Understanding and meeting the requirements of veterans and providing them with the resources they need to reintegrate into society is crucial when bridging the gap between military service and civilian work. As described by Stern (2017), many veterans have a hard time readjusting to civilian life, dealing with post-traumatic stress, and feeling understood by the broader American public. The inability to afford necessary medical care, the stresses of social acculturation, and the absence of readily available mental health resources are all factors. The transition from military to civilian life involves significant cultural shock. Adjusting to civilian life can be challenging for veterans who have honed their fighting capabilities but not the advanced technical abilities necessary for success in college or the workforce (Forbes et al., 2020). Therefore, it is important to implement transition assistance programs well before a service member’s separation from the military to reduce the stigma associated with seeking medical care. It promotes peer involvement with other veterans who can relate. The Veterans Administration is one of the stakeholders discussed in this paper.
Stakeholders and Their Positions
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the first major stakeholder. Veterans Affairs (VA) is a government agency with the mission of aiding veterans. They have created various initiatives to aid veterans and their families (Louis, 2020). Particular areas of interest include health care, housing loans, and medical and educational assistance for disability or death. The VA plays a significant role in the transition process by assisting veterans in making the most of their educational advantages and is useful for veterans with PTSD. The VA is a very beneficial agency for those who have served in the military.
The second category of stakeholders consists of former service members known as veterans. A person is considered a veteran if they have served in the active military, naval, or air service and have been discharged or released from such service under conditions that are not considered dishonorable. This is an essential topic for veterans since it assists them in making the transition from the lifestyle of serving in the military to a successful civilian profession (Ward, 2020). In addition, it helps veterans who have tried to transition out of the military but have been unsuccessful. It will assist in directing them on the right road, as well as in understanding the resources that are available to them.
Active-duty members of the armed forces represent the last stakeholder group. They value doing the kind of work one can be proud of accomplishing because they understand that it is difficult to serve. Bridging the gap between military service and civilian careers should start as soon as someone enters the military (Morgan, 2020). They have the most to benefit from this because if they do not take control of their lives from the start, they will be the ones who suffer later on as veterans. The objective is for service members to gain a head start on their civilian career by doing anything they can to study and acquire skills. In addition, they find what they can do to increase their chances of making a more seamless transition.
Connecting Stakeholders
A shared military experience is what holds all of the stakeholders together. Many establishments, companies, and veteran groups are staffed with veterans with a wealth of experience gained during their service. The common thread that runs through them is the urge to want more for veterans. To successfully close the gap, it is essential to involve all relevant stakeholders and encourage veterans to seek mentors or connect with fellow veterans who can relate to their experiences (Ainspan et al., 2018). The transition from working a job that helped train a service member for the battle to working in a profession where one would be required to sit at a desk all day is a significant change in routine. It is difficult to accomplish, but it is not impossible if you have the support of peers who have been through the same thing. Not only does it have its benefits, but it also allows all stakeholders to collaborate in the way they currently do.
Opinion on Similarities and Differences
Veterans Affairs and veterans collaborate and work together to accomplish their goals. Veteran services are mostly provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Members of the armed forces currently on active duty and the VA share very few commonalities. Only two programs, the VA loan and the educational benefit, are available to active-duty service members. Veterans and active-duty service personnel might draw parallels due to their shared experience in the armed forces (Crosby, 2018). The VA differs from the military because its resources assist veterans and their families rather than active duty personnel. Despite their many shared characteristics, active-duty military personnel and veterans are distinct in important ways. This means that there will be substantial changes for veterans who left service in the 1990s compared to those who left in the 2020s. Since the military is always evolving, so must the challenges its members encounter (Stern, 2017). In the same way, a veteran who served during 9/11 may be dealing with PTSD. Consequently, a veteran who served in 2011 and did not go through any deployments will require a different strategy as they prepare to leave the military.
Confounding Issues
As was previously noted, the military is in a constant state of evolution. The VA has boosted the number of ways veterans can receive benefits. Congress passed the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act in 2017 (Crosby, 2018). Many new provisions for VA appeals were established by the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act. Obtaining compensation and medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs was difficult. One can now file an appeal if they are not satisfied with how they determine their injuries. In the past, veterans did not get the same level of support from the VA as they do now. Some veterans who left the service before 2016 had a smooth transition, while others struggled.
Conclusion
One must consider how the community may give back to veterans to bridge the gap between military duty and profession. The cultural chasm between veterans and civilians can be bridged if all parties involved work together to raise awareness of the issue. If communication barriers can be overcome, veterans have valuable talents to contribute to civilian society. Both sides need to get a deeper appreciation for the other’s culture, and this is achieved when veterans gain insight into adjusting to civilian life and when civilians gain familiarity with military customs. As long as they are provided with the support they need, veterans can be successful after leaving the military and pursuing a civilian career. Better transition aid programs, more encouragement for veterans to seek professional help, more peer interaction with other soldiers who can connect, and more introspection can help veterans close the gap and find something they like doing. The best that society offers should be available to veterans; after all, they have given so much to their communities via their service.
References
Ainspan, N. D., Penk, W., & Kearney, L. K. (2018). Psychosocial approaches to improving the military-to-civilian transition process. Psychological Services, 15(2), 129.
Crosby, C. (2018). How has the VA improvement and modernization act changed the appeals process? Web.
Forbes, D., Van Hooff, M., Lawrence-Wood, E., Sadler, N., Hodson, S., Benassi, H., & McFarlane, A. (2018). Pathways to care, mental health and wellbeing transition study, the department of defense and the department of Veterans’ Affairs, Canberra.
Louis, M. J. (2020). Why veterans need more than transition assistance programs. MilitaryTimes. Web.
Morgan, J. (2020). Seven tips for troops transitioning to the civilian world from a former Navy officer and career coach. MilitaryTimes. Web.
Stern, L. (2017). Post 9/11 veterans with service-connected disabilities and their transition to the civilian workforce: A review of the literature. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 19(1), 66-77.
Ward, B. K. (2020). Major Barriers Facing Veteran Transition from Military to Civilian Workforce: Suggested Strategies. International Journal of Business and Public Administration. 17(2), 60-85.