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 >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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Now THAT is a question! From what I've seen firsthand and in third person, it's difficult to adjust for some. You're used to being regimented in this way or that fashion while you're a green-suiter. You know...you're used to giving and getting direction no problem. You know THIS TIME is for THIS ACTIVITY and it's fairly easy to organize your day because of the order that you've grown accustomed to. For those in leadership roles, there's also being able to tell (insert rank and name here) what to do and it's going to get done...usually without any lip or BS. Maybe a request for guidance, but not much more talking beyond that. Then that same leader is out in the world expecting that same obedience from this pimple-faced, 20-year old asshat who is high almost all the time, looks and smells like they haven't washed in three days, still lives with their parents, and feels like the world owes them something instead of getting their act together and earning something. And when that former military leader encounters that situation, they sometimes get angry, belligerent, and very frustrated because they now have to re-learn how to deal with people. Most long-term former military leaders don't have the patience for that. What I've mentioned is only a small piece of the answer to the question.
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I AM A VN VET DAV I AM AGENT ORANGE THANKS TO MILITARY OPERATION RANCH & PTSD I HAVE LIVED A POOR QUALITY OF LIFE,I KNOW WHAT U GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH
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Hell I got out to get out of military poverty don’t get me wrong love my country and the military but in the 1970 was pretty bad. No one help me transition to Civilian life or told me what my VA benefits were how to apply for a injury benefit. For a VA rating
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SSG Bill McCoy
When I got out of the Navy ('71), they had "Project Transition." It was SUPPOSED to teach you "how" to be a civilian. My "transition" consisted of going to General Motors Technical School, full time the last several weeks of my enlistment. I never did see how that was a "transition." LOL
When I got out of the Army ('78), NOTHING was said about ANY transition help - nothing even about the VA, or the GI Bill. Just ... nothing. I basically stayed in the military mindset, and still do. At times, it was helpful; but mostly not so when dealing with (most) civilian co-workers.
When I got out of the Army ('78), NOTHING was said about ANY transition help - nothing even about the VA, or the GI Bill. Just ... nothing. I basically stayed in the military mindset, and still do. At times, it was helpful; but mostly not so when dealing with (most) civilian co-workers.
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SP5 Ray Carletello
I used my GI bill that’s one benefit I knew I had trade school, license certified welder Los Angeles industrial electrical installation worked for P&H Paulinhand Harnischfeger over head bridge cranes from 1983 till present the military taught me to just get it done charge up that hill and take no Prisoners that how I’ve live my life I tell my Grandson the same he is a Marine going on 6 months in
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So many answers to this.
On the soldiers side:
The gift of Shaming which the service helps with
The lack of thinking for themselves
The "fuck it" attitude
The Just enough to get by attitude
Most of us are not people persons' and seen as assholes
the list goes on and on.
For the employer:
They are scared of us, we kill people (so they think)
They need a person that can think outside of the box and they don't think many vets can
Lack of understanding with how most vets truly are.
Again this list is endless.
Even worse when you have a disability rating.
My employer did not want to give me a job to start with. He gave me a chance to show him what I could bring to the table. He never looked back after the first month. Now I run the IT department of a rapidly growing medical lab with several people under me. There is a prejudice against hiring vets. People think we are shot out and broken. Can't blame them for that. I am broken and shot out, but I know how to focus my gifts and training to an advantage.
On the soldiers side:
The gift of Shaming which the service helps with
The lack of thinking for themselves
The "fuck it" attitude
The Just enough to get by attitude
Most of us are not people persons' and seen as assholes
the list goes on and on.
For the employer:
They are scared of us, we kill people (so they think)
They need a person that can think outside of the box and they don't think many vets can
Lack of understanding with how most vets truly are.
Again this list is endless.
Even worse when you have a disability rating.
My employer did not want to give me a job to start with. He gave me a chance to show him what I could bring to the table. He never looked back after the first month. Now I run the IT department of a rapidly growing medical lab with several people under me. There is a prejudice against hiring vets. People think we are shot out and broken. Can't blame them for that. I am broken and shot out, but I know how to focus my gifts and training to an advantage.
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SSG Bill McCoy
I suppose some of what you said about from the "soldier's side," is correct; in some cases totally so. What you say about from the employer side however, is SPOT ON!
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SPC Brian Jones
Its just what I have experienced. My first job out of VocRehab was simply due to a vet specifically asking voc rehab if there were any vets available. I was hired the next day.
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Those that applied themselves to the task at hand didn’t find transition to civilian life. Those that faced combat and survived learned to hide their mental issues for the most part. Bottom line is DOD puts emphasis on creating warriors than transitioning warriors to be a civilian again
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ON READING OTHER REPLIES, it's apparent that some of us took the question in a variety of meanings. Some read it as Veterans failing overall, and not having been informed about VA resources, and was to ease transition into civilian life.
The qustion, "Why do veterans have it so hard after leaving the military?" to me, involved how Veterans who thrived in the military, found civilian attitudes and work ethic lacking. Most Vets that I hired had a solid, "Can do!" attitude that frankly, civilians did NOT like. Supervisors liked that attitude, but peers were put off - maybe because they were concerned about Veterans jumping ahead, or just making them look less valuable compared to Vets with "Can do!" attitudes.
I found (and still do) civilian work ethic and attitudes abhorrently lacking, at least generally. Of courrse there are exceptions - those who took advantage of advanced training (Fire Fighting, Emergency Medical Services, Confined Space Rescue, Security Training Courses, etc) were also looked at by their peers as a "threat." Sickening.
The qustion, "Why do veterans have it so hard after leaving the military?" to me, involved how Veterans who thrived in the military, found civilian attitudes and work ethic lacking. Most Vets that I hired had a solid, "Can do!" attitude that frankly, civilians did NOT like. Supervisors liked that attitude, but peers were put off - maybe because they were concerned about Veterans jumping ahead, or just making them look less valuable compared to Vets with "Can do!" attitudes.
I found (and still do) civilian work ethic and attitudes abhorrently lacking, at least generally. Of courrse there are exceptions - those who took advantage of advanced training (Fire Fighting, Emergency Medical Services, Confined Space Rescue, Security Training Courses, etc) were also looked at by their peers as a "threat." Sickening.
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SSG Paul Headlee
From my perspective, your answer nicely encapsulates a substantial part of the answer. The military (at least the part that helped shape the way I think) is very competitive. You've got people with a significant degree of power over you, who not only hold you to a high standard...they can generally demonstrate to you exactly how to do particular tasks. So, there's no fudging to be done on the part of the junior person. Its as plain as day whether you're competent and Lord help you if you're not. Early on, we learn to size up a situation and get an idea of what needs to happen. We're always looking to be ready. We're always expecting to be considered relevant to whatever situation presents itself. A good soldier, particularly a good NCO, is like a killer bee to his civilian age group peers. This is quite threatening to them and its evident in their reactions and attitudes. We're used to taking charge. We're used to exceeding the standard. We speak directly and often bluntly. We seek solutions to problems that are often considered unconventional and that don't set well with the old guard; those who are alright with throwing money and overtime at problems just because that is the comfortable status quo. What I miss most about the military lifestyle is the level of accountability to which we were held and the degree of organization. So the challenges facing me were mostly related to me wanting to fix procedures and hold people accountable. Wanting to be relevant to the situation, I've learned to tone it down, but that remains challenging when I can see a clear path to success.
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SSG Bill McCoy
SSG Paul Headlee - Well stated SSG Headlee! To your point about bluntness, which in my thinking, is nothing less than discarding pure BS and "telling it like it is."
I once had our head of HR stop me outside the main office. She said to me, "Annie XXX says that you don't like her."
Without giving it a moment's thought, I replied, "Yes. She's right. I DON'T like her; but on the other hand, I don't DISLIKE her either. She's an employee with specific tasks expected of her, just like everyone else." The HR Director was stunned at first ... digested what I said and then totally agreed. When we cut through the BS, it can often confuse people used to hearing excuses ... at least until they THINK about it.
I once had our head of HR stop me outside the main office. She said to me, "Annie XXX says that you don't like her."
Without giving it a moment's thought, I replied, "Yes. She's right. I DON'T like her; but on the other hand, I don't DISLIKE her either. She's an employee with specific tasks expected of her, just like everyone else." The HR Director was stunned at first ... digested what I said and then totally agreed. When we cut through the BS, it can often confuse people used to hearing excuses ... at least until they THINK about it.
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