Less than a year ago, I saw a pretty photo of San Antonio, Texas on Instagram and decided I needed an excuse to visit. Weirdly enough, just a few months later, I was introduced to Marine Corps veteran Tim Jensen, the host of the American Grit podcast based in San Antonio, who invited me to fly out to record an episode in his studio. I think it’s fair to say this makes Tim Jensen my fairy godmother. :-)
(Naturally, because I’m an awkward nerd, I had to make this joke on air, which got a good chuckle out of Tim and the production crew.)
On the episode, Tim and I delved into the topic of moral injury. Moral injury is the psychological distress that arises when an individual witnesses or participates in an event that conflicts with his moral compass. The term was popularized in the mid-1990s by Dr. Jonathan Shay, a staff psychiatrist at a Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic who treated Vietnam veterans suffering from psychological trauma. Although moral injury is not a new concept, it’s now gaining more recognition in the security community following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and its subsequent psychological impact on the military/veteran community.
In the episode, we explored the origins of moral injury, why it matters, compelling real-life examples, and the latest treatments that are showing promise in treating this elusive malady.
While in San Antonio, I also had the pleasure of meeting Tim’s team of veterans who run the podcast out of the corporate headquarters of Grunt Style, the cheeky military/veteran lifestyle apparel brand. I took a grand tour of the premises, which included taking home some patriotic t-shirts and a shot glass with a bullet wedged in the center.
One of my favorites is that I got to spend one-on-one time with several team members, listening to stories about their military experience and what led them to the work they do today advocating for veteran and first responder mental health. Whether it’s building community, getting involved in legislation on Capitol Hill, or digging into the more uncomfortable mental health topics on their podcast, Tim Jensen and team are a strike force to be reckoned with when it comes to promoting mental wellness in the security field.
To watch the full episode, you can visit the web page on the American Grit site or go directly to the YouTube video. As always, I love hearing your thoughts and feedback. Thanks for tuning in!
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About Jessica Lauren Walton: Jessica is a communications strategist, video producer, and writer in the U.S. defense sector. She has written articles on a range of security and mental health topics and conducted interviews with military leadership, psychologists, filmmakers, CIA officers, journalists, and more. Jessica recently completed her memoir about her experience as an American woman struggling with mental illness while trying to get into Israeli intelligence.
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