Today’s email was written by our very own Erica Marrari.
Erica is a Gold Star sibling and proud mentor for The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). She’s spent her career in military and healthcare consulting – ranging from hardware and software to culture design. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Anthropology from The University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is an avid runner and podcast listener.
Memorial Day is an American holiday. It is a day when we pause from our busy lives – and those oh so important furniture and appliance sales – to honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military.
And I am especially grateful. I am grateful that we get to work with so many people in the Armed Forces. I am grateful for my freedom. I am grateful for all of my family members who served and still serve in the U.S. military.
Yes, the work we do is personal for me. Culture change is vital for the military. And it is way overdue. I know this because in 2009 my brother, Cpl Andrew W. Marrari, an Active-Duty Marine, took his own life. After tours in Afghanistan…it was a lot.
Too many TBIs? Maybe.
A culture that did not – and still struggles to – deal with the realities of service members who may not align with traditional mental models and cultural norms? Probably.
What happened to “got your six” and “brotherhood” and all that?
…
To be clear, this is not about suicide, nor it is a criticism of the U.S. military.
It is about gratitude and culture. And how gratitude can change the narrative. It is a shout-out to all of those amazing and inspiring military leaders who are still serving – who want to challenge the status quo and innovate, and who aren’t afraid to do so.
It is about looking at the culture and relentlessly doing the impossible, every day, in order to spark change.
Because if we don’t, the consequences are grave. And the “data” no one likes to talk about, will continue to go in the wrong direction. Gratitude is equally as powerful as the data. You just need to change your mental model.
And so, for those of you who might not be aware: each year on Memorial Day there is a national moment of remembrance that takes place at 3:00 P.M. local time.
Join us in taking a pause to think about what this day is for and what you can do to make a difference.
-Erica Marrari
