Introduction
Supporting the economic success of America’s military veterans is receiving national attention and funding. According to Edwards, “veterans often face numerous challenges living outside the military environment” (Edwards 7). Since many people successfully transit from the military to civilian life, some veterans may find it difficult to adjust from a highly structured military environment to the one where they must independently manage the challenges of finding civilian employment, managing finances, staying healthy, and finding their place in the larger community.
Problems Veterans Face after Returning Home
Traumatic Brain Injury is a type of brain damage that alters how the brain functions. TBI may affect anybody, but certain groups are at a higher risk of getting it or suffering negative health repercussions as a result. Some of the most severe issues are medical; veterans return to their communities and require high-quality health care. TBIs have been reported in a significant number of veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, with roughly one in five suffering from a mild type of TBI known as a concussion. Posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, problematic alcohol use, and suicidal ideation are all prevalent issues.
Veterans suffer from different health issues. Moreover, many women and men endured sexual trauma in the military, including harassment and assaults. It can have both psychological and physical consequences. Switching to civilian roles can be especially difficult for veterans with mental or physical health issues, making coping skills and functioning even more difficult.
In addition to health issues, some returning service veterans have additional barriers in readjusting to civilian life, such as economic or social hurdles. For example, the unemployment rate for veterans who served after 9/11 has occasionally been nearly double that of non-veterans of the same age. Overall, however, there is a scarcity of data and research to analyze the economic, social, and health effects of deployment on military service personnel and their families, making it impossible to pinpoint their specific requirements.
Qualified Work for Veterans
Leaving the military may be the beginning of a new and exciting second career. Although the transition from military duty to civilian life is not a new phenomenon, it can be noted from the everyday news that employment in the U.S. has changed in recent years (Kwasniewski 14). According to research, “the higher rate of self-employment among veterans also partially reflects the older age profile of veterans: 40 percent of employed veterans were aged 55 years and older, compared with 21 percent of non-veterans. Older workers are more likely to be self-employed than younger workers” (Hipple and Hammond 10). Rather than becoming mired down by veterans’ lack of skills and experience, it is essential to recognize that what they acquired in duty can be applied to the civilian job. Indeed, these abilities may be what makes a veteran the ideal choice.
As the usage of technology grows and advances, so does the possibility of cyber assault; therefore, veterans who are seeking long-term, well-paid work should choose a career in cybersecurity. Veterans are well-suited to a job in cybersecurity because they combine a security perspective with a variety of transferrable military abilities. Security Consultants, Operations, Threat and Incident Analysts or Managers, Risk and Compliance Managers, and Penetration Testers, who try to uncover weaknesses or vulnerabilities in systems, are just a few of the jobs available in the sphere of cyber security.
Transferable abilities developed in the military, such as communication, management, collaboration, and leadership, will serve veterans well if they choose a job in construction. Veterans are well-suited to work in this industry because they have expertise in implementing complicated plans, utilizing modern computer systems, and even operating heavy equipment. Ex-military engineers are especially in demand here, and veterans make good site managers. Construction industry salaries are frequently high or competitive.
Since the information and technology sector continues to develop year after year, a job in the field might be a wise choice for veterans seeking secure work after leaving the military. Ex-military individuals are well-suited to a career in Information and Communication Technology since they have expertise directing and managing IT operations and working with sophisticated and high-tech equipment. Salaries are frequently high, and soft military skills like collaboration, time management, and communication are highly valued.
Problems with a Standard Work Week
Whether in the army or as a civilian, many people may face a terrible incident that will alter their perspective of the world or themselves at some time in their life. Some people’s responses may last for a short time, whereas others have more long-term impacts due to various conditions. Workplace pressure may be challenging for the traumatized veteran to handle. Irritability, jitteriness, mood swings, insufficient attention, and memory issues can all contribute to workplace conflicts and repeated job changes.
PTSD is a psychological reaction to intensely stressful situations, particularly ones that endanger one’s life. When contrasting civilian life to the ordered military method, veterans may be impatient with other people’s inefficiencies. Some PTSD veterans develop a workaholic personality, burying themselves in their profession and working long hours. It appears to be part of the PTSD avoidance component — being busy helps keep the memories and negative thoughts at bay. Others feel that their issues make it impossible for them to work efficiently at all. Irritability, mood fluctuations, poor focus, and memory impairment can all interfere with a Veteran’s ability to work productively. Alternatively, a veteran may engage in a “workaholic” cycle in order to avoid painful recollections.
Conclusion
To sum up, the recruitment process for veterans should include an analysis that will show the veteran’s willingness to work after service. Not all veterans are able to make the switch to normal life. This can be associated with mental disorders, physical problems that slow down the employment process, or, on the contrary, immerses them strongly in work, which can also be harmful in the future. Employment of veterans is possible but requires attention to all details.
Works Cited
Edwards, Anthony L. A Qualitative Study of African American Veterans Transitioning to Life after Military Service. 2016. Diss. Capella University. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
Hipple, Steven F., and Laurel A. Hammond. BLS Spotlight on Statistics: Self-employment in the United States. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016. Web.
Kwasniewski, Bryan Todd. Trust in Leadership Effects on Job Satisfaction as Perceived by Veteran Employees. 2020. Diss. Grand Canyon University. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.