A Veteran’s Mission: Health Focuses and Moving Forward

November is a powerful month. Some may naturally turn their attention to Veterans Day, honoring the commitment and sacrifice of service members. But November is also Men’s Health Awareness Month. As a U.S. Army veteran myself, I believe the two concepts of honoring veterans and shining light on men’s health should be inseparable.

My identity was shaped by my time in the military where the focus was on things like discipline, the mission, and ensuring myself and those around me pushed and made it through whatever was thrown our way. Since transitioning out of uniform, I have learned that one of the most important missions for me now is maintaining my own mental and physical health. One way I do that is by recognizing the impact my service has had on my own life and leveraging that knowledge to create a stronger, healthier future for myself.