Growing Through the Fire: A Soldier's Raw Journey from Combat to Healing
"Calmed: Growth After Trauma" hits differently than most military memoirs. Jennifer Hobbs opens up her world from age 17, when she first joined the Illinois Army National Guard, through the raw reality of deployment, loss, love, and the often-overlooked struggles of coming home.
What struck me most about Jennifer's story is how she weaves together multiple perspectives - her own experiences as a female soldier, her relationship with Ryan Hobbs (who would later become her husband), and the heart-wrenching loss of their fellow soldier Jessica Cawvey. The book doesn't shy away from the messy parts of life after combat. Jennifer talks openly about her struggles with relationships, alcohol, and finding her footing back in civilian life.
But this isn't just about war stories. Jennifer takes us through her journey as a teacher working with students with behavioral needs, her path to motherhood, and building a blended family. She shares the complexities of co-parenting and how she worked to build bridges with her stepson's mother, even after some really tough times between their families.
One of the most moving parts is how Jennifer describes her work helping veterans today. She's taken her experiences - both the triumphs and the hard lessons - and uses them to connect with other vets who are finding their way. As a teacher and advocate for veteran support organizations, she's found ways to keep serving long after hanging up her uniform.
The writing feels like you're sitting with Jennifer, sharing stories over coffee. She's funny, honest about her mistakes, and real about the ongoing work of processing trauma. You can tell she wrote this book not to paint herself as some flawless hero, but to reach out to others who might be struggling and say "Hey, I've been there too. It's okay to not be okay, and it's okay to keep working on yourself."
For anyone who's served, loved someone who served, or just wants to better understand what coming home really looks like - Jennifer's story offers that rare mix of hard truths and hope, told by someone who's still very much on the journey herself.
Her latest work focuses on veteran non-profit support while continuing to teach and raise her family in Illinois. Between teaching, writing, and advocating for veteran causes, she's building the kind of support system she wished existed when she first came home. And she does it all with a sense of humor and grace that makes her story impossible to put down.
