Military Moral Injury: Current Controversies and Future Care

We report critically on current debates in the field, identify significant theoretical trends, highlight our own experiences, and describe our own approaches. We provide substantive recommendations for clinicians and others addressing military moral injury.

The trauma theories of Judith Herman and Jennifer Gómez, as well as the theory of moral exploitation of Michael Robillard and Bradley Strawser, and the theory of complicity and moral accountability of Gregory Mellema, provide context for understanding, and guidance for addressing military, moral injury. Three examples of communal interventions illustrate how these theories can contribute to morally engaged and contextually informed care.

Military moral injury cannot be adequately addressed in the clinical context alone using individualized treatment approaches. Effective clinicians must be morally engaged, collaborate across disciplines, and be structurally and culturally competent.