<i>It’s hard not to Be the hero</i> : Soldiers’ grief following injury discharge

This study examines the experiences of Israeli combat soldiers prematurely removed from their units due to mild injury. While many studies focus on severe injuries, limited attention has been given to the impact of mild injuries. Using semi-structured interviews with 12 male veterans, analyzed through thematic analysis, findings are presented on two axes: a chronological axis, tracing the soldiers' military journey and injury, and a psychological axis, exploring the deconstruction and reconstruction of their identities. Participants reported feeling alienated from their peers and military identity, experiencing disenfranchized grief due to a lack of societal recognition for their suffering. Their removal disrupted their sense of masculinity and belonging, yet post-traumatic growth emerged in career choices and personal resilience. These findings suggest that even mild injuries and premature discharge constitute life-changing, transformative events, challenging traditional narratives of heroism and sacrifice in military culture.