U.S. Veterans
Veterans of the United States Armed Forces are integral to American culture and history. In 2020, roughly 18.2 million veterans, representing 7.0% of the total population were still alive in the United States (Vespa, 2020). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age of veterans is 64, and the vast majority are men (91%) (Vespa, 2020). These veterans have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, among others. Veterans of the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the continuing battles in Iraq and Afghanistan have all significantly contributed to American history (Vespa, 2020).
Veterans play an important part in the economy of the United States, and their job and financial problems impact the economy as a whole. Physical and mental health issues, homelessness, and unemployment are just some of the particular difficulties veterans experience after leaving the military and need politicians’ attention and answers (Tsai, 2019). Therefore, American veterans should be honored for their service and cared for by their nation, and lawmakers should prioritize veterans’ issues for a smooth transition back into civilian life. This paper examines the evolution of Veteran policies and programs in the United States, as well as the Veterans’ experiences, contributions, and difficulties.
Literature Review
Historical Background
American citizens have been serving in the armed forces since the Revolutionary War. Hence, there is a sizable community of veterans who have boosted the safety and prosperity of the country. Veterans have significantly contributed to American history by participating in wars, battles, and operations (Vespa, 2020). Several Revolutionary War warriors received honors for their service and sacrifice in the fight against the British. Soldiers were given land grants and pensions when the war ended as an appreciation for their service. More than six million men served on both sides during the Civil War, a huge increase from previous wars. Veterans’ pensions, disability payments, and medical care were among the first governmental programs and benefits created after the war (Koenig et al., 2019).
About four million American soldiers were sent to fight in World War I; many never returned home. In response, the government expanded benefits for veterans and created the Veterans Administration. Over 16 million Americans served in World War II, making it the biggest deployment in American history (Vespa, 2020). The GI Bill, which offered financial aid for veterans’ higher education and housing, was one way that society changed drastically to accommodate combat veterans.
Veterans have been crucial to U.S. military operations and wars. Besides these conflicts, veterans have engaged in peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, and counterterrorism missions (Vespa, 2020). U.S. veteran rules and benefits have evolved to meet changing needs. The government recognizes veterans’ contributions and works to provide them with resources. The earliest government veterans’ programs helped Civil War veterans (Wyse et al., 2020).
Benefits in the areas of education, housing, and employment have been added to these programs throughout time. The GI Bill, enacted after World War II and offered financial aid for veterans’ education and housing, was a major step forward in veteran policy (Tsai, 2019). Many military veterans could utilize the bill’s benefits to further their education or start enterprises, contributing to the growth of the middle class in the years after World War II. The government has recently improved veterans’ mental health and TBI services (Wyse et al., 2020). Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services may assist veterans in healing and returning to civilian life. Today’s legislation and services reflect the U.S.’s longstanding dedication to veterans. Veterans may continue to make positive contributions to society and their nation with the help of these programs, which provide them with greater access to the tools they need to do so.
Mental Health Issues Among Veterans
Veteran mortality rates in the United States are at an all-time high. Veterans may develop a range of mental diseases due to their service, which may have long-lasting repercussions on their well-being. These are common mental health issues among veterans: trauma victims may acquire post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental condition (Koenig et al., 2019). Veterans who have experienced war or other violent situations suffer from this. Flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and sadness are all symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans. They may have trouble sleeping, have anger control problems, and avoid particular social settings.
Veterans, particularly those exposed to explosive devices, may suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain damage from violence is called traumatic brain injury (TBI) (Lim et al., 2020). Headaches, dizziness, disorientation, memory loss, and inability to concentrate are all signs of a traumatic brain injury. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are frequently associated with TBI. Many service members and veterans struggle with depression. Potential causes include the death of friends and colleagues, the suffering of injuries, and the stress of readjusting to civilian life. Hopelessness, a lack of desire, excessive sleep, and a loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities are all symptoms linked to depression (Mackey et al., 2021). Several service members have reported contemplating or attempting suicide.
In addition, veteran suicide is an increasing problem. On average, 17 veterans take their own lives per day, as reported by Liu et al. (2019). Suicide rates among veterans are disproportionately high compared to the general population because of service-related mental health problems. Drug misuse is another major issue affecting the military men and women. To ease the pain of post-traumatic stress disorder, sadness, and grief, some veterans may use narcotics or alcohol. Drug usage may exacerbate preexisting mental health problems and lead to addiction (Liu et al., 2019). The veteran’s social, family, professional, and general well-being might all be negatively impacted.
Employment Opportunities for Veterans
Veterans have special difficulties in the job market, notwithstanding their service to the nation. Veterans often face the following challenges while looking for work: First, veterans may have substantial military experience but little to no job experience outside of the military, which may make it difficult for them to obtain civilian employment (Koenig et al., 2019). Second is disabilities and injuries sustained in the line of duty: As a result of their service, many veterans come home with wounds that might make it difficult for them to return to the workforce. Subsequently, veterans may have trouble finding work that uses their training and experience since many military abilities are not readily transferable to civilian industries. There is also the issue of discrimination, which may make it difficult for veterans to get work since some companies may have preconceived notions or prejudices against them because of their military service.
Several regulations and initiatives designed to assist veterans in finding work aim to remove these obstacles. Important policies and initiatives include: first, employment training and education programs for veterans: Government agencies, including the Department of veterans affairs (V.A.), the Department of defense, and the Department of labor, provide unique training and educational opportunities for veterans to gain marketable skills and credentials (Tsai, 2019). The second category is federal hiring efforts, which include the veterans’ preference program and other measures that help veterans get work in the federal government. Helping veterans establish and maintain their own companies is the focus of the Veterans Business Outreach Center program and similar initiatives. The fourth category is corporate recruiting efforts, which include campaigns by companies like Amazon and Starbucks to hire more veterans and put their military expertise to good use (Vespa, 2020). Veterans with disabilities are entitled to reasonable adjustments from their employers, such as the installation of ramps for wheelchair access, the provision of specialized software, or the establishment of alternative work schedules.
Homelessness Among Veterans
The problem of veteran homelessness in the United States has persisted for decades. Over 50,000 veterans are sleeping on the streets every night, reports the National Network for Homeless Veterans (Tsai, 2019). Veterans are more likely to become homeless than the general population for several reasons. PTSD and depression are common mental health problems among veterans, especially those who participated in war (Bowe et al., 2021). They may have trouble keeping a job or relationships together, which may lead to homelessness. In addition, returning veterans often encounter special difficulties. Many have no one to turn to outside the military and may lack the knowledge and experience to find employment or afford a place to live (Wyse et al., 2020). The high healthcare and housing costs may exacerbate veterans’ homelessness, especially in major cities.
Many initiatives and laws have been passed to aid homeless veterans. Housing help, job training, and mental health treatment are just a few of the many services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) (Liu et al., 2019). Temporary financial aid is available to veterans who are homeless or in danger of homelessness via the V.A.’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program (Tsai, 2019). The federal government has also launched programs like HUD-VASH, which provides homeless veterans housing vouchers, case management, and medical care (Koenig et al., 2019). The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Unmet Needs program are just two examples of the many community-based programs and nonprofits that exist to aid veterans. According to Tsai (2019), there has been some progress in decreasing veteran homelessness thanks to these initiatives and regulations, but more work has to be done to get at the origins of the issue. This involves boosting funding for mental health services, employment initiatives, and low-cost housing. These systemic problems must be addressed if veteran homelessness is ever to be reduced or eliminated.
Health Care for Veterans
U.S. veterans have struggled to get healthcare; despite advancements, many still struggle. The Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) reports that more than 30% of the 9 million veterans enrolled in V.A. healthcare live in rural or remote areas with limited healthcare access (Lim et al., 2020). Many V.A. programs increase veterans’ access to excellent healthcare. Qualified veterans may utilize the V.A. Community Care program to get private care when V.A. facilities are not nearby (Wyse et al., 2020). Telehealth may also help veterans who live far from V.A. facilities. These initiatives are not enough to ensure veterans’ healthcare access. Some veterans may not know about their services, while others may experience bureaucratic red tape or long wait times while scheduling appointments. Veteran healthcare quality has been heavily disputed.
Veterans have complained about V.A. hospital wait times, staffing, and supplies. The V.A. has been criticized for overprescribing painkillers to veterans for pain (Liu et al., 2019). The VA patient-centered care paradigm emphasizes veteran needs, while the V.A. National Center for Patient Safety reduces adverse events in V.A. hospitals. Veteran healthcare is also problematic; its demand is a major issue. When more veterans return from abroad, the V.A. healthcare system will serve millions of them (Mackey et al., 2021). The VA healthcare system will likely be further stressed as the veteran population ages.
Research Design and Methodology
This suggested research study aims to look at problems facing American veterans today, such as their quality of life, access to healthcare, education, and employment. The ultimate purpose of this research is to improve the lives of veterans by clarifying the difficulties they now confront and the potential solutions. Veterans, healthcare providers, politicians, and other stakeholders will be surveyed and interviewed in-depth to compile quantitative data for the project. The surveys will be administered online or in person at the convenience of the participants. In-person and telephone interviews will be conducted to collect first-hand stories from the participants. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and content analysis will be used to examine the information gathered from the questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize and interpret the survey’s findings. The study will use inferential statistics to deduce the relationships between the variables. Content analysis will uncover recurrent themes and patterns in the interview material.
Expected Outcomes
This study’s findings will shed light on issues such as veterans’ access to healthcare, training programs, and job opportunities in the United States. The study’s findings will give quantitative evidence for the frequency and severity of these problems and their effect on the lives of veterans. Better healthcare services, educational and training opportunities, and job initiatives are some potential answers that might be uncovered via this study. The study’s findings will inform recommendations for new laws and programs to help veterans adjust to civilian life more easily. Veterans, politicians, and veteran service delivery stakeholders will benefit from this study’s findings. Findings from this study will inform policy and practice to serve our nation’s veterans better and ensure they are provided the care they have earned. The findings will enrich the current literature on veterans in the United States and provide light on the difficulties they experience and the methods that have been tried to alleviate them.
Conclusion
Some significant issues have been brought to light by studies of American military veterans. First, it has helped illuminate veterans’ difficulties and problems upon returning from duty, such as physical and mental health concerns, trouble re-integrating into civilian life, and issues gaining access to healthcare and other support services. Second, studies have shown that community support and outreach initiatives are crucial to resolving these problems and enhancing veterans’ quality of life. Research has also highlighted the need to continue to advocate for veterans’ rights and alter policies to meet their needs better. Notwithstanding the useful information supplied by previous studies on veterans, holes, and restrictions in the literature still need to be filled. Women veterans, LGBTQ+ soldiers, and veterans of color, to name a few, confront unique obstacles that have not yet been well studied. More extensive and longitudinal research is required to understand the lifelong effects of military service on veterans fully.
There are several important reasons to research U.S. veterans. In the first place, it highlights the importance of showing gratitude to veterans for their service to the nation and for the sacrifices they have made. Second, it emphasizes the need to help veterans with their specific difficulties so that they can adjust to civilian life. Lastly, it stresses the need for constant activism and policy change to expand veterans’ access to medical treatment, social support, and other benefits. Further in-depth studies in the future should investigate these concerns to advance more justice and equality for all veterans.
References
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Koenig, H. G., Youssef, N. A., & Pearce, M. (2019). Assessment of moral injury in veterans and active duty military personnel with PTSD: A review. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10, 443. Web.
Lim, J. K., Nguyen, M. H., Kim, W. R., Gish, R., Perumalswami, P., & Jacobson, I. M. (2020). Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the United States. Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology| ACG, 115(9), 1429-1438. Web.
Liu, Y., Collins, C., Wang, K., Xie, X., & Bie, R. (2019). The prevalence and trend of depression among veterans in the United States. Journal of Affective Disorders, 245, 724-727. Web.
Mackey, K., Ayers, C. K., Kondo, K. K., Saha, S., Advani, S. M., Young, S. & Kansagara, D. (2021). Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19–related infections, hospitalizations, and deaths: a systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine, 174(3), 362-373. Web.
Tsai, J. (Eds.). (2019). Homelessness among U.S. veterans: Critical perspectives. New York, U.S. Oxford University Press.
Vespa, J. (2020). Those Who Served: America’s Veterans from World War II to the War on Terror: American Community Survey report. Report No. ACS-43. Washington (DC): US Department of Commerce. Web.
Wyse, J. J., Pogoda, T. K., Mastarone, G. L., Gilbert, T., & Carlson, K. F. (2020). Employment and vocational rehabilitation experiences among veterans with polytrauma/traumatic brain injury history. Psychological services, 17(1), 65. Web.