Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, American veterans have had a negative perception attached to them once they return home called the Broken Veteran Perception. The Broken Veteran Perception implies veterans who once did great things are not whole when they return home because they are suffering from life changing injuries, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), homelessness, alcoholism and/or broken homes.
The Broken Veteran Perception is usually a result of two things: 1. broken veteran portrayal by the press and nonprofits and 2. the public’s internalization of these images resulting in an emotional response that resembles pity. The creation of this stigma hinders veterans or makes them feel left out because they are neither broken, nor heroes (another stereotype veterans dislike.) When they come home veterans want to feel like regular citizens who are doing their best to live a happy life with loved ones in a community they feel they belong.
The general perception when imagining veterans can often be one of two images: a group of old men who march in parades, or a group of severely injured people going through rounds of rehabilitation. Although there are the groups of old veterans that many see in the Fourth of July parades, as well as disabled veterans being a subgroup of the veteran population, most veterans look just like the civilian population.
“There are a number who fit this description as well, but even for them, such labels do not define who they are as individuals. Although a veteran’s military service may have a great impact on his or her life, it does not encompass everything he or she is as a person,” said Derek Blume, an Air Force veteran who served in Operation Freedom in Afghanistan.
An article written for the New York Times by Dave Philipps created a narrative from the point of view of a veteran who had personally suffered from the Broken Veteran Perception. Philipps told the story of Chris Marvin, a 35-year old retired Army helicopter pilot who returned home with severe injuries in his arms, legs and face. Marvin’s story began when he found a $500 check in his mailbox. Marvin took this act of charity as a snub.
“’I didn’t ask for it. I started to wonder, what is this for? It really started to bother me,” he said. “I didn’t need charity. I needed a new sense of purpose.”
While the caring people who mailed the check probably thought they were helping Marvin and donating to a worthy cause, the gesture caused more harm than good. Veterans do not always want handouts or special treatment. They don’t want a pity party for all they have gone through, they simply want a sense of purpose and a community to rely on.
While the Broken Veteran Perception is still present within the country, there are reports of the perception slowly beginning to break. Rob Gordon, an Army veteran who spent 26 years in the service, wrote a special column to the Military Times online publication. Gordon reported in 2015 that the Broken Veteran Perception began to loosen due to efforts by the “Got your 6” campaign, accurate portrayals of veterans in media due to the “6 Certified Program,” and by veterans serving in the community.
“Got your 6” is a campaign that unites veteran-focused nonprofits, the government and the entertainment industry to combat the Broken Veteran Perception and make a new path to understanding and accepting veterans into communities. The “6 Certified Program” is a program endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama and actor Bradley Cooper to create a more accurate portrayal of veterans in media outlets. The “6 Certified Program” has worked to create PSA’s and digital videos to share with the public that creates an accurate portrayal of who veterans are.
Finally, veterans are finding a new sense of purpose and community by being asked to help solve problems plaguing communities. From homelessness to rebuilding after natural disasters, more veterans are being asked to use their skills of leadership, compassion and strategic thinking to lend a hand in their communities across the nation. The ability to act as problem-solvers for their own communities allow veterans to achieve a greater sense of purpose and closeness when they return home.
The work done so far in 2015 has put the Broken Veteran Perception behind by leaps and bounds, but there is still more work to be done.
“The country is beginning to realize that the “broken hero” perception of post-9/11 veterans is just that — a perception — and the American public is ready to accept a new reality about a veteran population that is more dynamic and diverse than ever before,” said Gordon.
Hopefully, in the years to come America can improve veteran perception even more and leave behind the Broken Veteran Perception.