Completing the Odyssey: Exploring the Homecoming Journeys of Black and Latino Student Veterans

Transitioning from military service to civilian life presents a range of interwoven challenges for veterans, especially for Black and Latino student veterans whose experiences are profoundly shaped by the convergence of their military backgrounds with the dynamics of race and cultural identity. This manuscript explores the academic journeys of Black and Latino veterans, with special emphasis on war and homecoming, through evocative engagements with creative storytelling, poetry, and visual art within a transformative learning framework. The thematic findings—categorized as insider-outsider dynamics, a call for critical conversations, bridge-building efforts, and collective support akin to a Hoplite Phalanx—underscore the importance of intercultural competency in addressing the specific needs of student veterans of color. The discussion calls for more inclusive higher education environments that promote critical dialogue to deepen the understanding of veteran identities.