Just Another Number

This autoethnography supplements the original work of Erving Goffman and his theory of total institutions. A total institution, as defined by Goffman is, “A place of residence and work where a large number of like-situated individuals, cut off from the wider society for an appreciable period of time, together lead an enclosed, formally administered round of life.”1 Throughout the manuscript, the author draws upon Goffman’s book Asylums and provides a real-life account for each characteristic of a total institution. The total institution discussed in this autoethnography is a United States military training command. Pseudonyms are used throughout the manuscript to maintain privacy and anonymity. The psychological and social effects of a military trainee are explored in depth as issues such as lack of mental health screening, inmate culture, abuse of power, and sexism are identified. The author communicates the importance of mental health disclosure in the military and hopes to raise awareness of the ongoing battle to normalize mental health transparency in uniform as well as challenge the structure of military training commands and facilitate discussion on whether it truly creates healthy and secure soldiers. Practical implications and personal insights are provided to better prepare individuals making the decision to serve in the armed forces, regardless of branch.