Breaking the Stigma: Derrick’s Journey to Recovery in the Military

Early Years and Military Life

Derrick grew up in South Carolina, enjoying an idyllic childhood. Most of his days were spent outdoors and on the lake. He played soccer and baseball, went dirt biking, and fished on weekends, staying active throughout his youth. After a year of college that didn’t feel like the right fit for him, he decided to join the Navy in 2007.

He joined Naval Special Warfare and trained in San Diego, serving there for a decade. After that, he was stationed in Louisiana, where he has lived for the past eight years. Over time, alcohol became a part of the routine in his military life.

When Drinking Feels Like the Norm

In the armed forces, drinking isn’t just accepted; it’s expected. It’s how people blow off steam, celebrate milestones, cope with stress, and feel connected to their unit. For many, including Derrick, it’s hard to separate that culture from the job itself.

“I think military and alcohol culture is glamorized,” he says. “It’s always, ‘Let’s get off work and go have beers. Let’s have a party this weekend and get drunk.’ Alcohol is always involved in some way, shape, or form in the military.”

It didn’t feel unusual. It felt normal. However, over time, Derrick started to notice small shifts.

“My wife occasionally said, ‘Maybe not have that fifth glass of whiskey.’ I did notice I was doing things that weren’t normal, like hiding alcohol and drinking too much to a blackout. And then it started to affect my life. I was late to things, getting lazy, leaving early just so I could go get a drink.”

Even then, it was hard to see the line he’d crossed. When everyone around you is drinking the same way, it’s easy to rationalize your habits.

“I thought, I’m drinking just as much as this guy. That means we’re all drinking too much—but no one talks about it like it’s a problem.”

The Weight of the Uniform

The pressure to appear squared away never leaves. Especially for leaders, there’s an added layer of performance—an expectation to stay strong, composed, and in control.

“There’s a lot of stigma. People think you’re going to somehow lose your job or your rank or something if you go to treatment,” Derrick says. “And then there’s the other fact that the military is a family, so people say, ‘Just stick it out, toughen up, you’re fine, just stop drinking.'”

For years, that belief system kept him from saying anything. He feared he would be seen as weak or, worse, unfit to lead.

“It’s almost like I was putting my job before my family and alcohol before my life.”

What Support Really Looks Like

When Derrick finally decided to seek help, he expected resistance. Instead, he found support.
“I felt very supported because I’m in Special Warfare. Our community is very small—everyone is on a first-name basis—and everybody was looking out for me,” he says. “They gave me two months off to go to treatment. They followed up with me afterwards.”

Derrick received full support, and it changed everything. It allowed him to focus fully on healing without having to fear what would happen when he came back.

A Second Chance at Longbranch

Derrick had been to rehab before. While he did learn more about his addiction in his first program, it lacked structure and aftercare, and he relapsed. Deciding to give recovery another try, he started an intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Longbranch Recovery, and everything changed.

“Longbranch was very, I don’t want to say intrusive, but they dug into all aspects of my life,” he says. “The biggest thing for me was family. Every Thursday was family night. My wife came in, and we had a three-hour session with all the family members. It was great.”

Just as important was the program’s structure. As someone used to a regimented schedule and mission-driven mindset, the predictability was comforting.

“As a military person, I like structure. I like timelines. Longbranch was very structured, hour by hour. I knew what I was doing. I was learning.”

The real shift, though, wasn’t just in the program. It was in Derrick.

“Going to my first treatment center, I said I was an alcoholic, but I didn’t know I was an alcoholic. This time, I went in going, ‘Yeah, I am an alcoholic. I’ve got to figure out how to fix this.’ My mindset going into Longbranch, along with the amount of resources they gave me, just helped me to where I am today.”

For Active-Duty and Veteran Service Members: Longbranch Recovery Can Help

Life After Alcohol

Today, Derrick is sober and preparing to retire from the Navy. He once feared that sobriety would be a constant battle—but the reality, he says, has surprised him.

“I haven’t thought about alcohol. I thought it was going to be a forever-lasting thing, where I have to think about not having a drink. I actually enjoy being at home. So the family is happy. So that’s good.”

He now shares his experience with others who may be wondering if they need help. He doesn’t try to convince anyone—he just tells his story.
“Most people come up with, ‘Do you think I’m an alcoholic?’ or ‘Do you think I’m…’ My normal answer is, ‘I can’t tell you how much you drink or if you’re an alcoholic. I can give you my story, which is what I normally do. You can judge your story off of mine.'”

A Better Definition of Strength

Derrick’s story challenges what it means to be strong. Strength, he’s learned, isn’t about silence or suffering. It’s about self-awareness. It’s about speaking up.

“There are multiple people in the military in the same situation. Longbranch saved my life. If I hadn’t gone, I’d be drinking more than I was.”

Breaking through the stigma takes courage. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment—one conversation, one drive to work, one decision to finally say, “I need help.”

“Something just clicked,” Derrick says. And that was the beginning of something better.