What’s in a name? Air Force are Airmen, Navy are sailors, Army are soldiers, and Marines are just Marines. If you reference someone by a different name you will probably be corrected, not unlike calling them the wrong rank. Your branch of service, rank, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)- these things defined you.

When you get out- who are you? If you ask a Marine, they might tell you “Once a Marine, always a Marine” but for the most part, post active duty military members accept the name veteran.

I see many organizational mission statements talk about “assisting the warrior in transitioning to civilian life.” Think about that for a second… I recently heard a vet correct another vet’s spouse when she said, “now that you are civilians”- he wouldn’t have that and quickly informed her he was a “veteran” NOT a civilian.

Civilian

Merriam Webster defines civilian as: “one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force.” Google dictionary says, “a person not in the armed services or the police force.” So by these definitions we who served but are no longer serving could qualify as a civilian.

Veteran- “a person who has had long experience in a particular field, a person who has served in the military.” By these definitions we can be both a civilian and a veteran. Shakespeare would say, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Two things:
1. Have you stopped to smell the roses? They don’t smell that great (generally if a Vet says, “hey, smell this.” Don’t do it.)
2. If you call a rose a dandelion in a conversation, no one can smell it or see it and they think it’s something else.

Your name makes a huge impression. If someone was talking about you and your name sounded like it came from a certain country, the listener might easily imagine a person from that region. Our surname was marked on our gear, it was sewn onto our uniforms; names are so important that it’s common place to name your: weapon, vehicle, instruments, plants, body parts, etc.

Nicknames are given to us, callsigns are made up or earned (for pilots you are given your call sign, you don’t pick it- it comes from something about you, something you did…but it’s a reflection of you). We introduce ourselves with the name we prefer, some choose to use their middle names. Your name IS who you are.

So, who are you? That’s the hard part. We feel lost or unsure when the military (the thing that most defined our lives) is no longer deciding what we are called. Some vets take a long hike, bike, or drive to sort out their thoughts and “find themselves.” Others seem not to struggle at all, though I would purport we all struggle to some degree, and some are just excellent at hiding it.

Compartmentalization

(7 syllable word, not bad for a Marine, yeah? …see that? I used the name Marine and it brought up certain aspects commonly associated with that service- bring out the crayons!) Compartmentalization is used during deployment to keep us safe so we can stay clear headed and complete the mission. It is not a tool that should be used to craft who we are–holding things inside that we haven’t dealt with can give us other names: angry, distant, reckless, addict, abuser.

Everyone needs therapy of some sort- talk to someone who you trust, professional or not. If that person agrees with everything you say, find someone willing to challenge you- that’s how we grow. I need to “find myself”- it’s said many times but I would like to modify it. Who you are can be so much more if you find yourself in Christ. Without Jesus your name is written in the book of judgement, not the book of life. Your name has been on many rosters and reports but this is THE ONE that matters. Write God’s name on your heart so He can write your name in the book of Life.

Over.

Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is more desirable than great wealth. Respect is better than silver or gold.”

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than expensive perfume…”

Revelation 3:5 “Everyone who wins the victory this way (believe in Christ, Obey, and change the way you think and act) will wear white clothes. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge them in the presence of my Father and his angels.”

Revelation 3:10-12 “Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you safe during the time of testing which is coming to the whole world to test those living on earth. I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.
I will make everyone who wins the victory a pillar in the temple of my God. They will never leave it again. I will write on them the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from my God), and my new name.”
Drew Out!

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These Veteran stories of struggle, adventure, and post traumatic growth need to be heard!
Join the cause to de-stigmatize mental health issues.
Please SUBSCRIBE, share our website with friends / co-workers, and support us by donation or at the STORE.