Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Using Mindfulness To Manage Moral Injury In Veterans: Feasibility And Satisfaction Of A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Michelle L. Kelley, Adrian J. Bravo, Elizabeth E. Burgin, Susan A. Gaylord, Christine Vinci, Megan Strowger, Jeffrey M. Gabelmann, Joseph M. Currier

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective

The present study assessed program feasibility and satisfaction among recent-era veterans who participated in Mindfulness to Manage Moral Injury (MMMI), a live facilitated web-based 7-week mindfulness-based program targeting moral injury among veterans.

Method

In total, 56 post-9/11 veterans were recruited with 28 randomized to the MMMI condition and 28 to the Education and Support (ES) condition. Most participants identified as being White (71.4%), male (66.1%), and had a reported mean age of 41.50 years (Median = 39.50, SD = 9.26).

Results

Among the 56 participants, 82.1% attended at least one treatment session and 44.6% completed all seven sessions. There …

Outcomes Of Covid-19: Posttraumatic Growth And Emotion-Focused Coping Among U.S. Veterans, Jessica Paige Wilding-Belalcazar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Female veterans are currently the fastest growing population of veterans in the United States (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2022) and have a higher prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than male veterans (Na et al., 2021), yet there has been limited research done on this population. Females have also been found to experience more posttraumatic growth (PTG) than males (Kalaitzaki, 2021; Prieto-Ursa & Jordar, 2020; Yildiz, 2021). Furthermore, women’s use of emotion-focused coping strategies has been shown to play a role in increasing experiences of PTG during the COVID-19 pandemic (Chu-Si & Yunhwan, 2022). Yet, while research has examined …

Experiences Of Civilian Mental Health Providers Who Work With Military Clients: A Dissertation, Lydia P. Perry

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Using a qualitative survey design, this study sought to understand the experiences of fully civilian providers who had achieved self-perceived military cultural competence when working with military or veteran clients or their families. This study also sought a better understanding of what pathways fully civilian providers took in this process, as well as their perceptions of how to better equip other fully civilian providers for work with military and veteran clients and their families. The results of this study yield recommendations for changes in graduate training programs; for example, through more inclusion of the military as a culture in cross …

Embracing The Suck: Overcoming Moral Injury-Related Attachment Trauma Through Outdoor Adventure, Emerald D. Ralston

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Moral injury is increasingly recognized as a distinct and debilitating consequence of military service, arising when individuals engage in, witness, or are unable to prevent actions that transgress their deeply held moral beliefs. In this dissertation, I argue that this form of trauma can be experienced as an attachment rupture, particularly when the military—functioning as an institutional attachment figure—betrays the servicemember’s trust. Such experiences compromise internal working models (IWMs) of self, others, and the world, and may result in complex trauma symptoms, including dissociation, depersonalization, and profound relational disconnection. These injuries are frequently stored in the body, rendering traditional cognitive …

Nexus Of Fear, Deterrence, And Prestige: The Role Of Russia's Exotic Nuclear Toolkit, Ryan Christenson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This thesis examines Russia’s development of “exotic” nuclear weapon systems, specifically the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo, the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, the Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile, and the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, to determine how and why Russia diverged from traditional nuclear platforms. Drawing on open-source data and comparative analysis against the standard nuclear triad, it investigates the doctrinal, technical, and political motivations driving Moscow’s nuclear modernization, including paranoia over U.S. missile defense, aspirations for great-power status, and domestic economic influences. Scenario-based assessments illustrate the potential destabilizing effects of these systems, which compress decision-making time and raise risks of inadvertent …

Preparing Spiritually Resilient Warriors In The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, Vic Morris

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

Morris, Victor E. “Preparing Spiritually Resilient Warriors in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.” Doctor of Ministry. Major Applied Project, Concordia Seminary, 2024. 285 pp.

The Canadian Armed Forces has outcomes and expectations for warriors to be spiritually resilient but does not have a training program that has been researched, tested, and validated to achieve this. This study investigates how chaplains can prepare spiritually resilient warriors in CANSOFCOM. A chaplain-led spiritual resilience course was created and delivered to CANSOFCOM members. The course was aligned with the holistic wellness strategy of OPF2, and designed as an inductive, experiential learning experience. An …

The Abusive Effects Of Trauma On Leadership Styles And Performance, Robert Kraft

Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project

This Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Major Applied Project (MAP) investigates the relationship between toxic leadership in the military and trauma, particular how trauma can have negative, abusive effects on leadership style and performance. Most research in this area addresses trauma in postvention. This MAP addresses trauma’s potential effect on leadership style and explores the use of a pre-emptive, preventative training. Leadership theory is explored as well as trauma in the form of mental disorders, such as PTSD and narcissism. The author’s experience as an ordained pastor of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, serving as an Army Chaplain, revealed the value of …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: November 2024, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In November, employment increased by 227,000, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 4.2%. Veteran unemployment showed mixed trends, with post-9/11 veteran unemployment slightly decreasing to 3.1% and significant variations across different age and demographic groups. Notably, the unemployment rate for Black or African American veterans decreased significantly, while the rate for veterans aged 18-24 increased.

Organizational Toxicity: Exploring Factors That Cultivate Toxicity In Air Force Maintenance Organizations And Their Impact On Enlisted Airmen, Bryan Keith Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Workplace toxicity negatively impacts organizations and harms employees within those organizations. However, each organization is subject to various influences and contexts, and understanding toxicity within specific contexts provides practitioners with the knowledge of its origin, influential factors, and how to respond. The U.S. Air Force is rich in culture and subcultures; it is also subject to toxicity, which is affected by several military-unique factors. Yet, toxicity in the military has been primarily explored through the leadership lens with limited insights into other influential elements, such as followers and the workplace environment. Additionally, little attention has been placed on the effects …

Veteran Certification: Debunking Myths And Streamlining Processes, Misty Stutsman-Fox, Barbara Carson, John Perez, Rosalinda V. Maury

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This paper affirms the continued intent of the IVMF and CVOB to demystify and help streamline the VOB certification process by advocating for the establishment of either one nationally recognized certification, or a unified verification process where all certifying bodies work together towards a reciprocal solution.

Ua94/6/1 Pershing Rifles & Rebelettes Reunion Photo Album, Stewart Wade

Student/Alumni Personal Papers

Digital photograph album created from Pershing Rifles & Rebelettes reunion photos.

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: October 2024, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In October 2024, U.S. employment grew modestly by 12,000, and the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%. Veteran unemployment slightly increased to 2.8%, with post-9/11 veteran unemployment rising to 3.2%, though trends varied across different age and demographic groups. Notably, the unemployment rate for younger veterans (18-24) dropped significantly, while Black or African American veterans saw a sharp rise, and Hispanic veterans experienced a decline.

Veteran Health Equity: Reflecting On Patient Experiences And Unmet Health Needs Among Veterans Of Color, Mariah Brennan, Jeanette Harvie, Deborah Bradbard, Rosalinda V. Maury

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Research has consistently demonstrated the presence and severity of racial health disparities in the U.S., particularly for Black Americans. Many of the root causes of these disparities are complex and are associated with various forms of structural discrimination. This study examines the health experiences of veterans of color, particularly their interactions in the VA and Military Health system to better understand racial/ethnic disparities across disease burden, mortality, and indicators of patient healthcare experiences. This mixed-methods study included an online survey (n=219) and virtual focus groups and one-on-one interviews (n=17). Overall, a majority of study participants had positive patient experiences from …

Research Review: "Military Service And Political Participation In The United States: Institutional Experience And The Vote", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research review highlights findings from a study of U.S. veteran voting participation. This study finds that military service is associated with greater voter participation. Holding socioeconomic and demographic characteristics constant, veterans are more likely to vote than non-veterans. Non-Hispanic white and African American veterans are more likely to vote than their non-veteran peers and Hispanic veterans with lower educational attainment are more likely to vote than Hispanic non-veterans but the effect of military service on the propensity to vote decreases as educational attainment increases. The effect of military service on increasing voter participation is strongest among those with less …

Duration, Cost, And Escalation Of Care Events For Physical Therapy Management Of Low Back Pain In Service Members With Limb Loss, Brittney M. Gunterstockman, Brad D. Hendershot, Joseph Kakyomya, Charity G. Patterson, Christopher L. Dearth, Shawn Farrokhi

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction Physical therapy (PT) is recommended as a primary treatment for low back pain (LBP), a common and impactful musculoskeletal condition after limb loss. The purpose of this brief report is to report the duration and cost of PT care, and subsequent escalation of care events, for LBP in service members with and without limb loss. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective cohort, descriptive study. Service members with and without limb loss (matched) who received PT for LBP at a military treatment facility from 2015 to 2017 were included. Duration of PT care, number of PT visits, and escalation …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: September 2024, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In September 2024, U.S. employment rose by 254,000, with the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.1%. Veterans experienced notable improvements, with overall unemployment dropping to 2.7% from 3.5% in August, and specific age and demographic groups seeing varying trends—such as a decrease in unemployment for younger veterans and a significant drop for female veterans. While some subgroups, like Hispanic veterans, had higher unemployment rates than their nonveteran peers, Black veterans saw lower unemployment than their counterparts.

Book Review: The Ballad Of Roy Benavidez: The Life And Times Of America’S Most Famous Hispanic War Hero, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: William Sturkey

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, colonel (US Army, retired), US Army War College Class of 2010

Dr. Wylie W. Johnson presents a review of a recent publication on one of the most celebrated Hispanic war heroes in US history—Medal of Honor recipient Roy Benavidez. Johnson overviews author William Sturkey’s biography of Benavidez, which discusses Benavidez’s “perseverance against racial prejudice, poverty, substandard education, bureaucratic inertia, popular bias against patriotism, anti-military sentiment, and physical disabilities” and also his heroism in the Vietnam War and his lifetime of service afterward. Johnson recommends the book as “military leaders need …

Overview Of The Advancing Military-Connected Entrepreneurship Summit, Rosalinda V. Maury, Adam Pritchard

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This infographic highlights key findings from The Military-Connected Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Growth, Empowerment & Connectivity Summit, funded by Walmart. The summit addressed key challenges faced by military-connected entrepreneurs, including access to corporate procurement, ecosystem integration, capability development, and corporate engagement strategies. Held at the Veteran EDGE Conference in Dallas, TX, the summit brought together 13 corporate and business ecosystem partners and 51 military-connected business owners to discuss opportunities and challenges in the private sector.

Military-Connected Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Advancing Military-Connected Entrepreneurship, Rosalinda V. Maury, Adam Pritchard

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This report provides detailed findings from the Military-Connected Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Growth, Empowerment & Connectivity Summit, funded by Walmart, that brought together military-connected business owners and corporate partners to discuss ways to support military-connected businesses seeking corporate procurement opportunities. The goal of this summit and report is to foster collaboration and improve opportunities for military-connected entrepreneurs.

Selected U.S. Government Statistical Agencies And Their Data, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Provides introductory and detailed overview of U.S. Government agencies statistics. Includes examples of how an individual U.S. law authorizes government agencies to compile statistics for particular congressional committees and the general public. Statistics cover topics such as demography, defense, foreign assistance, economic growth, criminal justice, energy, Social Security, and Medicare.