American Homefront Project

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The American Homefront Project is reporting on military life and veterans issues. We're visiting bases to chronicle how American troops are working and living. We're meeting military families. We're talking with veterans -- in their homes, on their jobs, at school, at VA hospitals -- to learn about the challenges they face.

Support for the American Homefront Project comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as part of CPB's ongoing effort to expand coverage of local, regional, and national issues. Additional support comes from our partner public radio stations -- North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Texas Public Radio, KPBS-San Diego, St. Louis Public Radio, and WSHU-Fairfield, Conn.

Series

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2022 American Veteran 
4 Pieces

In commemoration of Veteran’s Day, the American Homefront Project collaborated with the PBS documentary series "American Veteran" to profile men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

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American Veteran 2021 
5 Pieces

In commemoration of Veteran’s Day 2021, the American Homefront Project collaborated with the PBS documentary series "American Veteran" to profile men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

Pieces

Unable to recruit enough techies, the military is partnering with universities and start-ups
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Duke graduate engineering student Matt Hawkins volunteers for a demonstration of a nasal ventilation tube during a class called "Hacking for Defense.", Credit: Jay Price/American Homefront
To keep up with potential adversaries such as China, the Pentagon is teaming with civilian technological innovators and trying to adopt some of the...

Bought by Texas Public Radio, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPBS, WUSF and more


  • Added: Feb 25, 2019
  • Length: 04:03
  • Purchases: 7
To reach potential recruits, the Army is working to win over high school teachers
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: High school educators take part in a virtual firing range exercise as they tour Fort Carson, Col. Army leaders hope these tours will result in educators steering more students toward military service., Credit: Dan Boyce / American Homefront
To increase interest in military service among teenagers, the Army is reaching out to some of the people who know them best: high school teachers a...

Bought by KPBS, WUSF, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 05, 2019
  • Length: 03:56
  • Purchases: 4
Most veterans who kill themselves are 55 or older. The VA is trying to learn why.
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: 76 year old Army veteran Robert Neilson writes notes of encouragement to fellow veterans who have contemplated suicide. He's struggled with mental health issues since he left the Army in the 1960s., Credit: Matt Bowler / KPBS
Veterans are about twice as likely as non-veterans to die by suicide. But the majority of those suicides are among veterans aged 55 or older -- who...

Bought by WUSF, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, North Country Public Radio, KRZA, and Texas Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 13, 2018
  • Length: 03:35
  • Purchases: 5
Medical foster homes can be an option for elderly veterans, but the VA won't pay for them
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: At a medical foster home near San Antonio, caregiver Tiffany Graves (left) sets out art supplies for Rose Witherspoon, a World War II veteran., Credit: Carson Frame/American Homefront
For thousands of elderly veterans, long term care means living in a nursing home or institutional care setting. But some have found a much homier o...

Bought by WUSF, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, North Country Public Radio, KPBS and more


  • Added: Dec 10, 2018
  • Length: 03:43
  • Purchases: 7
In an outdoor recreation program, veterans find healing and friendship
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Jesus Guzmán (right) and fellow Higher Ground veterans participate in a team-building exercise during a hike in Big Bear, Cal., Credit: Libby Denkmann/American Homefront
At "recreational therapy" camps, outdoor activities and mindfulness help veterans with PTSD, sexual trauma, and other issues.

Bought by KRZA, KMUD, KPBS, North Country Public Radio, Texas Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 25, 2018
  • Length: 03:53
  • Purchases: 7
A challenge for military moms: Breastfeeding and pumping on duty
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Staff Sgt. Melishia Francis prepares her breast pump in a lactation room at Lackland Air Force Base's Wilford Hall Medical Hospital., Credit: Daniel J. Calderón / US Air Force
Inflexible work schedules and lack of support can make it tough for new mothers in the military to keep breastfeeding their children.

Bought by KRZA, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KMUD, Texas Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 01, 2018
  • Length: 03:46
  • Purchases: 7
As medical marijuana becomes more accepted, veterans urge the VA to prescribe it
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Janine Lutz displays her Memorial Wall, which she built with photos of veterans who killed themselves. She said the VA's policy shunning medical marijuana is leading to needless deaths., Credit: Julio Ochoa/American Homefront
Though medical marijuana is legal in most states, the Department of Veterans Affairs will neither recommend nor prescribe it because of a longstand...

Bought by Texas Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, North Country Public Radio, KPCC, and KPBS


  • Added: Sep 04, 2018
  • Length: 03:40
  • Purchases: 5
After generations of grief and frustration, families of Korean War MIAs are more optimistic
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: U.S. Defense Department forensic anthropologists in Wonsan, North Korea examine the contents of boxes containing the possible remains of U.S. MIAs July 27, 2018., Credit: David Marshall / U.S. Army
Families hope advances in DNA technology and thawing U.S./North Korean relations will help the government recover and identify long-missing remains...

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPBS, Texas Public Radio, and WUSF


  • Added: Aug 28, 2018
  • Length: 03:53
  • Purchases: 4
As America's veterans grow older, the VA faces a long-term care crisis
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Participants in Oxnard Family Circle's Adult Day Healthcare program get transportation to and from home on weekdays., Credit: Libby Denkmann/American Homefront
The number of veterans in the VA healthcare system who are 70 or older is expected to grow 30 percent in the next eight years.

Bought by Texas Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, WUSF, KMUD, and KPBS


  • Added: Aug 21, 2018
  • Length: 03:50
  • Purchases: 5
These Air Force trainees spend less time in the cockpit, more time in flight simulators
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Airman 1st Class Jack Pepper (with goggles) attempts a maneuver on a simulator while Lt. Col. Paul Vicars looks on. Pepper is among the first participants in Pilot Training Next, which uses off-the-shelf virtual reality technology., Credit: Carson Frame / American Homefront
Facing a shortage of pilots, the Air Force is experimenting with ways to make training programs faster and less expensive.

Bought by Texas Public Radio, WUSF, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, KPBS, and KPCC


  • Added: Aug 07, 2018
  • Length: 03:45
  • Purchases: 5

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People who work with American Homefront Project

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Dave DeWitt
Reporter/Producer, WUNC
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Adam Hochberg (Admin)
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Brent Wolfe
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KPBS News
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KPCC BoardOperators
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Shahla Farzan
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Jonathan Ahl
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Dan Katz