28 Nov 2023
Satish D
Honoring Our Heroes: Bridging the Gap between Veterans and Society
Serving in the army can be demanding and comes with several risks. However, once you are through, it can also be challenging to return to everyday life. Pew Research Center surveyed 1853 veterans, which suggested that about 72% found it easy to readjust to civilian life. However, the same survey also found that 27% of veterans found it somewhat challenging.
The study examined 18 demographic and attitudinal variables that profoundly impacted the reentry of military personnel to civilian life. Four factors contributed to easy readjustment, while six factors made the process more difficult.
So, why do many veterans struggle to get back to normalcy?
Common Challenges in Readjusting to Civilian Life
The veterans who had been through severely traumatic experiences while serving or those who suffered severe injuries found it more challenging to readjust than those who had been through less severely traumatic experiences.
Similarly, various other factors are prominent for war veterans transitioning to civilian life.
Service
Veterans who served after the attacks of September 11, 2001, were less likely to readjust to civilian life. Comparative data shows that only 62% of soldiers who served could return to normalcy, as opposed to 77% who served during other periods. However, most of these veterans were interviewed as soon as they left the military. So, it only probably reflects their immediate experiences, which might have changed over time. You can apply the same logic to those who served during other eras, as their views on readjusting to civilian life could also have changed.
Marriage
The reports showed that those who married while in service had difficulty readjusting to civilian life. Overall, the chances of reentry were reduced to 48% from 62%, which is surprising due to the assumption that a spouse can provide comfort and support. However, other studies indicate that marriage has several benefits for war veterans. For example, benefits such as better health management and overall life satisfaction should make readjusting to civilian life relatively smooth and easy.
According to a survey, though, about 48% of veterans said they did not have a happy marriage as they had difficulties adapting. Also, 77% of this group said they had family problems, challenges and difficulties reentering everyday life after discharge.
Career
Undoubtedly, those serving in the military receive training of the utmost quality. Many of these personnel join the armed forces right after high school and don’t get a chance to complete college while the military does not offer degrees or certifications. So, military personnel cannot find stable jobs, which is a significant requirement for readjusting to civilian life. Though many people who have served in the military may have several awards and accolades, explaining their significance to employers isn’t easy. While they may be able to put them on their resumes, hiring managers may think they may not be relevant, especially for job roles requiring specific skill sets.
Stress
Most war veterans experience PTSD after being discharged, which is a significant factor that affects readjusting to civilian life. Also, small number of war veterans also experience what is called transition stress – a kind of stress related to the transitioning phase that all veterans undergo. However, when they transition to civilian life, they risk losing those values, their identities, and the meaning of their lives.
Phases of Readjustment
While veterans face several challenges when readjusting to civilian life, they can still do it slowly by taking one step at a time. Veterans must go through different adjustment phases to return to everyday life.
Reintegration
As a first step, veterans will need to reintegrate into society. That means resuming or restarting their roles as students, employees, spouses, and parents. The term ‘reintegration’ describes the return of military personnel from deployment to social or occupational functions. Reintegration may also refer to changes that occur on the psychological, social, health, and community levels when veterans try to get back into society and with their families and friends. Different aspects may be pivotal to this process, including treatment plans, case management, community and community- based services, and employment.
So, reintegration is a broad, holistic concept involving several aspects of transitioning from military service to everyday life.
Community Integration
Unlike reintegration, community integration involves the separation aspect of the transition, where military personnel leave the army and return to everyday life. You can also use the term to refer to physical rehabilitation, but other than that, community integration usually goes without describing its meaning.
Transition
‘Transition’ may refer to returning to normalcy or a civilian scenario. Still, it is also broadly used to describe the movement through various systems, needs, and processes. The term ‘transition’ may also be used in the context of institutional systems supporting veterans to smoothly transition into civilian life, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Readjustment
Readjustment describes the process of a Veteran readjusting to civilian life after deployment. However, this term finds use in defining the experiences that military personnel go through after returning, such as PTSD or other psychological or emotional discomfort. These discomforts are not limited to the veteran’s inner well-being, and they may also extend to the social realm to include issues in various daily life settings, such as at work, education, relationships, or health.
Providing Support for Transitioning Veterans
War veterans can find it hard to transition back to civilian life as they feel that they no longer have purpose or value in life. So, creating opportunities that can help them regain their goals becomes essential. These opportunities could come from employment, service, or education. However, it is also crucial to understand the needs of war veterans and help them through their endless list of struggles, which may be homelessness, unemployment, depression, or the increase in the risk of crises. Veterans may be struggling with not only mental health issues but also various physical health problems, such as brain injuries, hearing loss, and other illnesses, that may be caused during wars or through exposure to toxic substances.
The good news, though, is that there are many ways for veterans to seek support. So, if you are a soldier returning home, ask for help.