What are some of the happiest moments in your life? What are some of the saddest?
Who are some of the most important people in your life? Can you tell me about them?
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
What are you proud of?
Do you have any regrets?
Is there anything you’ve never told me but want to tell me now?
Enlistment/Commission
When did you enlist / when were you commissioned? What do you remember about that day?
What were some of the reasons you joined the service? Were there any people/ events that shaped your decision?
How did joining the service affect your family/friends?
Did you have any fears about joining the service?
Military Life
What was your branch of service? What was your job/ assignment?
Tell me about your early days in the military?
How was military life different than civilian life? How was it different than what you expected? Was there anything you had trouble adjusting to?
Deployment
Were you deployed? If yes, how did you tell your loved ones you were being deployed?
Where were you deployed, what unit, and for how long?
Tell me about a time it was hard to be away from home. What helped you through?
Who were you closest to in your unit? Can you tell me about him/her?
Did you see multiple deployments? If yes, what changed from your first deployment to the others? How did you change from your first deployment to the others?
Life After Service
When was your date of separation form the military? What do you remember about that day?
Tell me about your first few months out of the service. What was that transition like?
What did you miss about military life?
Was there anyone (or anything) that helped you readjust to civilian life?
How do you think your time in the military changed you? When did you realize you had changed?
What did you learn about yourself?
What advice do you have for others transitioning out of the military?
Marriage, Partnerships, and Families
How did you meet your husband/wife?
How did you know he/she was “the one”?
What were some of the best times?
What were some of the most difficult times?
What advice do you have for military couples?
What has been a difficult thing to communicate to family, friends, or loved ones about your military service?
If you have children, what do you want them to know about your military service?
Remembering the Fallen
What was your relationship to _____?
Tell me about _____
What did _____ look like?
What is one of your favorite memories of _____?
What was your relationship like?
When did you find out about _____’s death?
How did you change after losing _____?
What has helped the most in your grief?
Do you have any traditions to honor _____?
Do you have any funny stories about _____? Any favorite jokes _____ used to tell?