Know This
Experience the story of being a veteran as told by veterans.
What Veterans Want You to Know
In this three-part video series, veterans share their firsthand experiences, thoughts, and opinions on serving in the military, returning home, and their subsequent life journeys. Each video covers different topic areas, from the basics of military culture, to veteran identity, to the aftermath of returning home to civilian life. Veterans featured in these videos come from diverse backgrounds, branches of service, eras of service, and generations. The goal of this series is to provide an insight into the military world. These videos produced by the Military Resilience Foundation.
What Veterans Want You to Know
Part One: The Basics
In this video, you will learn about the U.S. Military Branches of Service. You’ll hear the Oath of Enlistment, and you’ll learn about eras of service and their uniqueness, and the difference between Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve.
What Veterans Want You to Know
Part Two: Basic Training & Beyond
In this video, you will learn about the physical and mental demands of boot camp, the effects of being deployed, the effects on family, the switch from “I” to “We”, and the complexities of the Veteran identity.
What Veterans Want You to Know
Part Three: The Return Home
In this video, you will learn about returning from “We” to “I”, Post Traumatic Stress, Moral Injury, Veteran suicide, and assumptions made about Veterans. You’ll learn ways to communicate with Veterans, including “Do’s” and “Don’ts,” and about connecting with Veterans through the Arts.
Understanding Military Culture & the Role of Art in Healing
An integral part of the VetArtSpan project is helping artists, community members and service providers understand the basics of military culture and what it’s like to serve in uniform. Towards this goal the Straz Center for the Performing Arts created a primer, Understanding Military Culture and the Role of Art in Healing, which covers topics ranging from the branches and eras of service, to deployment cycles, reintegration, and the experience of military family members and caregivers. Each section is outlined below and links to the full text are provided as a resource for further learning.
This primer does not function as a stand-alone text. If you are interested in learning more about the military and veteran community we encourage you to reach out, start conversations, and learn from the people around you. The Straz Center for the Performing Arts and many other organizations offer a variety of events and activities to help you start that process.

Why is being culturally competent important?
According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, more than 1.5 million veterans call Florida home, the third highest population in the United States behind California and Texas. As more veterans leave military service or retire from the workforce, they come to Florida in search of warmer temperatures and economic opportunity. According to data compiled by Pew Research, Florida’s citizens, and especially its Puerto Rican and African American communities, are overrepresented in relation to rates of enlistment and active duty military service. It is clear that Floridians embody a spirit of patriotism and that service members, veterans, and their families will continue to be an integral part of Florida’s communities for decades to come.
Click here to read more about the basics of Military Cultural Competency, including branches of service, service eras, and understanding veteran identity.
1. The Basics of Military Cultural Competence

What is it like to serve in the military?
Click here to read more about deployment cycles, reintegration, and common barriers that service members may face.
2. Reintegration and Deployment

What can I do to help as an artist, community member, or service provider?
Click here to read more about providing support and overcoming stigma.
3. Areas for Support

What about family members and caregivers of veterans?
Click here to read more about understanding and supporting military family members and caregivers.
4. Family and Caregivers

Why use art when working with the military & veteran community?
Click here to read more about how art heals trauma, builds community, and bridges the gap between civilians and the military & veteran community.