Veterans returning home can be glorious seen for the country, not to mention the joy of friends and family. Having been hard at war, a soldier faces choices and demands too hefty for anyone outside of the battlefield to even fathom. Is the war over for a soldier once he returns home? Is he/she the same person as he/she was before leaving for the fighting grounds?
These questions raise serious concerns about the well being and the adaptability of a soldier with common life. In most circumstances, veterans face a plethora of problems revolving their induced war mentality.
Adapting To Civilian Life
soldier at war
Perhaps the most daunting task for someone who has long been at war is to adapt to civilian life. It is entirely different from the chaotic and combat-ready environment that a soldier is adapted to. He misses the adrenaline drive of the battlefield in almost anything he tries to do. There is also a perpetual lack of purpose to drive him.
As a result of this, veterans face low self-confidence driven detachment from society and work. The lack of motivation is reflected in his daily life. There is also the stigma associated with attaining professional psychological help due to their reputations.
As bad as it sounds, the VA has been working relentlessly to help veterans attain mental health services and help them adapt to civilian life. The Veteran Crisis Line is specifically put in place to help veterans in emergency.
Unemployment
Unemployment remains a serious issue for veterans. Although it has declined over the years, physical impairment in battle in addition to low self-confidence in civilian life makes it difficult for them to attain a job god enough for healthy sustenance.
This unemployment hits harder on young veterans of the age 18-24, who do not have the requisite education to attain decent jobs. This issue can however be combated by appropriate training and education and requires commitment on part from the veteran and the hiring agency.
Employer discrimination is another important factor that weighs down on the unemployment of veterans. In a period of slow economic growth, industry demands people with specific skill sets that takes times to be inculcated into veterans, one of the main reasons why employers are reluctant to hire young veterans.
Over the years, veteran unemployment has reduced to about 3.7%, and is likely to decrease further as a result of the reduced involvement of US military in foreign affairs.
Traumatic Wounds
injured veteran
In the wake of revolutionary technology, more soldiers are surviving critical injuries in the battlefield. On paper, about 13 percent of troops died from wounds in the battlefield. However, this results in a greater number of veterans having to live with drastic injuries and body part amputations. This in turn puts serious challenges into any employment.
Mental wounds are in fact one of the most difficult to recover from. Although not seen from the outside, their resolution stands as the singularly most important aspect of a veteran settling into civilian life. Veterans are often advised to approach counsellors specializing in PTSDs.
Several non-profit organisations have come forward in the last few years to rally for the cause of disabled veterans and provide them employment and a better quality of life through a rich and integrated community. Amongst these, are the Wounded Warrior Project, Operation We Are Here and many more.
A Missing Roof
Homeless
Veterans without any secure accommodation are not uncommon in the US. As surprising as it may sound, about 40,000 veterans in the US are yet homeless. Under the Obama administration, this number plummeted from about 74,000.
Although mostly male, the number of homeless female veterans has seen a rapid rise lately. Some of these veterans are even reluctant to approach the politically associated VA.
Although, the homelessness problem seems to be getting solved, allowing these individuals to maintain a healthy source of employment and engagement in their life seems more and more challenging.
These are only a few of the problems faced by veterans after coming home. Severed relationships, and family bonds add to the traumatic experience that these heroes of ours have to go through. A strong community welcoming veterans and family support can help solve this problem permanently, resulting in a healthy ecosystem for veterans and the military.