UNITED MILITARY • STORY OF SERVICE

Tell Us Your Story

Thank you for allowing United Military to learn more about your service, your experiences, your family, and your life beyond the uniform. Your answers will help our team prepare a thoughtful and accurate Story of Service.

You do not need to answer every optional question. Share only what you are comfortable having our team review.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Help Us Understand the Person Behind the Uniform

This questionnaire is designed to give our writers enough detail to tell your story in a way that reflects your service, your experiences, your family, and the life you have built beyond the military.

Some questions are factual. Others invite you to share memories, lessons, challenges, accomplishments, relationships, or moments that mattered to you.

Take Your Time

There are no “perfect” answers. Short answers are fine. Long answers are welcome. If there is something important we did not ask about, there is space at the end to tell us.

Veteran Story Intake

Share your military journey with United Military. Your responses will help our team thoughtfully document and preserve your Story of Service.

Step 1 of 12

UNITED MILITARY • STORY OF SERVICE

Tell Us Your Story

Thank you for allowing United Military to learn more about your service, your experiences, your family, and your life beyond the uniform.

Your answers will help our team thoughtfully prepare your Story of Service. There are no perfect answers. Share as much or as little as you are comfortable sharing.

About You

Start with some basic information so the United Military team can identify you and contact you if we have questions about your story.

Your Name(Required)

First Last

Email Address(Required)

We'll use this if we need to contact you about your Story of Service.

Phone Number(Required)

What name would you like us to use in your story?

Example: Robert Smith, Bob Smith, Sgt. Smith, etc.

Current City

State(Required)

Age

Your Military Service

Tell us about your military background so we can accurately represent your service and experiences.

Branch of Service(Required)

Service Status(Required)

Year Service Began

Example: 1998

Year Service Ended

Example: 2012 or Present

Highest or Most Relevant Rank

Military Job / MOS / Rating / AFSC

Enter your military occupational specialty, rating, AFSC, position, or primary military role.

Units, Commands or Major Assignments

Enter your military occupational specialty, rating, AFSC, position, or primary military role.

Where Did You Serve?

Include duty stations, bases, states, countries, deployments, ships, or other significant locations.

Awards, Decorations or Recognitions

Include any awards or recognitions you would be comfortable having referenced in your Story of Service.

The Beginning of Your Journey

Every story begins somewhere. Help us understand who you were before military service, what inspired you to serve, and what you remember about the beginning of your military journey.

Where did you grow up, and what was your life like before military service?

Tell us anything you'd like us to know about your hometown, family, childhood, education, work, interests, or life before joining the military.

What led you to join the military?

Was there a particular person, event, goal, family tradition, sense of duty, opportunity, or experience that influenced your decision to serve?

How did your family or the people closest to you react when you decided to serve?

Share any memories or conversations that stand out to you.

What do you remember most about your first days in the military?

You can tell us about basic training, boot camp, your first assignment, people you met, challenges you faced, or anything else that stands out.

Was military life what you expected it to be?

Tell us what surprised you, challenged you, or changed your perspective during those early years.

Was there an early moment when you realized your military service was going to change your life?

If a particular experience, person, assignment, or moment comes to mind, tell us what happened and why it stayed with you.

Your Story of Service

Every military journey is different. This section gives you an opportunity to share the experiences, people, accomplishments, sacrifices, and moments from your service that mean the most to you. Share only what you are comfortable sharing.

What experiences from your military service stand out the most?

These may include assignments, deployments, missions, training, travel, friendships, challenges, accomplishments, or everyday moments that became meaningful to you.

What are you most proud of from your time in service?

This could be an accomplishment, responsibility, mission, promotion, award, person you helped, team you served with, or something personal that may never have received formal recognition.

Who are some of the people who made an impact on you during your military service?

Tell us about fellow service members, leaders, mentors, friends, or others who became an important part of your journey and why you remember them.

Is there one moment from your service that you will never forget?

Tell us what happened, where you were, who was there, and why that moment has stayed with you.

What did military service teach you about yourself?

Think about lessons involving leadership, courage, responsibility, discipline, teamwork, resilience, friendship, family, or life.

Were there challenges or sacrifices during your service that helped shape the person you are today?

This question is completely optional. You may share as much or as little as you are comfortable discussing.

What does serving our country mean to you today?

Looking back on your military journey, tell us what service means to you personally.

Is there something about your military experience that most people don't know?

It could be a story, responsibility, accomplishment, friendship, lesson, or experience that you feel deserves to be remembered.

Family, Friendship & the People Around You

Military service rarely affects just one person. This section helps us understand the family members, friends, fellow service members, and others who shared your journey and supported you along the way.

How did your military service affect your family or the people closest to you?

You may want to share how deployments, moves, long periods apart, career changes, or other parts of military life affected your family and relationships.

Who supported you most during your military journey?

Tell us about a spouse, partner, parent, child, relative, friend, mentor, or anyone else whose support made a difference during your service.

Were there fellow service members who became like family to you?

Tell us about the friendships, bonds, or relationships you formed through military service and what those relationships have meant to you.

Are there sacrifices your family made during your service that you would like recognized?

This might include time apart, frequent moves, raising children during deployments, career sacrifices, uncertainty, or simply being there when you needed them.

Is there a family moment from your military years that you will always remember?

It could be a homecoming, goodbye, phone call, letter, celebration, difficult moment, funny memory, or another experience that has stayed with you.

Is there someone you would like us to recognize alongside you in your story?

Tell us who they are, their relationship to you, and why you believe their part in your journey deserves to be remembered.

Is there anything you would like your family or loved ones to know about your service that you may not have said before?

Use this space to share a thought, message, memory, or expression of gratitude in your own words.

Life Beyond the Uniform

Your story did not end when your military service changed or came to an end. Help us understand the transition, the life you built afterward, and how your experiences in uniform continue to shape who you are today.

What was the transition from military service to civilian life like for you?

Tell us about the adjustments, opportunities, challenges, or experiences you remember most as you began the next chapter of your life.

What helped you find direction or purpose after military service?

This could include family, work, education, faith, another veteran, a mentor, a new career, community involvement, or something else that helped guide your next chapter.

Tell us about your life today.

We would love to learn about your family, career, business, education, hobbies, community involvement, volunteer work, interests, accomplishments, or anything else that is important to you.

What path did you take professionally after your military service?

Tell us about your career, business, education, trade, profession, retirement, or other work you have pursued. If you own a business or lead an organization, please tell us about it.

Are you involved in your community or helping others today?

Tell us about any mentoring, volunteering, veteran organizations, nonprofit work, coaching, community service, advocacy, charitable work, or other ways you give back.

How does your military experience continue to influence your life today?

Think about your values, relationships, work ethic, leadership, discipline, perspective, friendships, or the way you approach challenges.

Are there challenges in your life today that you would feel comfortable including as part of your story?

This is completely optional. Share only what you are comfortable discussing publicly or with the United Military team. You do not need to provide private medical, financial, or other sensitive information.

What are you looking forward to in the next chapter of your life?

Tell us about your goals, dreams, family plans, career ambitions, projects, travel, community work, or anything else you hope the future holds.

What brings you the most meaning or happiness in your life today?

It could be family, friendships, faith, work, helping others, hobbies, your community, time outdoors, or simply the everyday things that matter most to you.

Your Legacy

Every person who serves leaves behind lessons, memories, and an example for others. This section is about what your service means to you now, what you hope others remember, and the message you would like to leave for future generations.

What would you most like people to understand or remember about your military service?

Beyond dates, ranks, awards, and assignments, what part of your service or experience do you believe is most important to preserve?

If your children, grandchildren, or future generations read your story years from now, what would you want them to know?

Share anything you would want future generations of your family to understand about your service, your life, your values, or the experiences that shaped you.

What is one lesson from military service that has stayed with you throughout your life?

It could be a lesson about leadership, courage, responsibility, sacrifice, resilience, friendship, family, service to others, or life itself.

When you hear the word “service” today, what does it mean to you?

There is no right answer. We would like to understand what service means to you personally after everything you have experienced.

What would you say to a young person beginning their military journey today?

What advice, encouragement, warning, or lesson would you want to pass along to the next generation of service members?

When you look back today, what makes you most proud?

It may be something from your military service, your family, the life you built afterward, the people you helped, or something else entirely.

If you could leave readers with one message in your own words, what would you want to say?

Think of this as the final thought you would want someone to carry with them after reading your Story of Service.

United Military & Your Sponsorship

United Military is honored to be part of your story. Help us understand how you connected with our organization, the support or recognition you are receiving, and what this experience means to you.

How did you first connect with United Military?

Tell us how you learned about United Military, who introduced you to the organization, or how your relationship with us began.

Were you nominated or referred to United Military by someone?

If so, please provide their name and relationship to you, if known.

What need, goal, or opportunity is this support helping you address?

Help us understand why this support is meaningful at this point in your life. Share only what you are comfortable discussing.

How is United Military supporting, sponsoring, or recognizing you?

Tell us about the support, assistance, sponsorship, recognition, program, opportunity, or other involvement you are receiving from United Military.

What does United Military's support mean to you personally?

Beyond the assistance itself, tell us what being recognized or supported by United Military means to you and your family.

How do you believe this support will make a difference moving forward?

Tell us how this support may affect your family, career, goals, community involvement, next chapter, or another part of your life.

If you could describe what United Military's support means to you in your own words, what would you say?

Your response may help us capture your experience in your own voice. We will address publication permissions separately before using submitted material publicly.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize as part of this experience?

This could include family members, friends, fellow veterans, community members, organizations, businesses, donors, volunteers, or others who have helped along the way.

Is there anything else United Military could do to better support you?

This response is intended to help our team better understand your needs and improve how we serve veterans and military families.

In Your Own Words

Your service is an important part of your story, but it is not the whole story. Help us get to know the person behind the uniform — your personality, interests, values, and the words that best represent you.

How would you describe yourself to someone meeting you for the first time?

Tell us a little about your personality, values, sense of humor, outlook on life, or anything else that helps people understand who you are.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work and military life?

Tell us about your hobbies, interests, sports, travel, music, outdoor activities, family traditions, collections, projects, or anything else you enjoy.

What matters most to you in life today?

This might include family, friendships, faith, community, service to others, personal goals, freedom, country, or anything else that is important to you.

Is there a quote, motto, saying, or piece of advice that has special meaning to you?

If there is a phrase you live by or words that have stayed with you throughout your life, share them here. If you know who originally said or wrote the quote, please include their name.

In one or two sentences, how would you describe your military journey?

Don't worry about making it perfect. We simply want to hear how you would describe the experience in your own words.

What is something about you that might surprise people?

It can be serious, funny, unexpected, or completely unrelated to military service.

What three words best describe you?

Example: Loyal, determined, family-oriented.

What is something that always brings a smile to your face?

It could be a person, memory, place, tradition, hobby, pet, activity, or simple part of everyday life.

What should people know about you that we haven't asked yet?

Use this space to share anything that helps us better understand you and the story you would like United Military to preserve.

Photos & Supporting Materials

Photos help us bring your Story of Service to life. You may share current photos, military service photos, family photos, and other images or materials that help us tell your story. Please only upload materials you have the right or permission to share.

Current Photo

Please upload a clear, recent photo of yourself. A high-quality portrait or photo with good lighting is preferred.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, webp, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 10.

Family & Life Photos

You may upload family photos, homecoming photos, career or business photos, community involvement, hobbies, or other images that help show your life beyond the uniform.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, webp, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 10.

Please tell us about the photos you uploaded.

If possible, tell us who appears in the photos, approximately when and where they were taken, and what was happening. This context will help us accurately use photographs when preparing your story.

Optional Supporting Materials

If you have non-sensitive materials that may help us understand your story, you may upload them here. Examples could include award citations, newspaper clippings, letters, certificates, or other historical materials you have permission to share.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, webp, pdf, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 5.

Important: Please Protect Your Personal Information

Please do not upload classified or operationally sensitive information, Social Security numbers, military identification numbers, passwords, banking or financial account information, private medical records, or other highly sensitive personal information.

If a document contains information you do not want United Military to receive, please remove or redact that information before uploading it.

Photo & Material Acknowledgment(Required)

I confirm that I have the right or permission to provide the photos and materials I am uploading to United Military.

Is there a particular photo you believe should be featured with your Story of Service?

If so, describe the photo and tell us why it is meaningful to you.

Story Review & Permissions

Before submitting your Story of Service information, please review the permissions below. We want you to understand how United Military may review, prepare, and potentially use the information and materials you provide.

Permission to Contact(Required)

I give United Military permission to contact me regarding my Story of Service submission, including follow-up questions, interviews, story review, and related communications.

Story Preparation Permission(Required)

I give United Military permission to review, organize, edit, and use the information I submit for the purpose of preparing my Story of Service.

Accuracy Acknowledgment(Required)

I confirm that the information I have provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Photos & Supporting Materials(Required)

I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, I own or have permission to provide the photographs and supporting materials I submitted to United Military.

Story Publication Preference(Required)

Please tell us how you would like United Military to handle publication of your Story of Service. Selecting an option below does not prevent our team from contacting you to discuss your preferences.

I am comfortable with United Military publishing my Story of Service after it has been prepared and reviewed according to United Military's story process.

I would like to review my completed Story of Service before giving final publication approval.

I am not giving permission for public publication at this time.

Photo Publication Preference(Required)

Please tell us how you would like United Military to handle the photographs you provided.

United Military may use appropriate photos I provided with my published Story of Service.

I would like to approve the photos selected before they are published.

I am not giving permission for my photos to be published at this time.

I did not submit any photos.

Is there anything you do NOT want publicly included in your Story of Service?

Please identify any names, locations, dates, experiences, family details, photographs, organizations, assignments, or other information you would prefer United Military not publish.

How would you like your name displayed publicly?

Example: Robert J. Smith, Robert Smith, Bob Smith, Sgt. Robert Smith, or another preferred format.

May we mention your current city and state in your published story?(Required)

Yes, city and state may be included.

State only.

No, please do not publish my current location.

Your Story. Your Voice.

United Military is committed to treating your story with respect. Providing information through this form does not require you to share anything you are uncomfortable discussing.

If you have questions or concerns about how information from your submission may be used, please contact United Military before providing final publication approval.

Final Thoughts

You're almost finished. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with United Military. Before submitting your Story of Service information, use this final section to tell us anything we may have missed.

Is there anything else you would like United Military to know?

Share anything about your service, family, life, experiences, accomplishments, challenges, or future goals that we did not ask about elsewhere in this form.

Is there anyone else we should speak with to help tell your story?

You may provide the person's name, their relationship to you, and why you believe they could help us better understand your story. Please do not provide their private contact information unless you have their permission to share it.

How would you prefer United Military to contact you?

Phone

Text Message

No preference

Is there a preferred time for us to contact you?

Example: Weekday afternoons, evenings after 6 PM, or anytime.

UNITED MILITARY • STORY OF SERVICE

Thank You for Sharing Your Story

We know that some of these questions may have brought back important memories and experiences. Thank you for trusting United Military with your story.

After you submit this form, our team will review the information you provided. If we need additional details or would like to schedule a conversation, a member of United Military may contact you using the information provided in this form.

Your submission is the beginning of our story process. Any publication will be handled according to the permissions and preferences you selected.