The University of Texas Permian Basin is proud to announce that Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Rebecca Babcock and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) Professor Marlon Fick have been awarded prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities awards. I think so. (NEH) Grant under the War Experience Dialogue Program. This grant will support important discussions that explore the human experience of war and military service through the lens of the humanities. Additionally, UTPB faculty members Clark Moreland and Maria Avalos will serve as discussion leaders for the project, facilitating meaningful conversations that foster understanding and connection.
This grant will support a two-year project entitled “Repairing the Spiritual Gap: Negotiating Combat Trauma with Visual/Text Humanities” to provide support to veterans, active duty military, and the West Texas community. It provides an opportunity to engage with literature on war themes through systematic discussion. Group and ultimately community-wide panel events.
The purpose of this grant is to provide an environment and context for veterans to connect, build relationships, and share experiences. The program aims to foster dialogue and reflection for veterans to have a voice while addressing civilian understanding of how to negotiate invisible wounds and support the military, News reported. the release stated.
The first group discussion will be held on Friday, November 22 at 11 a.m. in the Heimerman Center (2nd floor, Mesa Building) on the UTPB campus and will feature guest speaker Maj. Thomas A. Denninghoff (S) of the Virginia Military Institute. Masu. Local veterans and community members interested in becoming discussion leaders are encouraged to participate in this meaningful conversation.
“Despite numerous Department of Defense (DoD)-supported suicide prevention programs and efforts to encourage mental health counseling, suicide rates among veterans have consistently increased over the past 20 years. “Addressing this issue at the level gives veterans the opportunity to understand that they are not fighting alone,” Denninghoff said in the release.
Discussion topics include honor, camaraderie, exile, the emotional gap during trauma, and the second shock after returning home. This project will primarily focus on the Vietnam War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. With support from Student Veterans Services, Babcock and Fick are looking to recruit student veterans and community veterans to participate.
“Veterans, who make up less than 1% of the American population, have a unique perspective on life and lessons we can all learn from them. If we can’t show that they belong and that their experiences are valid and meaningful, we lose those perspectives and lessons,” said Maj. Denninghoff.
Groups are led by trained discussion leaders who have the resources and skillsets to support service members, veterans, and their families interested in discussing and even writing about their military experiences.
