Headlines, press conferences often frame the military, its mission of national security, and its members, or think tank reports. But for most Americans, their understanding of war, peace, and service comes from something much more familiar: stories.
Books, films, podcasts, and documentaries often define how the public sees military service and the national security landscape. Increasingly, those stories are being told not by outsiders, but by veterans themselves.
Veteran creators, whether filmmakers, authors, or media personalities, bring authenticity and lived experience that challenge stereotypes and deepen the public’s understanding of what it means to serve. Their voices don’t just entertain; they shape public opinion and even influence how future policies are received.
From Battlefield to Big Screen
Hollywood has a long history of portraying war and military life, but too often, those portrayals lacked the perspective of those who lived it. Those stories tend to be overdramatized, inaccurate, or portrayed by distractingly bad actors or details. That is changing. Veteran filmmakers are stepping behind the camera, ensuring accuracy while also adding humanity to stories that might otherwise feel one-dimensional.
Projects like documentaries made by combat correspondents or films written and directed by veterans give audiences a rawer, more honest picture of conflict and its aftermath. They are not propaganda pieces, but rather explorations of sacrifice, resilience, and sometimes failure. The result is a more balanced conversation about what military service and national security demand of individuals and families.
Veterans as Storytellers
Books, both fiction and nonfiction, have always been a platform for veterans to express their experiences into lessons for the public. From memoirs of service in Iraq and Afghanistan to novels that blend war themes with broader questions of identity, veteran authors provide an insider’s look at security challenges that most people only see from a distance.
These works go beyond battlefield accounts. They often wrestle with themes of reintegration, trauma, moral injury, and leadership. By doing so, veteran writers help the audience understand the long-term impacts of national security policy on real human lives, something headlines rarely capture.
The Digital Shift: Podcasts, Social Media, and Independent Media
Today’s generation of veteran creators is not limited to publishing houses or Hollywood studios. Many are turning to podcasts, YouTube, and social platforms to share their voices directly with the public. Podcasts hosted by veterans often blend humor, storytelling, and analysis, providing audiences with both entertainment and education.
On social media, veteran creators are breaking down complex topics like cyber threats, international relations, or special operations culture into digestible content that resonates with broad audiences. Their lived credibility allows them to cut through noise in ways traditional experts sometimes cannot.
Austin von Letkemann, otherwise known as @MandatoryFunDay, has a following of more than 1.3 million on Instagram alone. His humor, which is military-centric, shows the fun and humorous side of life in the U.S. Army. Sgt. 1st Class Tyler Butterworth, a recruiter with the Army National Guard, has more than 2.5 million followers on IG, which is almost two million more than the Army’s Recruiting Command page.
Why Veteran Creators Matter
The impact of veteran creators extends beyond storytelling. By shaping how the public views national security, they also influence the cultural legitimacy of policy decisions. A powerful documentary can reframe how the nation talks about intervention abroad. A veteran’s memoir can spark empathy in ways data never could. A viral podcast clip can humanize a conflict most Americans feel detached from.
This influence is not without responsibility. When veterans tell stories, they are not only representing themselves but also a broader community of service members. Yet their participation in media is critical because without those voices, the narrative of national security risks is being shaped only by politicians, pundits, or entertainment executives.
Notable Veteran Creators Who Are Shaping the Narrative
- Ray Mendoza – Former Navy SEAL, co-writer and co-director of Warfare (2025). The film recreates a 2006 Ramadi mission entirely from lived experience, offering a raw look at combat and its psychological toll.
- Adam Driver – Marine Corps veteran and actor, best known for Star Wars. He founded Arts in the Armed Forces, bringing live theater and storytelling to service members and veterans, and continues to support veteran charities such as Folds of Honor.
- Phil Klay – Marine Corps veteran and author of Redeployment, which won the National Book Award. His writing provides unflinching insight into modern warfare, moral injury, and the human dimension of national security.
- 12 Strong (2018) – Based on the book Horse Soldiers and the true story of U.S. Army Green Berets in Afghanistan immediately after 9/11. While Hollywood produced the film, the story was deeply influenced by the veterans who lived it, bringing public attention to Special Forces’ pivotal but often unseen role in early operations.
Keepers of Reality
Veteran creators have become essential interpreters of national security for the public. Through film, books, podcasts, and digital media, they bridge the gap between the complexity of global affairs and the lived experiences of those who served. Their stories humanize strategy, ground policy in reality, and ensure that service is understood not just as a statistic but as a human endeavor.
The future of national security storytelling will depend not only on policymakers and analysts but also on the veterans who bring those issues to life through art and media. Their voices remind us that national security is not abstract; it is deeply personal, and it deserves to be told by those who know it best.
