In our most recent tip sheet from AccessATE and HERL, we discussed the importance of fellowship in a military veteran’s transition to school, work, and civilian life, and some means by which they might go about forming a new community after service. Here, we will further discuss why the transition to civilian life can be so difficult, and how you as an educator or employer can help veterans feel more at home.
Tip Sheet: Working with Veterans: Fellowship
Many of us have heard that transitioning from military to civilian life can be very difficult for veterans, but we rarely are told why this is. While leaving the military itself can be intimidating, it is often the reintegration into regular society that poses the biggest challenge. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 44% of veterans report that reentry was or remains difficult. The study suggests that injuries, witnessing or experiencing traumatic events, and PTSD are among the biggest obstacles. These cause physical, emotional, and/or mental changes in the veterans who experience them, which in turn cause their experience of civilian life to be different than it was before they entered the military. Veterans may expect or hope that things will be as they were before service, and they often aren’t, which is difficult enough to deal with on its own. On top of that, affected veterans have to deal with the consequences or effects of those physical, emotional, and/or mental changes, such as needing a mobility aid due to injury or being triggered by certain stimuli. Additionally, relating to others post-service can be difficult due to lack of shared experience, and roles and expectations within family or friend groups may have changed while the veteran was away, sometimes without their knowledge.
There are number of things one can do as an educator or employer to help veterans ease into their new lives after service. The Pew study mentioned above notes that education has a big influence on the ease of reentry, including education after service. Helping veterans find education programs and internships that suit their skills and interests, or providing on-the-job training, is a great way to help them get on track. Military life features a lot of structure, so providing more structure in school or at work is often very welcome. This can include setting consistent hours for study or work, providing organized lists of tasks, establishing clear and specific lines of communication, and more. In a similar vein, military life also often features a significant lack of choices, so providing a veteran with too many options can feel overwhelming; instead, only provide a few at a time. Veterans may have trouble understanding, finding, or selecting benefits and services such as resource offices or insurance, as those things were previously provided by the military. Take a little extra time to explain their options and how best to choose based on their situation.
Some veterans also run into a bit of a communication barrier between themselves and their colleagues, as the military utilizes a lot of esoteric terminology and slang. Patience is key when this arises – it’s OK to tell a veteran that you don’t understand something they’ve said, and it’s important to explain education, industry, or office terminology in a manner that does not feel judgmental. Finally, it’s important to know that veterans may have trouble making friends and forming a community. In an education environment, one can direct veteran students to study groups or clubs that align with their interests. At work, it’s important to establish friendly connections, since we interact with our coworkers so often. Encourage and support workplace inclusion, and encourage employees to get to know each other and promote social activities. This can help the veteran employee feel like they’re truly part of the team, and make them feel more at home.
If you’re unsure as to what your veteran student or employee needs to make their transition to civilian life easier and more comfortable, it’s best to simply ask. Veterans are used to working in teams to accomplish specific goals, so working alongside you, as their mentor, can be a key inflection point to their reintegration.
Additional Resources
- Military One Source has a number of resources on Separation and Transition. Their website includes a live chat service and a phone line for those who have questions or would like further guidance.
- The articles Why Leaving the Military is So Hard and 4 Rules to Get It Right and 6 Ways Employers Can Help Veterans Transition to New Careers have great tips for employers and veterans alike.
- Olivet Nazarene University’s research article, Friends at Work, highlights the importance of connecting with coworkers.
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