Common Challenges During Re-adjustment to Civilian Life
Civilians may not be aware of the challenges of separating from military service and returning to civilian life.
Veterans may find difficulty:
Setting a Foundation
- Creating structure The military provides structure and has a clear chain of command. This does not naturally exist outside the military. A Veteran will have to create his or her own structure or adjust to living in an environment with more ambiguity.
- Adjusting to Providing basic necessities (e.g., food, clothing, housing) In the military, these things are not only provided, but there is often little choice (e.g., you eat at determined times in a certain place, duty station determines your dress code). Given the lack of choices while in the military, the vast array of choices in the civilian world can sometimes be overwhelming.
- Preparing to enter the work force When applying for a job, a Veteran will have to determine how to translate his or her military skills and duties into civilian terms and create a resume. A Veteran may have never created a resume. Instead of a resume the military uses a Field Service Record to detail qualifications, training, and experience.
Social Participation
- Establishing support services
- A Veteran may have to learn how to get a doctor, dentist, life insurance, etc. These services were previously provided by the military.
- A Veteran may also need to navigate the paperwork and process of obtaining benefits and services from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Joining or creating a community When moving to a new base or post, the military helps military personnel and families adjust. This structure is often not automatically in place when someone separates from the military. The Veteran and his or her family may have to find new ways to join or create a social community.
- Relating to people Understanding what military personnel have experienced (and many civilians don’t know that they don’t know!
- Reconnecting with family and re-establishing a role in the family. Families may have created new routines during absences and both the family and the Veteran will have to adjust to changes.