Unseen Warrior: A Military Cultural Guide for Mental Health Professionals

Jessica Behne, Major (USMCR), MA, LMFT is a graduate of Frostburg State University (BA in Social Work) and Texas A&M University-San Antonio (MA in Marriage and Family Therapy). She is pursuing her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Regent University.  Jessica served in the United States Marine Corps as an active-duty officer (2011 to 2016) and as a reserve officer (2016 to the present). During her service, she supported multiple training exercises, including theater security cooperation events in the Philippines. She performed key billets as the Deployment Readiness Coordinator for 3D Assault Amphibian Battalion (2019–2021) and the Family Readiness Officer for 1st Civil Affairs Group (2020–2024). Currently, Jessica teaches master-level clinical courses at various universities and supervises Ukrainian clinicians working with the Ukrainian military. Her research is focused on the cognitive effects of military training and war trauma on service members, veterans, and clinicians. Jessica also continues to provide trauma-informed care through her telehealth practice, Breakthrough Therapy Texas, serving veterans and military families.
 

Sam Zasadny is a graduate of the US Naval Academy (BS), George Washington University (MIPP), and Wheaton College (MA). He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree at Wheaton College, IL with anticipated graduation in 2027. He served in the US Marine Corps (2007–2023) as an officer, helicopter pilot, aviation specialist, and weapons school instructor. He deployed as a pilot to Afghanistan in 2011, Japan in 2013, and with a Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2015. He transitioned into the US Navy Medical Service Corps (2023–present) upon acceptance into the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) for Clinical Psychology, preparing for active-duty service as a US Navy Psychologist. His clinical experience includes work in community mental health, private practice, and military contexts.
 

Charles Hoge, MD, Colonel (Retired), is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College (BA) and University of Maryland School of Medicine (MD). He received board certification in Internal medicine, infectious diseases, and psychiatry, and served 20 years active duty in the US Public Health Service (1989–1991) and US Army (1991–2009). Dr. Hoge directed the Army’s premiere research program on the mental health and neurological effects of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001–2009. He deployed to Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan (as a civilian) in 2011. Dr. Hoge has testified to Congress on several occasions, given a Tedx talk, written a self-help book for combat veterans titled, “Once a Warrior—Always a Warrior: Navigating the Transition from Combat to Home”, and authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles. His articles on PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury are some of the most cited medical articles from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He continues to work as a psychiatrist treating service members, veterans, and family members in the Washington DC area.