Cumberland County is home to Fort Liberty, one of the largest military bases in the world and the biggest base, by population in the nation. The military’s presence can be seen and felt throughout the community literally, from the booms of training to the large veteran population adding to the increase in small businesses. For the past year, Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine has been telling the stories of our veterans, sharing their resilience and ingenuity.
Every issue features veterans who are making waves, starting businesses, writing books, creating art, and doing work for the veteran community and beyond. Its mission “Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine is dedicated to presenting stories and articles that highlight the experiences of veterans and the military community. We carelessly curate our content to provide readers with a comprehensive and engaging reading experience. Our diverse team of writers provides a range of perspectives and expertise, offering unique insights into what it means to live on the battlefield.”
To celebrate a year of storytelling, Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine is hosting The Year of Greatness: 1st Annual Gathering and Networking Event on Sunday, Nov. 10 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sip Room located downtown at 106 Hay Street. This is a perfect opportunity to meet veterans who have been featured in the magazine, mingle with other local veterans, eat good food, and network. The guest speaker for the event is Andrea Ebanks-Joyner (CW4, Retired), who was on the cover of the inaugural issue. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/3YzzNNn.
Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine was created by Laura Kandewen, an army vet and the current Editor-in-Chief.
“I am a retired Army veteran with 22 years of active duty service. Eight years into my military journey, I was notified of my deployment to Iraq alongside fellow unit members. I dedicated my service to my country until I retired in 2018 from my last duty station at Ft. Knox, Kentucky,” Kandewen said. “Additionally, I am a published author with books available on Amazon, and I recently launched my magazine, Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine.”
The past year has been an amazing journey for Kandewen and her team, highlighting the stories of their fellow veteran and the amazing work they are doing after service. The stories have chronicled the challenges, the successes, and everything in between for those who have transitioned into civilian life. Kandewen had a vision for the magazine and marking the inaugural year is an exciting time.
“The vision was to experience the lives of veterans and the military community through Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine. Our publication is dedicated to presenting stories and articles highlighting their experiences, offering unique insights into what it means to live on their battlefields. Throughout the past year, we have shared numerous tales of resilience, mission drivers, and unique individuals living purposeful lives on their battlefields. There has also been doubt and uncertainty as to the direction and level of growth, but I kept going,” Kandwen said.
For more information on Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine, follow them on social media at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555155537544 and the latest issue at https://battlefieldlifestyle.com/.

(Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine is a veteran lifestyle publication in the Fayetteville area. Photo courtesy of Battlefield Lifestyle Magazine's Facebook page)