Why Do I Write About the Military?

The military is both my foundation and my lens. It is the thread that has woven through every part of my life. My story began within the close knit community of military families, growing up in Army Married Quarters surrounded by service personnel whose lives were defined by discipline, duty, and deep camaraderie. Those formative years provided lasting memories of pride, resilience, and connection that continue to shape my identity and purpose today. From my father’s service to that of my uncles, my own military experience, and later my husband’s, the military has always been more than a career path it has been a way of life. Our experiences, challenges, and triumphs were forged within its structures, and it is within this context that I first developed an understanding of loyalty, commitment, and the costs of service.

Military life can feel like a universe of its own unfamiliar and difficult to articulate to those who have not lived it. Among service members and veterans, there exists an unspoken dialect, a shared understanding communicated through words, silences, or even subtle humor. This world is one I know intimately, and it is this knowledge that drives my writing. I write about the military because I understand the profound emotional complexity of deployment: the courage it takes to hold the home front, the bittersweet relief of a loved one’s return, and the often difficult process of transitioning to civilian life. My writing seeks to convey these realities with authenticity, offering insight, connection, and, where possible, support to those navigating similar experiences.

Working professionally with veterans has brought this commitment full circle. Their openness, willingness to share, and resilience continue to inspire me, providing both lessons and opportunities for reflection. Through their stories, I gain not only understanding of their experiences but also insight into how best to support them in clinical practice. The knowledge and empathy derived from these interactions cannot always be captured in formal analysis; it exists in the quiet moments, shared experiences, shared language and subtle gestures that define military and veteran life. Writing about the military allows me to give voice to these experiences, bridging personal insight and professional practice to illuminate the psychological, social, and emotional dimensions of service.