Episode #18: Juan Perez: Why Veterans Create Their “Second War at Home”
Juan Perez was a Marine infantryman and Scout Sniper who deployed to Helmand Province in 2010. After the Corps, he spent ten years as a police officer in Chicago. In this conversation with Jon, he explains why so many veterans leave one battlefield and quietly build another at home.
Juan talks openly about carrying survivor’s guilt for about 15 years, a transition he describes as “a playbook of mistakes, and I followed all of them,” and why chaos can feel like home when calm feels uncomfortable. Jon shares his own burnout and isolation in 2023, and both men talk about the role faith played in their turnarounds.
In this episode:
- Why “what you do” can’t be “who you are”
- Why the first year out of the military is so risky
- How policing recreated the squad culture, for better and worse
- Why your friends may not be the right people to ask for advice
- “Let guilt be your guide”: a simple tool for self-honesty
- Learning to stay present instead of living in anxiety
Content note: This episode includes discussion of combat loss, survivor’s guilt, alcohol use, and thoughts of not wanting to wake up. If you’re struggling, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. You don’t have to fight this alone.
Connect with Juan: IG - @juan_perez_peace
Connect with The Bunkhouse: thebunkhousecast.com | info@thebunkhousecast.com
Real conversations about veteran mental health and life after service. Be the light in someone’s dark.
