Marjorie Morrison, CEO & Founder
Enhancing Military
Cultural Competency
to Support Military &
Veteran Families
Strengths of Veterans & Military Families
Adaptive
Resilient
Resourceful
Problem solvers
Value being together
Show appreciation
Well-rounded
Veterans & Military Families Challenges
◦Relocate often
◦Multiple career changes for spouses
◦Frequent changes in schools
◦Family absences for prolonged period of time
◦Unique and changing family roles
Why do we need to learn about Military and Veteran
Culture?
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Connection
•Connection: One step closer
•Learning about a culture can help
create rapport
•Rapport leads to trust and trust leads
to honesty & openness
Healthcare
providers
Employers
Professionals
Military
Families
Volunteers
Educators
Healthcare Providers
Educators
Employers
Volunteers
15 Things Veterans Want You to Know
15 Things Veterans Want You
to Know
Marjorie Morrison, CEO & Founder PsychArmor Institute
Problem
With fewer than 1 % of our country serving in uniform, most Americans
are unfamiliar with military life and culture. With the lack of cultural
awareness about the military, it can make it difficult for veterans to
transition back to civilian life.
The Need
A better understanding of military culture and the veteran
community to alleviate many of the challenges veterans and service
members face when returning from war or transitioning into civilian
life.
Mission
Provide free online education taught by subject matter
experts on how to effectively work with, live with, or care
for service members, veterans and their families.
Steps to Developing a Course
Identify need
Consult with Advisory Committee
Identify subject matter expert
Education Director approves content
Online Developer develops course
Online Developer peer, lead, & manager QAs course
Clinical team QAs course
Advisory committee, Sponsor & SME reviews course
Course is launched
15 Things Veterans Want You to Know
What is the one thing you would want
your doctor/nurse/therapist/employer
to know about you as a veteran?”
5 Questions to Ask
1. Did you or someone in your family serve in the
military?
2. What branch did you serve in?
3. What was your job?
4. What was your best day?
5. What was your worst day?
(Usually used for case managers, therapist, psychologist etc.)
“Ask the question:
DID YOU SERVE IN THE MILITARY?”
The Military is a culture!!
Ask about it.
1. “We are not all Soldiers.”
“The Army has Soldiers, the Air Force has Airmen, the
Marine Corps has Marines, and the Navy has
awesomeness.”
- Active Duty Sailor
3. “Not everyone in the military is
infantry.”
“(If you know what an infantry Marine does), you’d know they are prone to back
and knee issues…from carrying heavy weight on their backs and walking. Or
a paratrooper takes significant joint stress on impact from landing a jump.”
- Marine Corps Veteran
“Our bodies are pounded daily. By the time I hit retirement age I will have lost
several inches off my height due to daily stress.”
- Active Duty Soldier
4. “We have leaders at every level in
the chain of command.”
“A senior Corporal in the Marines
(maybe 21 or 22 years old) is a
squad leader. He leads 12 Marines
into war and they follow his orders
in life and death situations. On the
officer side, a 23-year-old Second
Lieutenant right out of college and
Infantry Officer training is in charge
of a whole platoon, making combat
decisions that affect the lives of 40
or more Marines. You don’t see
much that parallels that in the
civilian world.”
- Former Marine Officer
5. “We are always on duty.”
“I am always on call. I can never
plan a vacation because an
operation always comes up at the
last minute. Work schedules are
pretty tough at times.”
- Active Duty Coast Guardsman
6. “We take pride in our appearance
and our conduct.”
7. “We did not all kill someone. . . those
who have do NOT want to talk about it.”
PLEASE DO NOT ASK US THAT.
EVER.
8. “We do not all have PTSD.”
“One suggestion I have is to ask what the worst day was on deployment.
The answer may not be directly associated with combat.”
- Army Veteran
“Despite our commonalities, we are in fact different people with our own
special needs. We all experience war differently.”
- Navy Veteran
9. “Those of us who have an ‘invisible
wound’ are not dangerous or violent.”
• Invisible wounds of war
include Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder, Traumatic Brain
Injury, Depression and
Substance Use Disorder.
• Treatment works. There is
HOPE.
10. “It is hard for us to ask for help.”
11. “Our military service changes us.”
“The most valuable advice any doctor
ever gave me (was)…’You are going to
have to accept that ten years in the
military permanently altered who and
how you are. The people in your life will
have to do the same.’ ”
- Air Force Veteran
12. “We differ in how much we identify with
the military after we leave active duty.”
“The military was just one step in my
life and I will continue to have many
successful steps. Being a veteran does
not define me, but is just one of a long
list of great attributes I have.”
- Veteran
“I would (ask people) to stop trying to change me back to a
civilian, like all of my military experiences never happened.
Tolerance and acceptance for us is very rare”
- Marine Corps Veteran
“I don’t want to talk about my military experiences. I loved
being in the Navy, and I’m proud of it, but I’ve also moved
on to other parts of my life.”
- Navy Veteran
13. “Our families serve with us.”
“Listen. REALLY listen to the
spouses, parents…whoever is a
caregiver or partner. They live
this 24/7.”
- Army Spouse
14. “We would die for each other
and for our country.”
Resources
www.PsychArmor.org