Dissent and critical consciousness are imperative components for group dialogue to be transformative. Because of continued militarization in the U.S. and its culture of violence, critical dialogue about the military is often taboo and discouraged. This case study aimed to foster dissent, critical consciousness, and transformation among participants in the face of ongoing violence and militarization. I collected data from dialogue sessions that I facilitated – on contentious topics related to the military – and journal entries with a group of U.S. military veterans. We discussed: 1) expressions of patriotism and 2) gender, violence, and the military “hero.” Using qualitative data analysis, I discovered and defined how the group’s connections and identity changed over time. Early on, some participants exhibited militaristic core beliefs and problematic communication practices when sharing reflections on personal military experiences and arguing their points. Eventually, all participants engaged critically, compassionately, and displayed shifts in behaviors and thinking. Participants welcomed dissent, built upon a collective consciousness, induced transformation within each other, and inspired possibilities for social action. This study adds to communications- and critical military studies scholarship because it engages participants in a process essential for social change and directly brings into question the institution of the military. Finally, in this study I ask new questions about the ethical implications of interventions such as critical dialogue which may reinforce the status quo while also possibly acting as a form of prefigurative politics, and how demilitarization efforts can be situated amongst movements towards equity, justice, liberation, and decolonization.

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