Skinner is one of the main protagonists of Preparation for the Next Life. He is an Iraq War veteran who has severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and long-term physical injuries from shrapnel. Skinner’s character development revolves around his dwindling faith in the United States government—an entity that seems interested only in exploiting him—repeatedly extending his military service without his consent and offering him no support after his discharge. Skinner’s mental health declines rapidly throughout the story. Skinner surrounds himself with things that remind him of the war—his poncho liner, gun, and videos of war and executions—because he no longer knows who he is outside of his military service.

Skinner’s relationship with Zou Lei gives him some stability. The hope of finding love was something that helped Skinner through his military service. However, as his PTSD symptoms worsen, he loses his ability to hold onto those feelings. Skinner and Zou Lei have a codependent relationship, in which each depends on the other for some form of support; Skinner’s love for Zou Lei is something to hold onto so that he does not harm himself. However, when Skinner believes that Zou Lei has died at the end of the novel, his entire worldview is shattered.