HONORABLY DISCHARGED

Honorably Discharged follows four Army veterans---Chris Derr, Billy Smaltz, Steve Fairfax, and Andrea Neutzling. These veterans embark on individual journeys to free themselves from the haunting effects of their experiences in combat overseas and at home. Facing jail time, Chris, Billy, and Steve discover unexpected opportunities to disentangle themselves from the criminal justice system. Raped while serving in Iraq, Andrea confronts the military system that never prosecuted her assailants.

How will these ‘forever soldiers’ reckon with past injustices and find their way home again?  Click above to watch the film’s trailer:

This film will spark new conversations about promoting wellness for all veterans and their families. Please email Úrsula Castellano (ursulacastella@gmail.com) for more information.

Filmmaker Bart Kuraga, Anthropologist Matt Rosen and I are in the post-production phase of completing Honorably Discharged, a documentary film about veterans, trauma, and health. A local Athens band, Brother Hill, is composing the musical score. We will begin to distribute the film the Fall 2021. Please contact me at ursulacastella@gmail.com for more information.

The film will significantly impact the lives of veterans and help bridge the deep disconnect between the military and broader society, which has widened since the development of the all-volunteer force. Through their personal stories, four veterans share their struggles before and after separation from service, which for some led to arrest and incarceration. The film also brings to light why many veterans are often reluctant to ask for help and the role of Veteran Treatment Courts (VTCs) in helping former service members to access treatment in lieu of incarceration. 

The primary audience is the diverse population of 21 million veterans in the United States but in particular the 800,000 veterans in Ohio. There are also 520 veterans enrolled at OU (242 on the Athens campus and 278 on regional campuses). The second target audience is the Ohio legal community, specifically judges and attorneys who come into contact with veterans facing criminal charges. The third target audience is health professionals who work with veterans, including Veterans Administration (VA) personnel, mental health case managers, social workers, nurses, and doctors. There are many important lessons that veterans can teach all of us and so we will also deliver the film to the general public.