Students produce documentary about veterans

The "War At Home" is the sequel to the documentary "The Vermont Fallen." It started when a large group of student veterans returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and wanted to help fellow students by telling about their experiences, according to Prof. William Estill of the communications department.

"At the time, Norwich student veterans were returning to school in larger numbers than ever before," said Estill. "Many readjustment issues affect many aspects of their lives."

Students, thanks to their experience in "Vermont Fallen," approached this documentary differently.

"Second semester we just finished editing the ‘Vermont Fallen' and we were looking to start a new project along the lines of ‘Vermont Fallen' but a little bit of a different story," said Jordan Lewis, 21, a junior communications major from Covington, La.

Students and Estill ask veterans questions about their experiences overseas and back home.

"It's basically a discussion that when it goes well is a subject's conversations with themselves," said Estill. "They want to really help our students get into the right mind set for deployment."

"War at Home" is made so veterans will open up to each other more.

"I think it will help veterans open up and talk to each other more. I feel like it's going to help them by watching it," said Suzzanne Whitaker, a 20-year-old sophomore from Chelmsford, Mass. "It will help them realize that people have the same problems that they do."

Veterans are interviewed for two to four hours. Interviews can start out a little rocky, but trust is built throughout the interview.

Veterans find out about the documentary through word of mouth from other veterans. All the veterans know that "we are going to be fair" and they can only share what they want to share, according to Estill.

"It can possibly be an avenue for other veterans to something they can relate to," said Alicia Hood, a 26-year-old communications major from Eden Valley, Calif. "I think hearing someone else's story helps you with yours a lot better."

This project will help students in their future military careers.

"It helped me decide if I really wanted to go into the military and I was on the borderline at first, then I realized I was making the right decision," said Lewis.

Veterans have helped students by offering advice after commissioning

"It's an eye-opening experience for our student producers who are receiving commissions," said Estill. "They can ask whatever they want, get advice for their own future careers."

"The War at Home" has been the main factor in helping veterans on this university adjust to everyday life, Estill said.

"The Veterans Communications Seminar was created to make proposals for changes that would make Norwich more vet friendly," said Estill. "The veterans seminar will be taught again in the spring."

The documentary will be released at the end of winter break.

"We hope to be finished by the time that the Vermont National Guard is deployed to Afghanistan in January," said Estill