Suffering for Others While Making Others Suffer: Military Narratives of Sacrifice

Abstract

Voices from theology seldom participate in a contemporary conversation on military cultures and identities; this article attempts to stimulate this conversation from such a perspective. The article combines a literature review with narratives of sacrifice from real-life cases. It presents a reflective perspective on the formation of military identities with regard to responsibilities and sacrifices. Forgiveness and atonement are discussed as pathways to cultivate growth which can lessen feelings of guilt and regret.

Revisiting Living in Limbo to Illustrate a Pastoral Psychological Understanding of Transition from Military to Civilian Life

“…For example, within committed relationships both a former service member and his or her partner/ spouse (and other family members) may struggle with losses and hopes and attempts at reorientation, renegotiation, and reconnection. A veteran may grapple with grief over the loss of battle buddies, sacrifices imposed upon the family, and difficulties transcending military life in order to further nurture and build the identities and emotions of a present partner/husband/ father (Grimell 2019;Sippola et al 2009;Stallinga 2013). The partner or spouse may struggle with feelings of being neglected for a long time simultaneously with hopes of a new future together (Beder 2012;Moore 2012;Segal 1986).…”

“…Whereas psychiatric (i.e., PTSD) and psychological (i.e., moral injury) constructs illustrate a clinical understanding of and approach to some of the issues veterans have to live with in the aftermath of military service, radically fewer theological and pastoral psychological constructs have been proposed in relation to these constructs (for example, see Doehring and Ramsay 2019;Graham 2017;Moon 2019;Rambo 2010). Yet, it is a crucial pastoral psychological quest to advance the understanding of the issues and burdens that result from military service as individuals build new lives as civilians (Grimell 2019;Liebert 2019;Moon 2015;Sippola et al 2009;Stallinga 2013). Donald Capps and Nathan Carlin's (2010) Living in Limbo: Life in the Midst of Uncertainty offers an interesting and promising way to approach and present a pastoral psychological understanding of veterans, and their work deserves more attention.…”

Sexual Arenas, Alcohol (Ab)use, and Predatory Leadership: Facilitators of US Military Sexual Violence

“…Any theory, model, or directive that treats military members as employees while ignoring the moral elements of the experience are flawed (Shields, 1993). Interwoven is the willingness of military members to sacrifice their physical as well as mental health for the security of others (Shields, 1993;Olsthoorn, 2005;Grimell, 2019). Tronto (2017) further suggests that any deflection of "care" from a community concern into the realms of "personal responsibility" and "family" obligations, the dominant belief becomes that, if "people are now less well cared for, it must by definition be a failure of their own personal or familial responsibility (p.…”

Leaving Military Service with a Military Body: Insights for Pastoral Care and Counseling

“…Their names are altered, but the ranks are correct. Narrative accounts from some of these cases have also been presented elsewhere (e.g., Grimell, 2017Grimell, , 2018bGrimell, , 2018cGrimell, , 2019 but this article presents a unique focus and perspective on military bodies in relation to pastoral care and counseling.…”