After separating from the military, veterans and their families often experience changes in their family dynamic, psychological needs, careers and education, housing and community, and awareness of (as well as access to) various resources (e.g., health care, benefits, programs, organizations). Transition experiences can have short- and long-term impacts on veterans and their families.
In previous surveys, veteran respondents’ difficult transition experiences have been associated with poor outcomes related to mental health, employment, and community adjustment.
Blue Star Families supports legislation that would ease transition-related challenges for service members and their families.
In our 2019 survey, more than half (56%) of veteran respondents indicated their overall transition from active-duty to veteran status was difficult or very difficult. Similarly, 42% of veteran respondents reported they did not feel well prepared to navigate their transition to civilian life. Despite finding that more time to prepare is associated with smoother transition experiences, almost half (47%) of veteran respondents started preparing for their transition less than a year before separating, and 17% reported they did not prepare or were not able to prepare for their transition. Furthermore, while there have been recent improvements in programs and resources targeting transition, veteran respondents who had separated in the last three years still reported feeling unprepared (44%) and difficulty in transition (66% reported their transition was difficult or very difficult). For all veteran respondents, current feelings of social isolation were significantly associated with transition difficulty; perceived social isolation was highest in those reporting very difficult transitions. This may indicate that there are far-reaching impacts of transition preparation and experience.
There were, however, important differences between male and female veteran respondents in their transition experiences and post-service life. Two-thirds (66%) of female veteran respondents reported their transition was difficult or very difficult, compared to half (51%) of male veterans. More female than male veteran respondents indicated they were unprepared across each aspect of transition (overall transition, employment, higher education, navigation of resources in the local community, and navigation of the health care and benefits system). More than half (54%) of female veteran respondents did not feel prepared to navigate resources in their community, compared to 35% of male veteran respondents. Even after transition, female veteran respondents were less aware of community resources they could use during hard financial times, and a greater percentage of female veteran respondents reported they did not have family or friends who could help them during hard times. Female veteran respondents had significantly greater feelings of social isolation, even if they reported a smooth or very smooth transition experience.
Extant research has found that female veterans must navigate complex identities and multiple roles, further complicated by the stereotype that all service members and veterans are men.33 It is possible that the challenges associated with managing multiple identities (being a veteran, active-duty spouse, a woman, etc.), many of which are invalidated by society, are related to difficulties in transition and post-service life for many female veterans, such as social isolation. These diverse experiences of service and connection to the military exemplify the need for future research to examine risk factors and protective factors for female veterans and transitioning female service members.
While there have been improvements in addressing the transition from military to civilian life at the public and private levels, veterans and their families continue to encounter challenges and feel unprepared. Like active-duty service members, veterans are a diverse group with varying perspectives and backgrounds. It is clear that many female veterans have different experiences and needs than their male counterparts, for whom most existing support, resources, and programs have been designed. Female veterans currently account for 10% of veterans, and that population is expected to grow, like other minority populations within the military. Consequently, it is vital that programs and services, communities, and neighbors consider the experiences of female veterans, as well as other minority groups within the veteran population, and have models in place to address their needs.
Current Feelings of Social Isolation and Transition Difficulty
Financial Difficulty in Veterans by Gender
“Women veterans have different challenges in the civilian community. Many of them go unrecognized in their status as veterans or if they are married to a male veteran, he gets the recognition and they are ignored […] Looking into how the military and civilian community can better identify and support female veterans would be meaningful.” - Female Navy Veteran
Recommendations
Build strong formal support networks for transitioning service members and veterans aimed at empowering them to develop informal networks in their local communities
Empower service members and veterans to quickly locate employment and/or educational opportunities after transitioning
Foster smooth and lasting transitions to civilian life by promoting public-private partnerships that incentivize private sector employers to hire veterans, and enable veterans to receive high-quality care as part of their benefits
Protect students from predatory lenders and fraudulent for-profit schools, and restore GI Bill benefits to those cheated by fraudulent for-profit schools
Close the 90/10 loophole that for-profit schools use to target veterans
