Taylor Schreiner, 18, has been named Operation Homefront’s 2026 Military Child of the Year for the U.S. Space Force.

Schreiner, a senior at Discovery Canyon High School, received the award for the positive impact she has made on her military family, school and community. The MCYA recognizes one outstanding teenager from each of the seven armed forces service branches: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, Navy and Space Force.

Schreiner is the daughter of U.S. Space Force Brigadier Gen. Robert Schriener and his wife, Nicole. Robert, a 28-year veteran, is senior liaison officer to the U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs. Nicole, a former U.S. Air Force and USSF civil servant, retired from Space Operations Command in Dec. 2025 after 27 years. Sister Hayley was 2023 MCY.

Now in its 18th year, the award is presented to military-connected youth ages 13-18 whose leadership, resilience and service have positively impacted lives despite constant changes and challenges of military life.

Taylor Schreiner said she is grateful and humbled for the opportunity and recognition.

“I feel proud to represent the resilience of military children,” she said. “I am grateful to be seen as an individual and feel empowered to pursue my passions regardless of the sacrifices my family has made.”

Schreiner was among more than 1,000 nominees and 68 finalists. A panel of judges who advocate for and/or support the military and veteran communities chose this year’s recipients who receive $10,000 in cash, a laptop and other gifts.

“The MCYA honors young people who embrace the challenges of military life and transform adversity into growth,” said Amber Myszka, director of Integrated Public Relations.

Taylor Schreiner understands all too well the rigors of military life. Her dad has made two deployments and 13 permanent change-of-station relocations, 10 of them during her lifetime. In all, Robert has been away a total of 65 months – about a third of Taylor’s life – while Nicole and the children remained in Colorado Springs to provide family stability and job continuity for Nicole.

“Being a military child taught Taylor determination and adaptability at a young age,” Myszka said. “That helped her excel on the varsity soccer team and in the rigorous curriculum at her International Baccalaureate school. She is among the top students in her class.”

Taylor Schreiner said she is “beyond honored” to have her parents as role models as life as a military family is demanding. Nicole’s perseverance in balancing being a civilian, wife and mother during Robert’s deployments and relocations helped Schreiner find strength in isolation.

“Without my father’s presence, she (Nicole) was emotionally strained, yet continued to show up for her kids in more ways than one could imagine,” Taylor said. “My father’s understanding of the importance of sacrifice has been influential to my being. He was the one enduring the prolonged separation, and yet he chose time and time again to serve his country.”

Supporting a military parent and adjusting to frequent relocations and deployments is difficult, Taylor said.

“We should learn to embrace the unique lifestyle we are living, recognizing how its challenges develop us into more well-rounded individuals… the difficulties of a military experience are making you a stronger individual,” she said. “I have gained a sense of confidence in my ability to adapt and adjust, and I find I am able to apply resilience when drastic transitions occur. Moreover, the experience of living in a single-parent household further enhanced my sense of responsibility and independence.”

Taylor said she is fortunate to be supported by a military community who share the same experiences and support each other.

“Every military family must choose what is right for them, but each choice shares sacrifice,” she said.

The MCYA recipient is passionate about working with and supporting children, and volunteers at Colorado Springs Children’s Hospital.

“I am beyond grateful to witness the wonderful staffing at the CSCH, and have been first-hand witness to how a comforting provider makes all the difference to the patient,” Taylor said.

Taylor earned a Certified Nursing Assistant license at age 17 and is pursuing a career as a pediatric oncologist. Following graduation from high school next month, she plans to study biology/pre-med at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and hopes to eventually work in a children’s hospital.

“I am looking forward to being a voice of comfort to these strong children and helping them to the best of my ability,” she said.

Of her MYCA, Schreiner added, “If I were to give military children one piece of advice, I would emphasize that we are much stronger than we think. Although it’s gratifying to be a member of a military family, this lifestyle is accompanied by its own hardships.”

The nonprofit 501(c)(3) Operation Homefront serves ill or injured veterans and their families. To be eligible for the MCYA, recipients must be children of active duty, retiree, Reserve or National Guard personnel at the time of nomination. To learn more visit OperationHomefront.org.