Books for Those Who Serve: Why Reading Matters for Our Military

Every year, more than 100,000 military parents deploy, leaving nearly 250,000 children at home. For service members stationed overseas, the isolation can be profound—far from family, far from the familiar comforts of home, navigating the intense stress of deployment. Forty-one percent of veterans need mental health care programs every year, and 29% of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have developed or will develop mental health problems at some point in their lives. These aren’t just statistics. They’re our neighbors, our friends, the men and women who put on the uniform to protect our freedom.

In the midst of this challenge, books become more than entertainment. They become lifelines.

The Hidden Mental Health Crisis

Since 2001, 2.8 million active-duty military personnel have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict zones. Yet only 45% of the nation’s 18 million veterans use VA services, leaving millions to navigate mental health challenges alone. The numbers are sobering: veterans are five times more likely to experience major depression than civilians. Many struggle with anxiety, substance use disorders, and the invisible wounds of war that can persist for years after they return home.

But here’s something remarkable: research shows that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress by 68%—more effectively than listening to music, drinking tea, or taking a walk. A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that immersing yourself in a story slows your heart rate, eases muscle tension, and fundamentally alters your state of mind. For service members facing the daily stresses of deployment, fiction provides a mental escape that promotes genuine healing.

In the UK, doctors now prescribe books as treatment for anxiety and depression—a practice called bibliotherapy. Fiction doesn’t just distract; it builds empathy, strengthens cognitive resilience, and offers new perspectives for navigating difficult emotions.

Why Books Matter in the Field

Military reading culture has deep roots. During World War II, publishers created the Armed Services Editions—pocket-sized paperbacks designed to fit in a soldier’s uniform. From Shakespeare to mysteries to adventures, these books traveled to battlefields around the world, offering troops a taste of home and a temporary refuge from the horrors of war. One soldier wrote that reading about home-cooked meals while eating rations “was like taking a leave.”

Reading gives deployed service members connection to home during isolation, a mental escape from combat stress, and a powerful morale builder. Stories provide coping mechanisms, offer hope, and remind those who serve that they’re not alone. Whether it’s adventure, humor, or tales of courage, the right book at the right time can make all the difference.

Galaxy Press Partners with Operation Paperback

That’s why Galaxy Press has launched an ongoing partnership with Operation Paperback, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sending books to members of the US military, veterans, and their families. Together, we’re delivering boxes filled with the imaginative fiction of L. Ron Hubbard—stories of courage, discovery, and the unbreakable human spirit.

Our shipments include titles that resonate with the experiences and aspirations of those who serve:

• Battlefield Earth: An epic tale of resistance, where an underdog hero never gives up, no matter the odds.
• Mission Earth: A ten-volume satire that brings humor and levity to dark times—perfect for a long deployment.
• To the Stars: A journey of exploration and the universal longing for home.
• Action & Adventure stories from the Golden Age: High-stakes heroism set in far-flung locations around the world.
• Writers of the Future anthologies: Fresh voices offering hope, imagination, and new perspectives from emerging talent.

The impact is real. M.C., wife of USAF Staff Sergeant J.C., wrote after receiving one of our packages: “I wanted to reach out and say I cannot thank you enough for this package! To receive a box stuffed full of amazing books from the King of Science Fiction absolutely took my breath away. As soon as I let my husband know what was inside, he was ecstatic and he cannot wait to dive in.”

Honor Their Service

Our service members sacrifice time with loved ones, endure physical and mental hardship, and face danger so we can sleep safely at night. Research shows that reading improves mental well-being, reduces stress, and provides comfort during the hardest times. When we send books to those who serve, we’re offering more than entertainment—we’re offering connection, hope, and a moment of peace.

Join us in expanding this effort. Send a gift of books to active-duty personnel and veterans worldwide through our Operation Paperback partnership. Choose from our Starter Gift Box Collection (5 titles, $125), Premium Gift Box Collection (10 titles, $250), or choose our largest collection (20 titles, $500). Every box delivers adventure, escape, and the reminder that they’re not forgotten.

Honor their service with the gift of adventure. Visit galaxypress.com/operation-paperback to send books today.