Your Military Life, Your Civilian Life - helps active duty and veterans explore and document military and civilian life events, experiences, thoughts. Quantity sales of My Military Life, My Civilian Life are available to groups, associations, corporations, and government. Here are some examples for using this book as an educational gift, incentive or premium
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Your Military Life, Your Civilian Life
He who learns must suffer.
And even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
and in our own despite, against our will,
comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.
—Aeschylus       
 
Note from the Author, Mark Bottita

I was inspired by several sources when conceiving Your Military Life, Your Civilian Life. Not a military man myself, I wondered "What is an appropriate civilian response (or even duty) to the unfolding and aftermath of war?" How do we, as a society, come to terms with our own collective tragedy and sorrow? Beyond the political implications (for/against) how can I—an average citizen—become more involved with the process of my own country's war...but on a more substantial level than merely as a spectator of the nightly news? And beyond the selfish egalitarian self-satisfaction?

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I believe that my initial obligation to the idea of the book came from a desire to bring the benefits of life review and life story to the needs of active duty military and veterans. But another influence was exploring my grandfather's military service with the U.S. Army in WWII (Co.B, 38th Infantry, 2nd Div). I also have been moved by other veterans who shared their service or civilian stories and experiences in life review workshops and in university courses.

Bio • Mark Bottita

Using degrees earned in English literature (BA, University Buffalo) and communication (MA, University of Notre Dame), Mark Bottita puts narrative inquiry and life review to practical use for readers of Your Military Life, Your Civilian Life. Since 2001, he has taught communication courses (interpersonal, speech, media literacy, marketing communication) at Indiana University South Bend, Tri-State University, Purdue University North Central and Southwestern Michigan College. Bottita also brings his education and experience to the table for his Ask the Author live discussion room for readers. He is currently on the adjunct faculty of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

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