MISSION
To bridge the civil-military divide by examining the impact of war through first-person stories about military life and providing education, community and healing.
“We all need to feel like we belong and are connected to others, and I struggle with loneliness and detachment in this lifestyle. I know my children do too—they just may not know how to express it in words. My job is to be their constant, keeping them connected to their friends and family regardless of geographic location, so they know they are loved and cared for."-Meghan Moretti, military spouse
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
“To Be At War” explores the experiences of individuals in the military community whose lives are shaped by preparing for war, being at war, and processing the impact of war. Today, a smaller percentage of the U.S. population than ever before (less than 1%) serves in the military and a higher percentage of soldiers now have their own families. Thus, the burden of war has come to fall on these families, a community increasingly isolated from the civilian population.
To further explore the experiences of military families, photographer Arin Yoon led photography workshops for military spouses and children in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She aimed not only to teach photography fundamentals to military spouses and children, but also to provide a space for discussion and creative self expression. In addition, some project participants shared and reflected on images from their personal archives, further examining the social impact of war on themselves and on this community.
“To Be At War” explores the experiences of individuals in the military community whose lives are shaped by preparing for war, being at war, and processing the impact of war. Today, a smaller percentage of the U.S. population than ever before (less than 1%) serves in the military and a higher percentage of soldiers now have their own families. Thus, the burden of war has come to fall on these families, a community increasingly isolated from the civilian population.
To further explore the experiences of military families, photographer Arin Yoon led photography workshops for military spouses and children in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She aimed not only to teach photography fundamentals to military spouses and children, but also to provide a space for discussion and creative self expression. In addition, some project participants shared and reflected on images from their personal archives, further examining the social impact of war on themselves and on this community.
ABOUT THE PROJECT FACILITATOR
Arin Yoon is a Korean American documentary photographer, visual artist, arts educator and military spouse based in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Her work focuses on the military, families, and women and issues of representation and identity.
Arin is a National Geographic Explorer and this project is funded by We, Women, the National Geographic Society, and The National Military Family Association.
Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Reuters, ProPublica, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and The Korea Times. Arin has exhibited at venues such as the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Seoul, Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, Anthology Film Archives and A.I.R. Gallery in New York.
YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Adela Courtright, Alex H., Lis H., Ethan Herbek, Ethan Lasiter, Kylena Lasiter, Olivia Takash
SERVICE MEMBER PARTICIPANTS:
CJ Ancheta, Jen Ancheta, Matt Beall, Mac Brinker, Chris Brown, Chad Buckel, Jaydon Campbell, John Cole, John Courtright, Marea Fluker, Javier Gardea, Michael Jasper, David Kidd, David Kim, Alice Kim, Brent Kinney, Jared Kite, Nolan Lasiter, Matt Lyles, John Principe, Charles Smith, Mark White
Adela Courtright, Alex H., Lis H., Ethan Herbek, Ethan Lasiter, Kylena Lasiter, Olivia Takash
SERVICE MEMBER PARTICIPANTS:
CJ Ancheta, Jen Ancheta, Matt Beall, Mac Brinker, Chris Brown, Chad Buckel, Jaydon Campbell, John Cole, John Courtright, Marea Fluker, Javier Gardea, Michael Jasper, David Kidd, David Kim, Alice Kim, Brent Kinney, Jared Kite, Nolan Lasiter, Matt Lyles, John Principe, Charles Smith, Mark White
