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At many points during my time as an Army Infantry officer, whether deployed or in training, I’d be charged with developing a detailed plan or “Course of Action” (COA). These COAs would be built around what was both feasible and provided the best possible likelihood of mission success. If and when it became evident that the plan was lacking in detail, a supervisor would not so kindly share that “Hope is not a course of action.” Simply put, “Hope” was not enough–and it was time to get back to work and come up with a plan that was actionable. Years later and long after my own transition from the military, I can’t help but reflect on this phrase–its intended meaning in military planning–and how at the intersection of mental health and the military community, hope is not only a course of action, it’s the best course of action.
“For Veterans transitioning out of military service, the loss of this collective community is as palpable as trauma itself.”
Over this last decade, I’ve had the honor of continuing to serve the military and Veteran community through workforce development and transition initiatives. These experiences, coupled with my recent clinical experience as a mental health counselor intern with the Veterans Administration (as part of my Masters in Mental Health from the College of William and Mary) has shown me how powerful and actionable hope truly is. Hope–as it’s defined–is “a feeling or expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen” as well as “a person or thing that may help save someone.” While those definitions alone reflect so much of what’s at the foundation of a successful transition from the military community, I believe that H.O.P.E as an acronym is an actionable way for Veterans to thrive through transition and beyond.
H- Health (and healing)- First and foremost, the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the Veteran and their family is essential. While this may seem obvious, the solutions to achieving these levels of well-being are often anything but. Achieving the three “A”s of wellbeing–Awareness, Access, and Attitude–is no easy task. Yet I’ve seen so many partners–public and private–promoting awareness and working towards the goal of accessible care. I’ve also seen a shift in attitudes–particularly within the mental health space–at the individual and organizational level during my brief time as a clinician. While there’s still much work ahead of us, the continued and increased emphasis on health and healing is gaining momentum exponentially.
O- Others- Make no mistake, there’s a common enemy here both for those going through and for those providing support in this space: isolation. Right beside our need for physical safety is our psychological imperative for a sense of belonging and togetherness. For Veterans transitioning out of military service, the loss of this collective community is as palpable as trauma itself. To be clear–all of us may need a healthy dose of solitude from time to time. Nevertheless, programs and initiatives that help foster connections within families and across communities are invaluable and help individuals go from lone-survivors to collective-thrivers.
P- Practice- Work. Competencies and credentials, as well as programs that translate and develop them, are an essential part of finding the right post-military opportunity. However, there’s more to successful post-military employment than skill sets. The practice of what we do, and the people we do it with–and for–are equally influential in how we get fulfillment out of our post-military careers. This also includes family and the role they play in our willingness and ability to truly commit to these opportunities. Finally, there’s the purpose and meaning behind what we do and how our values align with the organization’s culture and mission.
E- Empower – The “e” may very well be the most important component of “H.O.P.E”. While numerous organizations and individuals have a direct impact on the successful transition and long-term well-being of members of the military community, we must empower individuals to own their journey. Whether it’s health and well-being, connection to others, or the opportunities for meaningful careers, “own” does not mean do it alone.
During my time as mental health counselor-intern, my years in the Veteran employment and transition space, and through my first-person journey as both a Veteran and military spouse, I’ve seen the power of hope. While I shared two of Webster’s definitions above, perhaps the one that all of us in this space should be striving for is “a grounds for believing that something good may happen.” “Believing” can be achieved through health, support from others, practice and purpose, and empowerment. That, despite what I learned in my Army days many years ago, makes hope a course of action after all.