The Navy Working Uniform (NWU), commonly known as the “Blueberry” uniform, was introduced in 2007 as part of the Navy’s effort to modernize its appearance and adopt a standardized camouflage design. Before the NWU, sailors wore a mix of uniforms, …
Une Adolescence Militaire by Catie Rauhala
Quand je pense à mon adolescence, je me souviens de la période que j’avais passée comme la petite fille d’une famille militaire. Mon père a été au service pour l’armée de l’air américaine entre des années 1980-2005. La plupart de …
Unveiling Reculturation: The Lasting Effects of Military-Civilian Transition Stress by Sean McNaley
He couldn’t breathe. The cereal aisle of his local grocery store was too much to take in. Fifteen years in the military, where your meals and your schedule are carefully planned out for you, and now . . .this. “I …
Stories from the Passenger Seat by Kimberly Golchin
My father served in Iran during the late 1970s, a turbulent time in Iran’s history. The country was changing quickly under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s rule. Western influence had modernized cities, but political unrest and inequality simmered beneath the surface. …
One Woman’s Path to Managing PTSD and Finding Stability by Marie Rodriguez Carrillo
After returning home from her deployment, Sergeant Lisa Ramirez found the transition to civilian life far more challenging than she expected. The sights and sounds of everyday life sometimes triggered intrusive memories, leaving her anxious and exhausted by nightfall. Despite …
Monuments Kin: Major Robert Kelley Posey
by Dana ZimblemanOriginally Published in US Represented How cool is it that one of my relatives helped save some of Europe’s most valuable art pieces from Adolf Hitler? But this individual isn’t the only human treasure in my family… Major …
Healing on Horseback: How the Remount Foundation Helps Veterans Find Their Way Home by Melissa A. Johnson, PhD
When you arrive at the Remount Foundation’s grounds, co-located at the U.S. Air Force Academy Equestrian Center in Colorado Springs, the first thing you notice is the serenity. Horses graze under the shadow of Pikes Peak, and veterans stand nearby- …
Hope Revoked: Incarceration in America by Renna Lage
Most 18-year-olds in America are entering their senior year of high school— applying to colleges, working paying jobs, and planning for their future. With stars in their eyes and hearts full of hope, these young people do not know where …
The Dangers of Tradition by Juan Francisco Salazar
In Ecuador, the country where I come from, there is a New Year tradition called “Quema del Año Viejo” which means burning the old year. This tradition consists of collectively making a mannequin doll, and everyone does them at the …
Silent Resilience by Nick Drohan
Amidst the hum of passing cars, a figure stands alone at the traffic light on the highway off-ramp: a poignant silhouette against the urban backdrop. Clad in weathered layers that mirror the toll of time, the homeless individual embodies a …