A group of military wives are baring their bodies (discreetly) to help support their patriotic spouses through the “Battling Bare” campaign. The women grew tired of “staying silent” about the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and created a media campaign to educate Americans about the affects PTSD has on the entire family, The Blaze reports. The military wives PTSD awareness campaign is a private organization in the process of securing non-profit status. The primary goal of the project is to empower “silent supporters” to “battle back” and provide resources to help returning veterans heal.
“Battling Bare” campaign photos of Army wives showing a bit of skin generated a lot of attention and helped relay the import message which is at the heart of the project. The pledge written on the bare skin of the participating military wife reads: Broken by battle, wounded by war, I support our troops forever – to them this I swore I will quiet your screams, help heal your shattered soul until once again every soldier is whole. Battle Bare.
The “Battling Bare” campaign began in April under the direction of founding member Ashley Wise. The military wife of a soldier battling PTSD told a friend “I kind of want to take my clothes off and streak across the 101 st command building, because then maybe the general or someone would listen to what I’m saying,” according to the Tennessee Leaf Chronicle. After deciding streaking in front of officers on an Army base was not a good idea, Wise took a photo holding her husband Rob’s M4 with the pledge on her bare back and posted it on Facebook.
Less than 24 hours after posting the “Battling Bare” image on Facebook, Wise was contacted by a multitude of military support groups “praising her efforts,” The Blaze notes. The PTSD awareness campaign pledge garnered more than 1,000 “likes” during the first five days. The “Battling Bare” project continued to grow when other military wives and family members were moved to get involved as well.
Anyone can send in photos to be included in the project, but must comply with the strict no “naked private parts” rules. Children can send in bare feet pledge photos to support their military parent and teens are permitted to join the “Battling Bare” PTSD awareness campaign by sending in photos of the pledge written on a bare arm or shoulder, as long as part of a shirt is clearly visible in the image.
