Military Transition and the Impact on Veteran Well Being

An intersection of health, education and employment

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While the majority of veterans transitioning to civilian life tend to be resilient, adaptable, and able to transition to the civilian workplace with success, many veterans, male and female, struggle with the transition from active duty. Research conducted after the last recession revealed that the difficulty in transitioning to civilian life is largely attributable to challenges finding employment, however, this fails to address all the factors that impact the long-term well-being of today’s veterans.

In this series of publications, I will share stories and data on the impact of the military community on American businesses and economy, and the impact that businesses could have on a positive military transition, which could in turn improve veteran well-being, and with improved well-being, may help reduce veteran suicide rates. These articles will share the available data, data gaps, and my own story as well as those of other veterans. I will offer tips that any company can use to help drive positive change in the well-being of those who have served our nation in uniform.

Helping veterans find employment

Veterans are not looking for a handout, just a hand up to help us as we transition. With approximately 200,000 service members leaving the military each year, about 15% who are female, this represents the largest number of displaced workers in our country. One of the most commonly discussed challenges in military transition programs and research is the need for assistance translating military experience. In a future post, I will address why this is a bigger challenge for post-9/11 veterans than it has been for past generations of those who have served. Women veterans face many of the same challenges as men but typically face higher rates of unemployment than their male counterparts who served or other Americans who have not.

However, there is another crisis we face in our community, veteran suicide. Despite moving from double digit unemployment rates for veterans 10 years ago to rates in 2019 that were the lowest in 19 years, we have seen year over year increases in veteran suicides. In a 2019 survey, 62% of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America members who responded reported knowing a veteran who committed suicide, which represents a 22% increase from 2014.

Understanding the data behind veteran suicides

Before we can have a discussion on veteran suicide, and well-being more broadly, we must have an understanding of the available data, or lack thereof. Some of the misunderstandings surrounding data are connected to programs created to increase awareness of veteran suicide. In 2013 the 22-pushup campaign was launched to create awareness of the VA data that 22 veterans a day were committing suicide. Several celebrities posted videos that helped increase awareness surrounding this number. In July 2016, the VA published another report that the suicide rate was down to 20 a day. Without more context these numbers give the appearance we are moving in the right direction. The reality is we are not.

As the WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War era veterans are dying, the overall veteran population is decreasing. A more accurate picture emerges if you look at the rate per 100K which has increased almost 50% between 2007 and 2017, and represents a comparative 1.5 times the rate for non-veteran adults. For female veterans the risk factor is 2.2 times increased. While many people assume that veterans get their health insurance coverage from the VA, the majority do not, and instead use their employer, Medicare or Medicaid. Six out of ten veterans who commit suicide have not been treated by the VA.

How does veterans suicide compare to other causes of death?

The data on 18-34-year-old’s gives us a glimpse of the suicide rate shortly after leaving service, but what is missing is the data for all veterans in the first year or two after service. When I retired in 2009 after 24 years of service, I shared more in common with someone leaving service at the same time who was 15 years younger than I did with classmates from West Point who had left service in 1990. I can say this because I transitioned out of the military in 1987 and was called back to active duty in 1990, so I have the benefit of comparing transition in different time periods from my firsthand experience. I’ll elaborate more on this experience in a future post.

How is military transition connected?

Despite the veteran and broader unemployment rate going from record highs in 2011 to record lows in 2019 the suicide rate per 100,000 veterans has increased year over year during this same period. Military transition programs beginning with ACAP to TAP have focused on veterans finding employment or helping them go back to school, but are we leaving something out of the process? 

Studies at Columbia University looking at Post Traumatic Stress Disorder found that,

“although PTSD is an extremely serious problem, it is not the dominant problem for most veterans. Rather we argue that the stress of transition back to civilian life is a key problem. Moreover, because most treatment of support options for veterans focus on PTSD, few alternatives are available to address transition stress issues.”

While no studies currently connect transition stress to suicide, studies do indicate that some veterans may be misdiagnosed with PTSD who in fact are dealing with the stress of leaving the military. Considering that a research team at Harvard has found that the suicide risk factor for veterans in the first year after transition is three times greater than later in life, this is clearly something we must address. The 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report lacks the information to tell the true impact of military transition and its impact on suicide. In fact, the 32-page report only has one reference to military transition: “Some Veterans report difficulty in transitioning to civilian positions”.

Some other data points to consider in this discussion:

• An American Journal of Preventive Medicine study published earlier this year that surveyed 10,000 transitioning veterans in the fall of 2016 found that over 30% reported being unemployed 9 months after leaving service in addition to other challenges.
• The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute published a paper stating that based on data from Texas during the last recession that the state could anticipate a 1.6% increase in suicide for every 1% increase in unemployment. This data was not specific to veterans.
• Earlier this month the Institute of Veterans and Military Families reported that the unemployment rate for veterans 18-24 had increased from 4.9% in March 2020 to 36.1% in April 2020. In comparison, non-veterans in this same age group increased from 9.3% to 26.4%.

Why is this a concern for Americans?

Most Americans, to include veterans, do not understand the impact the military community (active duty, reservists, National Guard members, veterans and their spouses) have on our economy. We account for over 15% of the U.S. population and have spending potential over $1.4T.

According to the Census Bureau, veteran and veteran households have the highest average net worth in our country. While veterans account for less than 8% of the population, veteran owned businesses represent 9.15% of all U.S. business revenue and generate $195B in annual payroll. In terms of spending power, the military community is about the same size as the Hispanic community. What is not factored in to these numbers is the impact that comes from extended family and friends of the military community. The halo effect of supporting the military community has an even broader that becomes difficult to quantify but no less significant to consider.  

The diversity of the military becomes another factor, since the military has representation of all races, religions, sexual orientations, and post-service disabilities. Give us a chance and you will find we have longer retention rates (8.3% longer than non-veterans) and are more likely to be promoted earlier than our non-veteran peers (39%) as reported in the LinkedIn Veteran Opportunity Report. When it comes to education, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports over 95% of veterans have a high school diploma or higher compared to 88% of the American adult population. LinkedIn also reports that those of us who went to college we are 160% more likely to have a graduate degree or higher or come to your company with education benefits from the G.I. Bill. Additionally, we bring maturity and dedication to our work since those of us with a bachelor’s degree have 2.9% more work experience than non-veterans. Hiring us is the first step towards building loyalty between our community and your brand.

Another important consideration on the impact of veterans for our economy is our focus on service and ability to respond to a crisis. In 2010, after a 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti, two Marines gathered volunteers and supplies when other relief organizations were slow to respond. This was the beginning of Team Rubicon. This year, as hospitals in New York City struggled to respond to the pandemic crisis, veterans volunteered to return to active duty to help build hospitals, while others already in health care positions around the country served to augment hospital staff. Recognizing the mental and emotional toll that COVID-19 deaths were taking on hospital staff, military medics shared lessons from dealing with combat stress to help civilian staff deal with these experiences. Combined Arms, a military non-profit, has helped activate veterans to aid in COVID-19 tracing. The experience of wartime leadership offers a unique perspective for companies needing contingency planning experience to adapt to the economic and health care challenges the pandemic is creating.

Focus on Well-Being, not just employment

Throughout this series of posts, I will share how I believe changes to military transition can impact long term veteran well being through a six-dimensional framework consisting of purpose, social connectedness, financial security, physical health, emotional health and character strengths.

Next edition…

A History of Military Transition.

In 1918, civilian gratitude for the sacrifices of the American Expeditionary Force shared space with fear regarding the kind of values and infirmities veterans might carry home from abroad; in addition to the use of chemical weapons on the battlefield, this was the middle of the flu pandemic. Upon discharge, veterans received $60, just enough to purchase new clothes. Returning WWI veterans encountered great obstacles in their transition. They returned to an economy heading into recession, a militant labor force willing to strike for better pay and benefits, and a public anxious about political radicalism, race, and immigration. By April 1919, an estimated 40% of veterans remained unemployed.

Among these veterans was John Ward Melville who, later in life, would purchase a small pharmacy chain known as Consumer Value Stores; you know this company now as Fortune #5 CVS Health

Until then...

I recommend you watch this documentary about Women Veterans released June 12, 2020 in honor of Women Veterans Day.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the position of any agency of the U.S. government nor my employer.