Posted on May 4, 2021
Why do veterans have it so hard after leaving the military?
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Posted in these groups: 
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 20
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Same reason prisoners have a hard time when they get released. Institutionalization.
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There isn't one answer to this. Some suffer because they move back home and no longer have the workplace that serves as a brain trust of like minded individuals who have similar goals and similar experiences.
Others suffer because they don't have the structure they have become accustomed to over time.
A lot suffer because they didn't use available resources to prepare for their exit from Military service. They have what I call the getting out plan. Some folks focus so much on getting out that is their only plan. They have no plan beyond getting out and they end up at Mom's house and panic because they didn't do anything to get ready. They end up working the third shift at Walmart because they didn't apply for school, they don't have disability coming in because they didn't plan ahead with the VA, they didn't apply for jobs or sometimes they didn't even think of what they would do. They were so hyper focused on EAS'ing/ETS'ing they didn't do anything else and they end up a bump on a log trying to sort it out after the fact.
Other vets suffer because they have alot of unaddressed medical issues because they never went to medical to get it documented out of fear or stigma and they have an uphill battle trying to get VA benefits for undocumented issues.
Others suffer because they don't have the structure they have become accustomed to over time.
A lot suffer because they didn't use available resources to prepare for their exit from Military service. They have what I call the getting out plan. Some folks focus so much on getting out that is their only plan. They have no plan beyond getting out and they end up at Mom's house and panic because they didn't do anything to get ready. They end up working the third shift at Walmart because they didn't apply for school, they don't have disability coming in because they didn't plan ahead with the VA, they didn't apply for jobs or sometimes they didn't even think of what they would do. They were so hyper focused on EAS'ing/ETS'ing they didn't do anything else and they end up a bump on a log trying to sort it out after the fact.
Other vets suffer because they have alot of unaddressed medical issues because they never went to medical to get it documented out of fear or stigma and they have an uphill battle trying to get VA benefits for undocumented issues.
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SrA John Monette
SSgt Christophe Murphy - i certainly hope so. They also need to reach out to recently-discharged Veterans to make sure nobody gets left out in the cold. it took me years to find out I was eligible for benefits of any sort
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CPL Raul Perez Jr
It depends on your MOS, but you are leaving a life you had for years. It people that understand each other. AS an old grunt, you need to find your passion and succeed. My 2 cents.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
CPL Raul Perez Jr - Even with a potentially viable MOS you could run into issues with credentialing, certifications and things like that. It's not automatic.
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SP5 Ray Carletello
Ya stigma was big getting pinned with a label lazy weak not reliable etc etc non promotable hard to gain Rank when overseas I was sent to Air Mobil training as the XO and CO called it, it was a air assault training class that was not on the training agenda they were just experimenting with his training so not on my DD214 no record we were given a patch that only to be worn in South Korea when I return state side I had to remove from my Fatigues injured my back medics seen me nothing was. Document it The only evidence I have is the patch that I have I have till this day I was Basically told by the VA to go pound sand no evidence I’ll try to upload the photo of my patch
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Indoctrination and institutionalization. We don't really get well prepared for going back into the civilian world. Sure there's SFL-TAP now. I will find out how that goes in a few years...but similarly with (as stated below) prisoners just kind of get tossed back into society with no type of rehabilitation or reintegration into that society.
Many people don't plan before they get out too. It's not all on the military to ensure that - it would help but some servicemembers just flat out don't plan for life after the military.
Add in some people who do 20+ years, this is all they know, and they can't adjust to not being the one in charge anymore. I've seen several SGM/CSMs retire and not handle civilian life very well because no one cares or knows what a SGM is outside the military.
I mean I'm a little nervous about life after the Army when I retire just because it will have been 20 years since I applied for a job. Had to do an interview. Not having the schedule I've had for 20 years. It can be daunting for people for such a big life changing event. I'm sure I'll be fine but it will be an adjustment.
Many people don't plan before they get out too. It's not all on the military to ensure that - it would help but some servicemembers just flat out don't plan for life after the military.
Add in some people who do 20+ years, this is all they know, and they can't adjust to not being the one in charge anymore. I've seen several SGM/CSMs retire and not handle civilian life very well because no one cares or knows what a SGM is outside the military.
I mean I'm a little nervous about life after the Army when I retire just because it will have been 20 years since I applied for a job. Had to do an interview. Not having the schedule I've had for 20 years. It can be daunting for people for such a big life changing event. I'm sure I'll be fine but it will be an adjustment.
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SGT (Join to see)
One of the simplest examples of the difference between the civilian world and the military world can be found in the word Now. It has 2 meanings.
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