Memoir

The (In)Security Blog

Hello there! I write about mental health, psychology, and communications in the security field.

Whether it's an expert interview or perspectives from my own career, I aim to take a multidisciplinary approach to everything I explore.

About me: I'm a dual American-Israeli citizen who served in the Israeli military and currently works in the U.S. defense sector in the Washington, D.C. area.

(Click here to view full author bio)

Why Storytelling Matters in the Military

Jessica Lauren Walton

May 9
6 min

Memoir

Why Storytelling Matters in the Military

It all started with a horde of wild pigs attacking an Israeli military post on the border of Lebanon. Or so it seemed.

Jessica Lauren Walton

Apr 9
5 min

Memoir

The Freedom That Enriches Us All

It took a slew of crimes and solitary confinement for one man to learn the true meaning of freedom.

Kill Your Clone & Other Unconventional Career Advice

Jessica Lauren Walton

Feb 23
7 min

Memoir

Kill Your Clone & Other Unconventional Career Advice

Challenging situations are ultimately an opportunity to rise to the challenge.

A Message for Gen Z on Dealing With Uncertainty

Jessica Lauren Walton

Jan 16
6 min

Memoir

A Message for Gen Z on Dealing With Uncertainty

Chaos is a natural part of life. We owe it to ourselves to create a game plan for managing it properly.

Disappointment and Determination in the Israeli Military

Jessica Lauren Walton

Jan 3
4 min

Memoir

Disappointment and Determination in the Israeli Military

One of the biggest crises I experienced while serving in the Israeli military was being told I was useless during a war.

Jessica Lauren Walton

Dec 19, 2022
3 min

Memoir

The Sanctity of Separateness

I stood on the brink of a decision that would take my career to the next level or allow me to walk away from it all.

Some Careers Take the Road Less Traveled

Jessica Lauren Walton

Nov 28, 2022
6 min

Memoir

Some Careers Take the Road Less Traveled

Some of us are straight shooters from college to career to retirement, while others struggle to find our place.

Anxiety Getting You Down? Try Israeli Basic Training

Jessica Lauren Walton

Nov 1, 2022
7 min

Memoir

Anxiety Getting You Down? Try Israeli Basic Training

I didn't have time to think during basic training, only to run. It liberated me.

The Lies We Tell Ourselves: A Soldier With PTSD

Jessica Lauren Walton

Oct 18, 2022
6 min

Memoir

The Lies We Tell Ourselves: A Soldier With PTSD

The lie of required perfection plagues many security professionals. For some, it will break them.

A Holiday Message: The Stories That Live Forever

Jessica Lauren Walton

Oct 13, 2022
5 min

Memoir

A Holiday Message: The Stories That Live Forever

How can we craft a message that we will continue to communicate after we have left this world?

What I Learned About ‘Extreme Ownership’ From the U.S. Navy SEALs and Rabbi Sacks

Jessica Lauren Walton

Aug 15, 2022
6 min

Memoir

What I Learned About ‘Extreme Ownership’ From the U.S. Navy SEALs and Rabbi Sacks

Taking extreme ownership or responsibility isn't easy, but it's a necessity for high-level learning and growth.

From Memoir to Memoir: 3 Key Lessons I Learned About Editing

Jessica Lauren Walton

Jul 19, 2022
5 min

Memoir

From Memoir to Memoir: 3 Key Lessons I Learned About Editing

In between each memoir project, I gained valuable knowledge about the right and wrong ways to approach the editing process.

I Tried to Be David Goggins-Tough in My Memoir. Here is What I Learned.

Jessica Lauren Walton

Jul 5, 2022
4 min

Memoir

I Tried to Be David Goggins-Tough in My Memoir. Here is What I Learned.

I wanted my audience to see me not as a nerdy, insecure, fresh-off-the-boat grad student with chronic anxiety, but as David Goggins.

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