Whether it’s music, talking with friends or laughing, military Veterans need an outlet. We can’t keep everything bottled up. It affects you mentally, physically, as well as your important relationships.

Veterans and comedic actors Drew Anthony Hernandez and Juston Graber know exactly how this works.

They enjoyed their jobs in the military, but after several years and multiple combat tours, felt it was time to explore where else their skills could take them. Drew first created A Combat Veteran in 2015, a comedic take on military experiences and brought Juston onto the team four years later. This week, I talked with both Drew and Juston to understand how laughing about military “WTF” moments has helped many Veterans through their worst experiences.

It Started with Embracing the Suck

As a military policeman, Drew was in Baghdad, “shooting the ish” in the truck, when he first thought about creating a comedy brand with his friends. One video and several friends later, the magic happened. Friends shared the skits with their friends and before he knew it, his videos started going viral. Now, with over a million subscribers, Drew and Juston have maintained their online platforms for more than seven years. Their brand has grown from comedy to all genres, but always centers around military experiences. Often, the ire is in the accuracy. Whether a high schooler looking at joining the military, or a Servicemember from another country, the goal is always to connect on an emotional level. “Say it, say it again…say it again to help release the trauma,” said Hernandez. One of the things that is super important is that the moments are a true reflection of service, and they (Veterans) can take a moment to enjoy the content and laugh to help release stress, Hernandez added.

The Next Act

Drew and Juston recognize that there is a civilian and military divide. They are both passionate about dispelling the belief that Servicemembers isolate themselves or have a hard time working with other nonmilitary groups. After scripting and producing a successful play with a diverse group of actors from various backgrounds in Los Angeles, Calif., Drew and Juston felt it was a great way to showcase that Vets can work with anyone and have decided to take their act on the road. They are now in the process of post-producing their play titled Enlisted and raising money to make this dream come true. This, to help Veterans connect, relate, and laugh through their shared experiences.

Check out their play on their website and watch A Combat Veteran social media content on your favorite online platforms.

For More Information

Watch A Combat Veteran’s full video on this week’s Your Next Mission ® video podcast episode on our website or on our YouTube channel.

Your Next Mission® is a program initiative of the American Freedom Foundation, a non-profit

dedicated to serving our Veterans and Families. Your Next Mission® video podcast with host

12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley features insightful conversation with subject matter experts from the

military and civilian communities. It’s a place where we can have frank and honest

conversation, tackle the tough questions, share stories, and have some fun along the way.