Barriers army combat veterans from the 2000s face with transitioning from military culture to civilian society pertaining to mental health

This study was intended to provide an insight into the barriers combat veterans face as they separate from military culture and reintegrate into civilian society, specifically how those challenges impact their mental health. The disconnect between military cultural values and values held in the civilian sector causes further separation between the combat veteran and the community in which they live. It is imperative to find mechanisms to close the gap between civilian and military cultures through learning and teaching paradigms to form bonds of understanding. Using a narrative methodology informed by a social constructivism framework allowed four combat veterans’s stories to be told so that an understanding of barriers and points of reference can be reviewed and addressed. This study answered the following research questions: (1) What are the transitional barriers experienced by combat veterans who attempt to reintegrate into civilian society from military culture? (2) What are the effects the transition had on combat veterans’ mental health? (3) What are the aggravating factors that assist combat veterans with their mental health issues during this transition? The data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Once the data was coded and analyzed three major themes developed: experience during service, transition after military separation, and post transition period. The findings report that barriers to a successful reintegration begin during service and do not reveal themselves until they are in the transition phase of their journey. This result indicates that the transition process is one that begins during service and continues through the combat veteran’s journey. In order for this to occur, teaching and learning paradigms are imperative to join communities and veteran resources.