Abstract: Research shows the positive effects of creative self-expression and, specifically, poetry therapy for Veterans, including Veterans experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder. Studies also state the need for more research in the area. This article suggests the benefit of research studying not only what Veterans say about their experiences with poetry but also what Veterans say in their poetry — and how they say it. The author analyzes a poem that takes as its topic what it means to express military experience in a poem. “Here, Bullet,” the title poem of Brian Turner’s collection of poetry about his time as an American infantry team leader in Iraq, features a speaker who creates the “here” of the poem as an alternative space to the “here” of the endangered body. This is a “here” that readers, including the re-reading poet, might visit, encountering difficult experiences within the confines of the poem that they can also leave. This article’s implications are that Veterans’ poetry, when treated as art, can tell people something about what poetry writing and reading offer Veterans. The fullest picture of what poetry means for and does for Veterans would include close analysis of the poetry itself.
Abstract: Introduction: Persistent inequities exist in obstetric and neonatal outcomes in military families despite universal health care coverage. Though the exact underlying cause has not been identified, social determinants of health may uniquely impact military families. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the potential impact of social determinants of health and the lived experiences of military individuals seeking maternity care in the Military Health System. Materials and methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Nine providers conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with individuals who delivered within the last 5 years in the direct or purchased care market. Participants were recruited through social media blasts and clinic flyers with both maximum variation and homogenous sampling to ensure participation of diverse individuals. Data were coded and themes were identified using inductive qualitative research methods. Results: Three main themes were identified: Requirements of Military Life (with subthemes of pregnancy notification and privacy during care, role of pregnancy instructions and policies, and role of command support), Sociocultural Aspects of the Military Experience (with subthemes of pregnancy as a burden on colleagues and a career detractor, postpartum adjustment, balancing personal and professional requirements, pregnancy timing and parenting challenges, and importance of friendship and camaraderie in pregnancy), and Navigating the Healthcare Experience (including subthemes of transfer between military and civilian care and TRICARE challenges, perception of military care as inferior to civilian, and remote duty stations and international care). Conclusions: The unique stressors of military life act synergistically with the existing health care challenges, presenting opportunities for improvements in care. Such opportunities may include increased consistency of policies across services and commands. Increased access to group prenatal care and support groups, and increased assistance with navigating the health care system to improve care transitions were frequently requested changes by participants.