Those who serve in the military do so knowing the risks involved. However, some of the most damaging effects of service are often in relation to mental health. In 2018, 325 active-duty members died by suicide—the highest number reported since the Department of Defense began collecting this data in 2001. To put that into perspective, there have been 75 total U.S. military casualties in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2015.
Jack Junker, a student in The Chicago School’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology program, is hoping to use his education to help change this narrative while serving his country. In addition to his coursework, he is currently preparing to enter Officer Development School (ODS) for the U.S. Navy.
“By joining the military, I feel that I can better understand the culture that revolves around those who serve and build rapport with future clients resulting in a positive impact in their lives,” Junker says. He credits the Navy for providing him with the chance to prove his worth through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and offering him the opportunity to work within one of their hospitals for internship.
Junker says he chose The Chicago School to prepare him for the work ahead because it is a place where he could learn from renowned psychologists who hold a real passion for the work they do and truly care for their students and clients. He hopes to bring that same passion to the work he will be doing.
“I can sound like a broken record, but I am ultimately here to serve my country to the best of my ability and help those in need,” he says. “I am excited to see how The Chicago School can help me along the way.”
Even before beginning his military service, Junker had already begun volunteering to help make a difference locally. Through The Chicago School’s Community Partnerships he met Kelcey Liverpool, co-founder and executive director of Kids Rank.
“It’s an organization that helps military children adjust to new duty stations. We encourage them to become involved in the community and provide an outlet for them to express themselves intellectually, emotionally, and physically,” Junker says. While he has limited time between school and ODS preparation, Junker has taken up the role of unofficial spokesperson for the organization, trying to recruit more students from The Chicago School to help out. Soon he will be off to volunteer in a much different capacity.
After his recent swearing-in ceremony, Junker describes a mixture of emotions he feels as he prepares for this next step in his life. “I feel proud to become something more than just myself and to serve my country,” he says. “I’m scared because it is a huge step that I am taking and there is no going back, but I am happy that I have been able to accomplish what I have so far in order to get where I am. And I feel eager to begin using my skills to help the military community, including the families and loved ones of active-duty service members.”
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