From Bullets to Bills
“War is ugly, but it’s not the worst part of military service. I like to explain war as the ‘easy’ part. The ‘hard’ part is getting out. Transition is by far the biggest battle. In war your only worry is death, you don’t have to worry about bills and food and all the other small things we worry about back home.”
Military reintegration, or post-deployment, is the transition that soldiers face when they return home from being deployed. Soldiers must figure out how to readjust themselves to American culture and the “civilian” way of life.
Or, in other words, they must figure out what it’s like not worrying about having to shoot someone or be shot at.
Reintegration often includes relearning American customs, adjusting to a “normal” routine, doing things that don’t produce the same kind of adrenaline rush, reestablishing a community, discovering how to fit back into the family, and learning how to live with the way war has changed their hearts and minds.
Every soldier who has been deployed faces these challenges. Although these barriers don’t stumble everyone, studies show that 44% of a group of post-9/11 soldiers reported having difficulty with the reintegration process. That number is scary, considering all of our soldiers will now be post-9/11 veterans. If we don’t help veterans reintegrate, we are leaving them susceptible to the homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, legal trouble, unemployment, and other issues that plague veterans today.
One unique thing about humans is our capacity to empathize. As a general rule, we don’t like to see others suffer. Reintegration affects every dimension of veterans’ life. There are consequences on the body, mind, and spirit that impact not only themselves but their interactions with others. Imagine feeling lost, left out, confused, bored, and insecure every day just living at home and going to work. We’ve all felt these emotions in some way at some point.
Think about feeling them all at once, every day.
No one wants to feel this way, and no one should be content knowing someone else feels this way.
We all know someone who has served in the military — an uncle, cousin, sibling, or parent, or maybe a friend of a friend. The veteran population is not remote or distant, they are connected to all of us. Each of us has someone in our lives that reintegration touches. We all have a vested interest in their wellbeing.
Regardless of our beliefs about war or America’s wars, we have a duty to support those who have voluntarily agreed to bear a burden not many would willingly bear. Many countries have some sort of military conscription policy, requiring everyone to serve in the armed forces. America has employed an all-volunteer force for nearly 45 years. Since we haven’t volunteered, the least we could do is support the ones who have. Otherwise, we might be called to take their place.
I’m sure you’re thinking, “Okay, Rachel, you made your case, but I can’t help veterans overcome their psychological stressors or figure out how to fit in. That’s way beyond my skill set, I’ll leave that to the counselors.” While I admit that there is a degree to which we should allow trained individuals to handle the sensitive matters, there are steps we can take to make the transition a little easier.
To start, we can all be patient with the veterans in our lives.
When your veteran uncle gets angry at his son for not paying enough attention to his instructions, take a minute before you get defensive. When you feel like your veteran friend is disconnected while you’re speaking, don’t take it as a personal attack. Remember they are learning how to live again.
More than patience, though, recognize the value veterans add to the community. They are skilled, clever individuals who value integrity, respect, loyalty, and sacrifice. People with these characteristics are valuable coworkers, employees, community leaders, and friends. Incorporating them into our personal and community activities would only benefit us.
As much as possible, seek opportunities to engage in activities that might help veterans find their new normal. Sponsor a parent-child night where the veteran can rekindle his connection with his daughter. Plan adventure outings that provide an outlet for veterans to exercise and feel their adrenaline pump in a safe environment.
If nothing else, the most important thing you can do is read about their experiences. There is no better way to learn than from the mouths of those who have experienced it firsthand.
And once you know, then you can act.
