly hard for Esmae as she is non-verbal and doesn’t hear very well.  She doesn’t understand why her Dad is away and struggles to communicate with her family, which can lead to outbursts of frustration and anger. Video calls with her Dad have been distressing rather than comforting and multiple hospital appointments without her Dad by her side have been stressful.

Esmae’s Mum nominated her for the Little Trooper of the Month Award after such a challenging year. Esmae will receive a special medal, voucher and gift certificate just in time to show her Dad, who comes home  this week, in time for Christmas.

Esmae’s Mum, Sgt Sarah Burns, comments: “Esmae and her sister Abigail have both been through so much lately and have been superstars in their own way. Every day has been hard and emotional for Esmae but she is also such a strong and happy little girl in many respects. She may be in her own little special world but she is our little trooper and being acknowledged for this award has been a real boost for the whole family.”

Sarah and family have also received support from the Community Development team at RAF Leeming to help them build a safe space for Esmae at home and secure the funding to buy sensory toys. Esmae also gets one-to-one support at the local RAFAkidz nursery.

Sarah adds: “Everyone has rallied around while my husband has been away and it’s been wonderful to feel so supported by my work and the local community.”

Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, adds: “Esmae and her family have been through a really tough time this year. Having a parent deployed can be challenging in and of itself, but it’s even harder when you can’t articulate your feelings or really understand why your parent can’t be there in person. We hope Esmae enjoys showing her Daddy her Little Troopers medal and we will also be sending a special something to her sister Abigail for being such a little trooper.”

This month, our Little Trooper of the Month Award has been sponsored by technology group, Thales.

Esmae

Esmae Hartley

Nominate a Trooper of the month!

We want to recognise Little Troopers; children with parents serving in the British Armed Forces who have been exceptionally brave, inspirational or just extra special against all odds. 

This is an opportunity to really celebrate and shine a spotlight on the lives of incredible military children, hear the special stories and give them the recognition they really deserve.

Our monthly winner will receive a special prize, certificate and lasting recognition of a customised, unique medal. We will also shout about how amazing our winners our on our website, social media and other related publications.

Nominations welcomed from Unit Welfare Offices, Community Development Workers, Schools/Nurseries and of course YOU!

If you are not the parent or guardian of the child you are nominating you must ask permission and advise them you are nominating. We will need to contact them directly to progress a nomination if successful.

Unsuccessful nominations will not be contacted.

Please upload a recent photograph we can use for certificate and hall of fame if they win:

Eligible children: ANY child with a parent or step parent currently serving with the British Army, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force; wherever they live, reserve or regular, parents married or unmarried. Children can only win once. Please only nominate one child per nomination. Children of any age can be nominated. Please ensure all the information you submit is true and correct stating if the child is a step child/has a different father or mother to serving person.