Be informed before speaking with veterans
Last week I provided a list of things to avoid when talking to veterans. Since interactions with veterans on campus are becoming more common and some of you will be asked to formally interview veterans this semester, I thought I’d finish addressing this subject by offering some further suggestions.
LEARN ABOUT WAR AND THE MILITARY
Every student has a duty to learn at least about the contemporary wars and military actions being waged throughout the world. U.S. forces fight abroad to prevent citizens from ever having to experience war on U.S. soil. As an educated man, I would be ashamed of myself if I couldn’t at least locate the foreign lands on a map where others are dying for my freedoms.
Veterans are experts on the military. The more education you have on the conflict and military, the deeper the questions you can ask and the more valuable their response will be. As a veteran, I am happy to show you where Iraq is on a map and explain how the army is organized, but I will not get as far explaining my experience if I have to provide this type of general knowledge. It is similar to asking a history professor about dates and times of historical events, though you would be better served by gathering the general information yourself first.
While it is unlikely you will fully understand their experiences, being informed can greatly aid veterans’ ability to share their stories.
LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO THEIR STORIES
If you are fortunate enough to have a veteran share his or her story with you, your job is to listen and try to understand their experience. Show that you are interested. And don’t expect veterans to immediately tell their full stories.
Keep in mind, there are hardships of being a service member that they are not telling you about. The experience of military service can be deeply personal and you must earn veterans’ trust before they are likely to reveal the deeper story.
KNOW WHEN TO STOP A LINE OF QUESTIONING
If a veteran tells you that they don’t want to or can’t talk about certain subjects or events, stop asking questions about that topic. He or she may not be able to speak about certain things owing to the pain of memories, a lack of trust, or the need to protect the security of other soldiers. Many veterans have to keep secrets for a number of years due to security requirements. Carrying some of these secrets can be a tremendous burden.
Be mindful of the veteran’s reactions to your questions. Some questions can trigger intense memories. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a legitimate battle wound. It is also important to manage your own emotional state and the manner in which you ask questions.
RESPECT THE VETERAN’S OPINION
Every veteran experiences combat differently, even members in the same unit may have vastly different recollections of the same experience. Opinions vary from one veteran to another based on their perceptions of events, their assigned tasks, and responsibilities. As a result, higher ranking veterans often have vastly different opinions than lower ranking veterans. Regardless of their opinions, positive or negative, they are entitled to them.
Hopefully, these suggestions will help both the vets and you have better interactions here on campus. Veterans are a unique community that have done remarkable things and their stories and their history need to be preserved wherever possible. These brave men and women have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms, take the time to learn the price they paid.