Columbia Social Work Review (May 2018)
Proposals for Improving the Reintegration Process of American Soldiers
Abstract
Studies have consistently found high prevalence rates of veterans who experience difficulties reintegrating into civilian life, ranging between 50-61%. This paper assesses the current limitations of America’s reintegration methods for military veterans. Commonly identified issues include difficulty finding employment, challenges with readjusting to daily life with family members, and stigma associated with seeking mental health services in military culture. This paper explores three proposals for how social workers can address these limitations in a way that would significantly improve veterans’ reintegration processes. The first proposal aims to improve employment rates by creating a market economy exclusively for retiring service members. The second proposal aims to improve service members’ ability to reintegrate with their family members by placing a stronger emphasis on this domain in the Transition Assistance Program, a mandatory program that all retiring service members must undergo before being discharged. The third proposal aims to increase veterans’ use of mental health services by promoting the use of these services as early on as boot camp. By implementing these proposals, the United States could significantly reduce the prevalence rate of veterans who have difficulty reintegrating.
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