Volunteer Research Writer / News Contributor (Toxic Exposures in Military Families)

About VFEA

Veteran Families for Education and Awareness (VFEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about toxic exposures affecting military service members, veterans, and their families.

VFEA examines and shares information about a broad range of military-related toxic exposures. Our work includes historical research, public education, government records, environmental-health information, and emerging issues affecting military communities.

Two of our current major focuses are:

• Toxic exposures associated with the former Shinkampo Incinerator at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan
• Military aviation-related cancers affecting aircrew, maintainers, and other aviation personnel

We are seeking volunteer writers to contribute clear, accurate, and well-sourced articles to the news and resources sections of our website: vfea.org/news

About the role

VFEA is looking for volunteer research writers and news contributors who can help make complex topics understandable and accessible to military families, veterans, researchers, policymakers, journalists, and the public.

Contributors may write original articles, research summaries, explainers, historical pieces, or timely updates on issues relevant to VFEA’s mission. Writers may select topics from a VFEA editorial list or propose ideas for approval.

This is a flexible, project-based role. Contributors may submit one article or contribute periodically based on their interests and availability.

Time commitment: Flexible. Typical articles may range from approximately 600–1,200 words, depending on the topic.

What you may write about

Possible article topics include:

• Environmental-health research, toxic exposures, and military or veteran health.
• New government reports, public records, hearings, agency announcements, or policy developments.
• Plain-language explainers on toxicology, exposure science, epidemiology, health studies, health-risk assessments, registries, or related issues.
• Historical articles based on military records, government documents, archived reporting, congressional materials, or FOIA records.
• Resource guides or explainers for affected veterans, service members, and military families.
• Community history, interviews, or carefully edited personal stories, subject to VFEA review and participant permission.

What we are looking for

We welcome writers, journalists, editors, researchers, science communicators, historians, public-health professionals, graduate students, veterans, military-family members, and others with strong nonfiction writing and research skills.

You may be a good fit if you can:

• Write clear, accurate, engaging articles for a general audience.
• Find, evaluate, and accurately cite credible sources.
• Translate complex research, health, scientific, historical, or government information into understandable language.
• Distinguish clearly between documented facts, scientific findings, interpretation, community experience, and unanswered questions.
• Work collaboratively through an editorial review process and make revisions as needed.

Experience with military or veterans’ issues, environmental health, toxic exposures, public health, government records, journalism, archival research, or FOIA is helpful but not required.

Editorial standards

VFEA values accuracy, transparency, and careful use of sources. Contributors should use credible, preferably primary sources whenever possible and provide links or citations for factual claims.

All submissions are subject to editorial review before publication. Submission of an article does not guarantee publication, and VFEA may request revisions for clarity, accuracy, sourcing, length, tone, or fit with our mission.

Articles should not provide individual medical or legal advice or state that a specific exposure caused a particular person’s illness. Writers should accurately describe uncertainty and the limits of available evidence.

Why volunteer with VFEA?

Your writing can help make important information more available to military and veteran families affected by toxic exposures. It can also help preserve historical evidence, highlight research gaps, explain emerging developments, and support a better-informed public conversation.

As a small, volunteer-led organization, VFEA gives contributors an opportunity to see their work directly support public education and community awareness.

To apply

Please send a brief note describing your interests and relevant writing, research, journalism, public-health, military, or historical experience.

Please include one or two writing samples, published links, research summaries, or other examples of nonfiction work, if available.