The first time I ever heard the term military sexual trauma was when I was living with my future husband in Olympia, Washington in 2006. He was active duty Air Force stationed at McChord Air Force Base. I was a traditional National Guardsman. I had just transferred from a combat communications squadron in 2005 to a … More Paying It Forward Thanks to Army Specialist Suzanne Swift (2016)
Lessons We Learned After Being Scapegoated by Toxic Leaders, Authorities and Public Figures (August 6, 2026) How 9/11, my father’s death, military retaliation, stop-loss, and toxic exposure pushed me to the edge—and why my service still counts. Like a lot of Americans, I have a hard time around 9/11. It’s hard to even write about it … More Complex Trauma, Toxic Leadership, and Heavy Metals Poisoning: A Veteran’s Story (September 16, 2015)
The entire time we lived in rural Maine, we watched the cops, authorities, and the media dehumanize Maine citizens. They turned traumatized people, those with disabilities, those who are poor, and those who were sick and/or addicted into criminals to justify the budgets to keep their fat government jobs funded in an area where there … More Bangor Daily News Reported “Maine Woman Shot By Rumford Police Accused of Threatening Authorities With a Knife” (2014)
The Uncounted Every day, 22 veterans commit suicide. That number is sadly familiar. It has become a symbol of the cost of war that extends beyond the battlefield. But no one is tracking war’s impact on another group: military spouses, siblings and parents. Their suicides go uncounted. The dozens of military family members I interviewed over the … More The Uncounted (CNN Special on Caregiver & Family Suicide)
Uniform Betrayal: Rape in the Military
The Wounded Platoon: How a platoon of soldiers, changed by war is battling mental health disorders that many blame for their violent, self-destructive behavior.
“It’s Against Our Policy” was originally published on March 5, 2014 How many jobs have I worked at where “It’s Against our Policy” ended it all. The ironic thing: nothing is ever in writing, standards have not been set (or the boss can do whatever but control you), and once you agree to volunteer, you … More Workplace Abuse and Bullying: My Story as a Veteran Advocate in the “MST Community” (2014)
Jennifer got Onyx in May 2013 at a program for veterans called K9s for Warriors. Not only was Onyx an awesome companion during some of the most difficult times in our lives but the woman who ran K9s for Warriors with her son was a loving person we all referred to as “mom.” She really … More A Quiet Lifeline: How Onyx Helped Us Survive Relentless Online Bullying; Jennifer, Lee and Onyx Go For a Jeep Ride in Western Maine (August 10, 2013)
Michael Matthews gave himself away when he got drunk one night while Jennifer was in town prior to the documentary premiere. While Jennifer was in her room, she could hear Matthews on the phone with what sounded like Queen Bee devising a plan to take her down. Jennifer knew when she went back to New … More The Trip That Changed Everything: Jennifer and Onyx Fly to Albuquerque, New Mexico (June 3, 2013)
Veteran’s Day Ceremony 2012Sponsored by Maine Veterans Art ProjectVA Maine Healthcare System, Augusta, Maine November 9, 2012 I am struggling to find a place to begin. Do I tell you all the nitty gritty details to persuade you that I am telling you the truth, do I just simply state what happened and assume that … More ‘A Place to Begin’ by Jennifer Norris, USAF Retired [Video] (2012)
