American Homefront Project

GroupAccount image
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

Series image
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.

Series image
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

Scientists are trying to measure the value of outdoor service work for transitioning veterans
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Veterans and their families demolish a wooden foot bridge in Biscayne National Park., Credit: Niall Macaulay / American Homefront
Congress is considering legislation to encourage "outdoor therapy" for veterans with injuries or post-traumatic stress. Volunteer groups are alread...

Bought by KPBS, Colorado Public Radio, WUSF, Texas Public Radio, and KPCC


  • Added: Jun 07, 2019
  • Length: 03:55
  • Purchases: 5
A fallen Vietnam veteran has returned home. The water he drank helped identify his remains
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: 52 years after he died in a Vietnam plane crash, Raul Guerra's memorial service was held at Risher Mortuary in Montebello, Cal., Credit: Libby Denkmann/American Homefront
Raul Guerra was adopted, so his DNA couldn't be matched to blood relatives. Scientists instead turned to an emerging technique that linked his bone...

Bought by KMXT, KPBS, North Country Public Radio, Texas Public Radio, WUSF and more


  • Added: May 29, 2019
  • Length: 03:48
  • Purchases: 6
'Every box was smashed': After thousands of complaints, the Pentagon is reforming military moves
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Christopher and Andrea Cacho's wedding picture was among the many possessions damaged when the Army moved them from Kentucky to Virginia., Credit: Andrea Cacho
After years of complaints, the Pentagon is trying to reform the way it manages the moving process for military families. The current system is plag...

Bought by Texas Public Radio, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, WUSF, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KPBS and more


  • Added: May 02, 2019
  • Length: 03:48
  • Purchases: 7
The Army Has A Message For Soldiers: Even Where Marijuana Is Legal, Don't Use It
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: A poster at Fort Carson, Col. reminds soldiers that even though recreational marijuana is legal in Colorado, it's prohibited under military rules., Credit: Dan Boyce / American Homefront
Recreational marijuana use is now legal in ten states, but it remains off-limits to service members ... and some military communities don't want it...

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


  • Added: Apr 10, 2019
  • Length: 04:02
  • Purchases: 6
After success in Florida, the use of virtual reality to treat PTSD is expanding
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Therapist Keith Smith demonstrates virtual reality equipment at the University of Central Florida. Smith uses virtual reality to help treat veterans' post traumatic stress disorder., Credit: Stephanie Colombini / American Homefront
The University of Central Florida is using virtual reality to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. It's worked well enough that the Pentagon will ...

Bought by WRST-FM Oshkosh, North Country Public Radio, KPBS, Colorado Public Radio, KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 26, 2019
  • Length: 03:46
  • Purchases: 7
The Air Force is trying new strategies to battle a constant problem: Birds on airfields
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Wildlife biologist Kory McLellan shoots off pyrotechnics to scare birds away from the airfield at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa., Credit: Mariette Adams / U.S. Air Force
Fireworks, drones, and habitat relocation projects are among the ways that Air Force biologists are fighting the expensive and potentially deadly p...

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


  • Added: Mar 18, 2019
  • Length: 03:54
  • Purchases: 6
The Pentagon has settled a lawsuit over allegedly defective earplugs. Now veterans are suing, too.
From: American Homefront Project
Caption: Gen. William J. Gothard (right) receives a spent shell casing as part of his 2014 retirement ceremony at Fort Jackson, S.C. Gothard says his 36 years of service left him with hearing loss and tinnitus., Credit: Shantelle Campbell / U.S. Army
The settlement with earplug manufacturer 3M has focused attention on service-related hearing loss, one of the most common health problems among vet...

Bought by KPBS, WUSF, Texas Public Radio, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KPCC and more


  • Added: Mar 11, 2019
  • Length: 04:00
  • Purchases: 6
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

Actions

Playlists

none

People who work with American Homefront Project

User image
Dave DeWitt
Reporter/Producer, WUNC
Caption: PRX default User image
Adam Hochberg (Admin)
Caption: PRX default User image
Brent Wolfe
Caption: PRX default User image
KPBS News
Caption: PRX default User image
KPCC BoardOperators
Caption: PRX default User image
Shula Neuman
Caption: PRX default User image
Shahla Farzan
Caption: PRX default User image
Jonathan Ahl