Taking Back the Story

What the Miitary and Veteran Community is Saying

Quotes and stories are shared with permission or sourced from public comments on the Rewrite the Narrative campaign thread. Last names are left out for privacy of the individual, however, they can be found on the campaign posts.

On Misunderstanding & The Civil-Military Divide

“You are never going to change this. People can’t walk a mile in shoes they’ve never worn. But that doesn’t mean you stop trying.”
— Jim, U.S. Army Veteran

“People don’t get that military service changes your wiring. You can’t just take the uniform off and ‘go back to normal.’”
— Veaceslav, Veteran

“The disconnect is real — and it’s not just public. Even civilian mental health professionals don’t fully grasp what we’ve lived.”
— Mark, LPC, Army Veteran

“Our real life isn’t the same as our current life. The experiences we carry follow us — even when the mission ends.”
— Christi, Veteran Advocate

On Representation, Media & Hollywood

“It’s not like the movies. But for a lot of people — that’s all they’ve ever seen.”
— Justin, Veteran

“If the only stories people hear are explosions and breakdowns, they’ll never understand the humanity behind the uniform.”
— Anonymous

“Civilians believe what the media tells them. And if Hollywood keeps telling the same broken story, that’s what people will believe.”
— Albert, Army Veteran

On PTSD, Stigma, and Mental Health

“PTSD doesn’t look the same for everyone — and not every veteran has it. Stop assuming we’re all broken.”
— Jonathan, Veteran

“Some veterans feel ashamed to be thanked. Because sometimes, the hardest thing to carry isn’t the memory — it’s the guilt.”
— Christopher, Air Force Veteran

“Civilians hear ‘PTSD’ and think ‘danger.’ That’s the stigma we have to break.”
— Christian, DoD Veteran

“Saying ‘thank you for your service’ isn’t enough. Acknowledgment without engagement doesn’t heal.”
— Christopher

On Community, Isolation & Reconnection

“We trusted each other with our lives. Then we came home — and felt invisible.”
— Anonymous Veteran

“Civilians don’t know what it’s like to be the one who’s always leaving — or the one who’s always left behind.”
— Richard, Veteran & Father

“The bond we had in uniform doesn’t just disappear. But it’s hard to find again outside of service.”
— Various Veterans

On Skills, Leadership, & Civilian Life

“Stop thinking we just ‘follow orders.’ Military people solve problems — under pressure, with lives on the line.”
— Vicky, Former Army Airborne

“We’re not just disciplined — we’re creative, strategic, and capable of leadership most people can’t even imagine.”
— Andrew, USAF Veteran

“The misconception is that vets are robotic or rigid. The truth? We adapt faster than anyone else.”
— Joe, Veteran

“Civilians think we’re all the same — but the military is one of the most diverse, complex workforces on the planet.”
— Jonathan, Veteran

Mic-Drop Truths

“We may leave the military, but it never entirely leaves us.”
— Anonymous

“If you’ve heard one veteran’s story, you’ve heard ONE veteran’s story. No more, no less.”
— Christopher, Veteran

“We don’t want pity. We want respect — and a seat at the table.”
— Andrew, Veteran

“Use us to transform. Don’t try to transform us.”
— Andrew, Veteran

“In the Army, that person next to you — even the one you hated in training — becomes your brother in the foxhole. That’s what civilians will never fully understand.”
— Jonathan, Veteran