Date of Degree
5-2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Program
Education
Advisor
Paula Caffer
Advisor
Arthur Hernandez
Advisor
John De La Garza
Abstract
The subculture of the military is one that has been extensively studied, yet not enough has been studied and examined from the perspective of those who experienced it themselves. In this investigation, I reflected on significant life and cultural changes as I transitioned from Army brat, to soldier, and to civilian. These experiences form an examination of the moments which I believe to be significant ones in my life which can assist civilians with their understanding of 1980s and 1990s brats who later were soldiers themselves and then who eventually joined an unfamiliar civilian culture and work force. This investigation includes my rationale for a better understanding of the military culture that brats who later join the military endure and know best, as well as the civilian culture they later struggle to integrate into. I focused on autoethnography as the research method to self-reflect on how the culture of the military shaped the experiences of my childhood, young adult life, simultaneous soldier and student life, and finally the struggle to integrate into the life of a working adult civilian. Additionally, through this investigation I examined themes that surfaced from these reflections to identify ways to effectively relate to, live with, and work successfully with those whose native culture was the military. These themes included traumatic stress; positive, negative, and difficult transitions; and identity making.
Recommended Citation
Young, Theresa J., "The Cultural Transition of a Military Brat, Soldier, and Civilian: An Autoethnography" (2026). Theses & Dissertations. 482.
https://athenaeum.uiw.edu/uiw_etds/482