Abstract

Military personnel can be exposed to events such as killing or human suffering that can breach or violate their core moral frameworks. The breaching or violation of one’s core moral framework can create moral trauma—often termed “moral injury.” Moral injury has gained increased attention during the last decade due to its links to military suicide. The core characteristics of moral injury have not yet reached a universal consensus but can include deep feelings of shame, guilt, distrust, anger, and self-condemnation. Few studies have focused on moral injury in Australia. This paper is one of several published from a larger PhD study. The purpose of this paper is to understand participants’ experiences of moral injury. Analysis of the data revealed the overarching theme—walking forwards with moral injury—describing participants’ experiences of living with a moral injury and how they navigated and made meaning of their experience. From this overarching theme, three sub-themes emerged: (a) meaning-making and moral injury, (b) narratives of transformation, and (c) leading the charge. The study found that to continue “walking forwards” a transformation of identity was needed. The transformation happened when an understanding of the meaning underpinning identity occurred, and when validation and reconciliation of the experience were achieved. These findings enhance knowledge of the mechanisms needed to better support veterans living with moral injury in Australia. Outcomes from this work may assist clinicians or those working with military veterans in providing more appropriate care to those experiencing moral injury.

Highlights

  • The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is one of Australia’s largest employers

  • Employing around 80,000 people, the ADF consists of three core branches: Australian Army (Army), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

  • A qualitative design was deemed most appropriate to address the research aims of examining how veterans narrate their experiences of moral injury post-ADF service, and what mechanisms supported them when living with moral injury in Australia

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Summary

Introduction

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is one of Australia’s largest employers. Employing around 80,000 people, the ADF consists of three core branches: Australian Army (Army), Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The core duty of the ADF is to protect Australian land, air, and sea, and the citizens who live within Australia. To perform this duty requires a collective mentality and adherence to predetermined codes of group behaviour. Actions required of veterans can demand split-second decision-making These decisions can affront existing moral frameworks resulting in moral injury (Currier et al, 2015; Shay, 2014). Most research into moral injury stems from the USA and has been military-focused (Bryan et al, 2016; Drescher et al, 2011; Griffin et al, 2019; Koenig, 2018).

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