Fall 2024 Behan Law Group Military Veteran Scholarship Winner

Virginia Cruse

Virginia gained invaluable experience as a U.S. Army interrogator and Arabic linguist in several areas of the Middle East and North Africa. We are proud to award Virginia as she continues her studies to improve the lives of veterans living with PTSD.

Read Virginia’s Essay:

Thank you for this opportunity to apply for the Behan Law Group Military Veteran Scholarship. Ms. Behan’s dedication to her fellow Veterans throughout her legal career in an inspiration, and I value the opportunity to present my ideas to the scholarship committee. Like Ms. Behan, I am actively using my education to serve and defend Veterans in need. In 2023, I had the opportunity to serve as a defense expert witness (pro bono) in a capital murder trial for a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran in Starr County, Texas and it is my desire to continue this important work using advanced certifications.

As a third-year student in a clinical psychology Ph.D. program, my academic and career trajectory has been profoundly shaped by my experiences as a Veteran. Serving in the U.S. Army as an interrogator and Arabic linguist, I deployed multiple times to regions in the Middle East and North Africa, and served one year in Guantánamo Bay. These experiences not only defined my sense of duty and patriotism but also catalyzed a profound transformation in my outlook towards life, purpose, and service.

During my tenure in the military, I had the privilege of serving alongside some of the most talented individuals I have ever encountered. Their unwavering dedication to their country, mission, and families left an indelible mark on my psyche. However, the transition from military service to civilian life proved to be a fraught with challenges. Upon leaving the military, I was confronted with my own profound sense of loss and purposelessness, compounded by dark and suicidal thoughts. The realization that many of my comrades had succumbed to the silent battle of mental health further underscored the urgent need for intervention and support within the Veteran community.

It was amidst this personal struggle and loss that I chose to dedicate my life to the study and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Veterans. My own experiences navigating the labyrinth of mental health challenges imbued me with a profound empathy and understanding for the struggles faced by my fellow comrades. Thus, I embarked on a journey of academic pursuit, enrolling in a clinical psychology Ph.D. program to equip myself with the requisite knowledge, credentials, and skills to effect meaningful change.

My academic and career goals are intrinsically intertwined with my commitment to serving the Veteran community. Through my education, I aim to arm myself with the expertise and insights necessary to develop innovative therapeutic interventions tailored to the unique needs of Veterans grappling with PTSD. Drawing upon my experiences as a linguist and interrogator, I aim to leverage my linguistic and cultural proficiencies to foster cross-cultural understanding and facilitate effective communication in therapeutic settings.

Furthermore, I am deeply invested in leveraging my academic platform to continue to advocate for greater awareness and resources for mental health support within communities that experience collective trauma. Since January 2023, I have worked as a volunteer Masters-level clinician in Uvalde, Texas, serving survivors of the massacre at Robb Elementary school on May 24, 2022. Additionally, I have the privilege of serving as a speaker and educator on military mental health matters and PTSD in San Antonio, Texas.

I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of community engagement and education. I am committed to continuing these efforts and amplifying my advocacy initiatives to promote destigmatization, increase access to care, and foster a culture of resilience and support within the Veteran community.

My journey as a Veteran has not only shaped my academic and career aspirations but imbued me with a profound sense of purpose and duty. It is my fervent belief that through the intersection of education, advocacy, and service, I can contribute meaningfully to the well-being and resilience of my fellow Veterans. As I continue on this journey, I remain steadfast in my commitment to harnessing the lessons learned from my military service to effectuate positive change and healing within the Veteran community.

Thank you again for choosing to serve on this scholarship committee and your dedication to supporting Veteran scholars.