SEEKING WISDOM FROM WAR'S MORAL INJURIES

Moral injury is a wound to the soul that can occur when your actions, or the actions

of those around you, violate your deeply held moral beliefs and values. This is

especially relevant in the context of warfare, where the constant presence of death and the need to kill or avoid being killed create a unique and intensely challenging moral environment. While anyone can experience moral injury, "Coming Home Haunted" focuses specifically on moral injury experienced by combat veterans.

While both male and female veterans may experience and process moral injury in similar ways, there are distinct differences in their experiences that require tailored approaches. At this time, the program is designed specifically to address the needs of male veterans. As we continue to develop and expand our resources, we are committed to creating a dedicated program for female veterans to ensure it meets their unique needs.

Moral injury and PTSD are distinct but often co-occurring conditions. Think of them as fraternal twins. PTSD primarily affects you through flashbacks, anxieties, and hypervigilance - it's a reliving of the trauma.  Moral injury, on the other hand, is

about the damage done to your sense of self and your moral compass. It's the

struggle to live with the weight of choices made, or not made, in the crucible of

combat.

"Coming Home Haunted" is designed for only adult male veterans of the American

military who has served in any combat zone, in any capacity, and in any era. No one else is involved. The only prerequisite is that you feel you have suffered moral injury.

The goal is to help you gain life-long wisdom from your moral injury. It does not seek to “treat you” or to help you “get better.” It is where you may at last and confidentially tell your stories with total openness. It is where you and your brothers speak to one another in truth and safety.

No. The goal is not to "treat" you or provide clinical therapy of any sort, but to facilitate a process of self-understanding and wisdom-seeking. The project has no clinicians, psychologists, or anyone from the expert class. It only involves men who have served in a warfare environment. The project is a safe way for the veteran to reveal his experiences to other men who have had their own, and to do so without the stigma of mental or psychological treatments. 

While strong emotions may surface during the day, the primary focus is on each man’s gaining an intellectual understanding of his own, personal moral injury. The project will take time to help each man put his finger on the cultural and historical sources behind his personal moral injury, and how it has affected him.

Writing your story by hand, rather than typing it, has been shown to enhance memory processing and deepen reflection. The act of physical writing can help you connect with your experience in a more meaningful way.

It is unlikely that your moral injury will disappear entirely after just one day.

However, the program aims to provide you with clarity, a sense of direction, and a

framework for continuing your journey of healing and growth. You will also be given

access to a range of resources to support you moving forward.

The program is free of charge for participants.

Everything is confidential. No records kept. You may attend either under your own name or a call sign which you create for yourself.