Military Social Work MSW Personal Purpose Statement
- Robert Edinger
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
The University of ____ is my top choice for earning an MSW Degree for several reasons, particularly your emphasis on military social work, which aligns with my career goal of assisting veterans with PTSD. Currently, I am a full-time student at the University of Utah and will graduate with a BS in Health Promotion and Education in August 2016, focusing on Emergency Medical Services and Wilderness First Response. I have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.8 and have been on the Dean’s List every semester.
I served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps, with 3 years in the reserves and 5 on active duty, taking on numerous leadership roles, mentoring others, traveling globally, and facing life-threatening situations. I have significant experience as an Emergency Room Technician and National Ski Patrol Outdoor Emergency Care First Responder, in addition to my military background and subsequent work in Presidential Security, where I held leadership roles in protecting the President of the United States, both at the White House and internationally. I have had the privilege of shaping and influencing many young Marines, demonstrating my skills as an adaptive leader with a natural inclination for caring and compassion.
From December 2010 to July 2012, I was a Supervisor of Presidential Security and Support for the White House in Washington D.C., overseeing work assignments, evaluating performance, and mentoring teams involved in protecting the President of the United States, both at the White House and during international travel, coordinating with the White House Military Office.
While working in Presidential Security, I was unaware that I was suffering from PTSD. Due to the sensitive nature of the position, I did not find it appropriate to address my own mental health challenges at that time. However, since leaving that role in July 2012 and becoming a full-time student, I have had the opportunity to heal and explore my condition, largely overcoming it. Due to my recent security clearance, I am legally restricted from discussing my deployments and activities outside the United States, but I did spend time in combat zones multiple times during my active duty with the Marine Corps.
Initially, I intended to become a Physician Assistant when I chose my undergraduate major. However, my goal has shifted, largely due to my successful journey in managing my PTSD. Now, I am committed to a lifetime of healing, helping returning veterans cope with their experiences and the often challenging transition to civilian life. I aim to minimize the impact on their families as well.
Preventing veteran suicide is central to my mission. Once I earn the MSW from U__, my previous experience will position me to take on leadership roles in this critical endeavor. The current situation, where more veterans are taking their own lives than falling in combat, is deeply troubling to me. Something must be done, and as a soldier, I volunteer for active duty once more, this time to prevent suicides. This will be the true battle of my life, one I intend to fight for the next fifty years.
Throughout my life, I have taken an interest in and successfully dealt with mental health issues affecting my friends, family, myself, and my military colleagues. I consider myself fortunate to understand firsthand the challenges of mental illness. Whether it's a family member, colleague, friend, or oneself, I have learned about the barriers and difficulties in seeking help and navigating complex systems that often hinder those in need.
When I reached out to the VA, I was reminded of the military's "hurry up and wait" mentality. I felt like a number rather than a person, forced to navigate endless obstacles, only to end up in group counseling that felt more like a gripe session than therapy. The treatment I received at the VA was worse than I had imagined. The "therapists" seemed uninterested and distracted.
As a social worker, I aim to address the often overlooked and stigmatized mental health issues affecting veterans from all backgrounds. As a PTSD sufferer, I experienced years of ineffective medication with unpleasant side effects. In desperation, I sought help from a counselor, a decision that became a pivotal turning point in my life and the reason for my dedication to becoming a social work professional.
My counselor, an LCSW, helped me see a light at the end of the tunnel after just a few sessions. Instead of masking my symptoms with medication, she helped me understand the roots of my problems, teaching me skills and helping me accept my issues. I came to appreciate the critical role she played, which inspired me to pursue a career in social work, particularly for my military colleagues and veterans who continue to suffer.
The more I learn about mental illness and its treatment, the more I believe we over-rely on medication, particularly psychotropic drugs, which I see as a temporary fix rather than a solution. I am also eager to study how mental health and seeking help have been stigmatized, leading many, like myself, to delay seeking help, often resulting in suicide.
I want to save lives and help turn nightmares into livable realities. Each day, I want to see my reflection smiling back at me, knowing I have made a difference in the lives of returning veterans and their families, especially their children.
I have had a strong interest in U.S. mental health policy, partly due to my brother's diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Since his struggle began, I have faced bureaucratic challenges alongside him. Instead of receiving necessary help, he is often seen as an outcast and burden. Mental health issues affect many in our country, and gaining the skills to identify and treat these problems has become my central goal, in honor of my country, my comrades, and my brother.
As an undergraduate, I studied Health Promotion and Education with a focus on Emergency Medical Services and Wilderness Remote Rescue, intending to become a Physician Assistant. I believed this path would allow me to help those in need. However, as I gained more knowledge and experience in medicine, I realized that I want to address the underlying issues that often lead to mental health problems, particularly PTSD.
I am aware that as a white man, I aim to provide focused and individualized attention to all veterans, with a particular focus on minority groups, especially Latinos. My Spanish is improving quickly, and I use it whenever possible. I see this as crucial and look forward to offering bilingual therapy to Latino soldiers who prefer speaking Spanish.
Among various volunteer efforts, one stands out as a pivotal experience that provided me with direction, purpose, and joy: my work with Project Healing Waters. As a Vet Mentor/Advocate, I helped with the physical and emotional rehabilitation of combat-wounded military personnel and veterans, mainly through fly fishing activities, focusing on socialization and camaraderie within groups.
My long-term objectives include continuing to learn to gain the skills necessary to make a significant impact. I envision myself working in a clinical setting, ideally for the VA, helping service members struggling with the effects of war reintegrate into civilian life. I also hope to work with programs that engage veterans and teach them skills to overcome PTSD.
I aspire to publish on the subject of PTSD in the future.
I'm grateful for your consideration of my application to U__.
Military Social Work MSW Personal Purpose Statement
