The Power of Reintegration Programs for Veteran Mental Health

I was a commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1990 working my way up to Major then I medically retired in 2005. After coming home and attempting to realign myself with “home life,” I noticed there were a lack of programs designed to truly help veterans successfully reintegrate. Transition programs, such as the UConn Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, set you up for the rest of your life, and without the guidance and support it is inevitable that some veterans will succumb to anxieties, PTSD, and mental health challenges that are associated with transitioning.

Reintegrating into society after deployment is a tumultuous and stressful period. There is no secret formula to seamlessly ease back into civilian life after being remote, regardless of how long the separation was. Although every soldier is different, we all have shared experiences which bond the Military community together. I know firsthand that in order to avoid a downward spiral upon homecoming it is important to implement effective reintegration programs. I can confidently say that all veterans deserve a post-deployment program to assist them in their transition and give them the resources to succeed. In fact, it is imperative these programs exist if we want to help veterans bypass a transition-induced depressive cycle.

In 2009, I saw an opportunity to transform the reintegration space, specifically for disabled veterans. If I could help just one transitioning veteran, I knew it would be worth it. I ended up breaking into this space and along my journey found several courses of action to combat the lack of efficient and successful programs. In my book, “Social Entrepreneurship Solution for Veterans’ Reintegration through Entrepreneur Training for Disabled Veterans in Social Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Social Change,” I talk in depth about veteran reintegration and how the sociocultural, macroeconomic, and political dimensions are dominant in any discussion. Many people have a general knowledge of the so-called Global War on Terror, however few are familiar with the actual cost. Essentially, the absence of reintegration programs has created a wealth trap for veterans that will have long-lasting, far-reaching, multi-decade generational effects. Hundreds of thousands of American families have been shattered by the hardships of living with a combat-related disability. With that, comes much room for improvement.

There are solutions to this systemic problem, multi-faceted problem. “The Sea of GoodWill,” mentioned in my book, encapsulates the root problems and the key solutions of Veteran reintegration. Connecting demand to individual needs lies in a community partnership between nongovernmental organizations, social enterprises, the for-profit private sector and government administered programs. Education, employment and healthcare are the key components necessary to ensuring service members and their families achieve a seamless transition back into civilian society.

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) program offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service to our country. The EBV is designed to give focused, practical training in the tools and skills of new venture creation and growth and the establishment of a support structure for graduates of the program.

Entrepreneur training for veterans with disabilities has and will continue to save returning veterans mental health. Having the ability to stock them with the resources, employment and educational services will in turn solidify a stable home. These things combined will aid them in leading successful, healthy lives which is what every veteran deserves.

To learn more and find the application process, check out the UConn EBV here: https://rly.pt/3toEQyf.