Military service is often demanding, difficult, and dangerous. However, transitioning back into civilian life is not easy either. According to information by the Pew Research Center, men and women serving in the military have a challenging time returning to their civil life after serving. Such difficulties are usually caused by several reasons, including trauma the service men and women have had to endure while at work. This article looks into some of the factors that make it difficult to transition from military to civilian life.
Trauma
One of the greatest factors that make the transition difficult for veterans is trauma experienced during service. This can be emotional trauma or physical trauma. Veterans programs are usually designed to assist people with trauma transition easily, offering them a second chance to live a normal life.
Men and women who experience traumatic events while serving often have flashbacks and repeated upsetting recollections of what they endured while serving. Furthermore, most of these men and women suffer post-traumatic stress, which makes it difficult for them to re-enter civilian life.
On the other hand, service men and women who do not experience PTS have an easy time transitioning into their civil life. The reason for difficulty in transition is caused by the experiences people undergo while serving in the military. For instance, serving in zones of combat minimizes the likelihood that an individual will have it easier to readjust to civilian life.
Education Level
The level of education also plays a vital role in determining whether a veteran transitions into civilian life with ease. According to research, veterans who graduated from college often have an easy time readjusting once they are done with serving compared to high school graduates. Perhaps this has more to do with where they are posted. One would expect a college or university graduate to hold leadership positions where they get to direct and command others, away from the combat scenes. On the other hand, enlisted individuals and personnel who have graduated from high school would be expected to serve in combat areas, exposing them to gruesome scenes of war that trigger post-traumatic stress disorder after their service is over. Such an outcome makes readjustment difficult.
Religion
A higher degree of religious belief makes the transition into civilian life easy. Veterans who are perceived to be highly religious have an easier time settling in once they are done with serving. For instance, it was established in a study that among the post-9/11 veterans, those who attended religious services frequently had an easy time transitioning into civilian life compared to those who did not attend the services often, underscoring the significance of religion in readjustment to civilian life.
Final Word
While many other factors could affect the transition from military to civilian life – such as marriage – the above factors certainly play a significant role in determining the ease of readjustment. If you happen to experience these difficulties or know someone who does, make an effort of seeking help through rehabilitation, especially if PTSD is involved.
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