Topic: Gender

Betrayal, Sedatives, and the Long Road Home

The Army had been her life until it turned into her enemy. A former combat medic reflects on the ultimate betrayal of giving her all in service and feeling abandoned in return.

One Small Mistake, a Helicopter Crash, and a Combat Memorial

One small mistake causes the unnecessary death of a Cobra pilot in a combat zone.
Barnhill said that sometimes military families look like pinups, but more often than not there is more to the story. She believes the entire family serves, not just the service member. Photo courtesy of Jean Jacobs.

A Military Spouse’s Journey From Annoyance to Advocacy

A military spouse seeks to change an antiquated narrative.
The author on a field exercise at The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia in 2006. Courtesy of Anne Boaden

“This Is What Closure Feels Like”—the Aftermath of Miscarriage While Your Spouse Is Deployed

A Marine reservist recounts an unexplained loss while her husband is deployed.
Hoppin chatting with cadets at the Air Force Academy before a Board of Visitors meeting.

Forced Pivots and Finding Purpose as a Military Spouse

How the founder of the National Military Spouse Network reignited her career after years out of the workforce

Running for My Life After Returning From War

How a high-functioning facade masked a critical bout of depression for a former Army sergeant. 

Letters From War and Drawing “The Line Between Respect and Caution”

A former Army soldier grapples with an unresolved confessional to her late mother.

No Really, How Are You Doing? Asking Important Questions About Military Suicide

A Marine Corps officer’s story of pain, stress, and a call to action to start honest conversations about mental health
An air traffic controller uses binoculars to look for birds or other hazards that can damage aircraft. Photo credit: Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Hudson

Losing “Pretty Girl” To “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

An investigation into an air traffic controller’s personal life in the era of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell felt like a rippling current of judgement.