unv 104First Draft Expository Essay 2

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May 17, 2024

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UNV-104 October 10, 2020 Nicole Denniston Successful Readjustment to Civilian Life for Veterans United States Veterans have risked their lives to protect Americans and the American Dream, but America has failed to support them in achieving their dreams after military service. Our brothers and sisters that protected our lives and our freedom are struggling to return to a normal life after their service due to the trauma they have faced and the change from a well- structured and organized lifestyle to the ambiguous lifestyle of a civilian. For Veterans to successfully return to civilian life, they will need improved healthcare, post-service career and education guidance, and readjustment support. In order for veterans to integrate back to civilian life successfully, they need healthcare options upon exiting active duty that addresses their current physical and mental needs as well as issues that may arise in the future due to their service. Unfortunately, not all veterans are eligible for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) benefits, eligibility requires a strenuous process that involves how the veteran was discharged, their length of service, current income level, evidence of chemical exposures or injuries during service, and sometimes financial contribution (Derro, 2016). A veteran must then file a claim regarding their injury or exposure, which then they would need to wait months for the approval or denial due to the backlog of claims and if necessary, reapply (Derro, 2016). This daunting process of waiting for health coverage and not receiving any kind of treatment can take a toll on a veteran’s mental and physical health and lead to them to be offended and no longer want treatment (Derro,2016). Up to 30% of combat veterans experience and often delay treatment for is post-traumatic stress 1

disorder (Fogger, Moore & Pickett, 2016). Veterans are accustomed to a strict, structured life as active duty military and because of this, they may feel lost if they do not have a plan or idea for their post-service life. One of the most stressful pieces of returning to civilian life is finding a job (Dexter, 2020). Despite the specific skills and knowledge acquired from their military experience, veterans struggle to find careers post-military due to the inability to communicate their attributes (Kirchner & Akdere, 2019). Most veterans enlist after high school making their military experience the only job they’ve had, because of this, they lack the knowledge and experience of basic job searching like building a resume and take part in interviews (Buzetta, et al., 2017). Many veterans find it difficult to transition to the college environment because the status and recognition that they are accustomed to are no longer applicable making them feel out of their element, but informing them of resources and services that are available to the veteran community can lead to feeling included and be successful in their academic endeavors (Dillard & Yu, 2018). In order for a veteran’s post-service integration to be successful, they need the support of social workers and their family to ensure they get the healthcare that they need and are on the right track to meet their career and educational goals. Some challenges that veterans face including readjustment issues are difficulty relating to family or civilians, unemployment, and accessing the services they need (Derefinko et al., 2019). The only care and guidance service members receive when exiting active duty is the examination and referral for severe mental distress and substance abuse, there are no further inquiries or concern about the service members home life, plans, or programs if they need assistance after their service (Derefinko et al., 2019). It is important veterans have a social worker to provide them guidance, but their family plays an important role to support the veteran’s needs in their integration back into civilian life (Chan, 2

2019). In order for the resources available to veterans truly benefit them, they need to be aware of the issues that are common with veterans, the signs of substance abuse and mental distress, and where they can access immediate help (Derefinko , et al., 2019). For veterans to successfully reintegrate into civilian life, they must have additional support and care as they transition from a structured life into one where they choose their path. Veterans need immediate access to improved and additional healthcare for their mental and physical issues while exiting the military and any health problems that may arise in the future. Knowing how to navigate through college and successfully communicate their skills will greatly impact their success in finding meaningful employment. Overall, our veterans need support from the government with outside agencies providing social work and most especially from their family and friends to have their back during the stressful and unfamiliar process of finding their niche in civilian life. 3

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