We had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Muir about his work in the military, his work as a registered nurse, access to food, his book, and Veterans Day. I hope you enjoy this interview.
Thank you for using our service. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to interview you. Please tell us about yourself and your background. Why did you decide to join the military and when did you join?
thank you very much! Hey everyone. I’m Bill Muir, aka SGT VEGAN. I am a military veteran, RN, and vegan for 32 years. After 9/11, I joined the U.S. Army to serve my country during emergencies. At the time of the attack, I had been living in Japan for about eight years, and as a foreigner, this incident had a huge impact on me. I joined the military because I believed that by joining during the war, I could save lives and make a difference, both for Americans and Afghans.
What branch of the military were you in? What was your job? Where did you serve?
I served in the U.S. Army Airborne Corps as a medic in the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We toured Afghanistan in 2005-2006.
What was your experience eating a plant-based diet while serving? Did you experience any particular challenges with accessing food? If so, how did you overcome them?
Being vegan in the military depends on where you are and what you do. Basic training was absolutely terrible. Not because the training was hard, but because I was always hungry. After boot camp, things got better and I got my weight back. It was great to be stationed in Italy with the 173rd. Because I was eating vegan pasta, vegan pizza, and vegan gelato every day, I actually gained a little weight, even though I was running. When I deployed, I was very worried about going back to starvation mode, but luckily I found a website called anySoldier.com that sends deployed service personnel what they need. We are hearing that the situation is improving for people consuming plant-based diets, but until designated vegan MRES (field rations) and plant-based options are in place in all military canteens, Eating a plant-based diet can be difficult.
Why was it important for you to remain plant-based during your military career?
For me, being vegan meant living my ethics. I think staying true to what I believe was also an attempt to maintain my identity while in the military, especially while in a combat zone.
How did your time in the military shape who you are today? Is there anything in particular you would like to share about your service?
No matter who you are, being in the military changes you down to the cellular level. I know this is a common trope in any movie or TV show that features the military, but somehow I never expected to be included in it either.
After his military service, he earned a certificate in vegan culinary arts from Atlantic Union College. How do you think education about whole plant food preparation can put people on the path to achieving better health?
It may be a big thing, but people have to want to change. The majority of my patients give up on trying to get healthy once they are diagnosed. I’m just trying my best to make sure they don’t collapse or die during my shift. There is still a lot of anti-vegan propaganda in the United States, and unfortunately, many veterans believe that eating dead animals makes them more masculine.
After being discharged from the military, I became a registered nurse. What is your experience working in the medical field and what area of nursing do you specialize in?
Working as an RN in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been both a blessing and a curse. On the other hand, I feel lucky to be able to help my fellow veterans in their time of need, just as I joined the military during the war. On the other hand, working with sick and dying people is physically and mentally taxing. Overall, I feel lucky to have a job that does something important, but sometimes I wish I had chosen a more comfortable career.
Do you still work at a VA hospital? Have you seen a condition that could be prevented with healthy lifestyle interventions, such as a whole foods and plant-based diet?
I work on a VA medical/surgical floor with heart monitors. Most heart problems are lifestyle related. This means that the patient’s heart is not functioning properly due to an unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, drugs, etc. We can’t live forever, but we can live better and longer by making simple lifestyle adjustments. Who are the top three? Be vegan, exercise daily and don’t smoke.
Please tell us about your book “Vegan Strong”. What inspired you to write it?
After attending culinary school, I was planning to open a restaurant. Unfortunately, my timing was not good. In 2008, the economy was in a downturn, so I put that dream on hold and made the pragmatic choice of becoming a registered nurse. I didn’t know what to do with all of my knowledge about plant-based health and plant-based living until one day I had an idea. I would write a book about how to be healthy and vegan, but styled like an Army field manual.
Finally, what does Veterans Day mean to you? Is there anything you would like to share with your fellow veterans?
Veterans Day is our day. As a veteran, if you want to provide free meals, do it. If you want it to be a meaningful discussion, that’s great too. We are about 6 percent of the population, and if we served in the military during wartime, that number would be even lower. Eat right and take care of your health. If you need help, the Veterans Administration is ready to help you. Be vegan and stay vegan strong!
For more information about my work and updates, please visit my website and follow me on social media: IG @sgt_vegan and Facebook.
