Using a qualitative, exploratory design, this study described the hiring, integration, and retention efforts that small, veteran-owned businesses used to support disabled veteran employees. The study used a conceptual framework grounded in the social model of disability and Schlossberg’s 4S transition theory to guide data collection, including interviews with veteran business owners and public records. The findings answered two practice-based research questions. Thematic analysis revealed that small veteran-owned businesses value the skills, discipline, and work ethic of disabled veterans, selecting them based on their abilities rather than their prior military roles. Results show further that these businesses promote inclusion through mentorship, open communication, and specific strategies designed to address workplace challenges faced by disabled veterans. Business owners’ retention efforts relied on offering their employees flexibility and an accommodating, supportive workplace culture. They reported that employee satisfaction and performance improved after implementing support strategies. Additionally, they reported that hiring disabled veterans led to improved teamwork, enhanced leadership capacity, and greater overall organizational well-being. They attributed their organization’s financial stability and revenue growth to their disabled-veteran employees. Public record data aligned with and confirmed the interview content. The study’s findings underscore the importance of fostering inclusive business practices and highlight the benefits of employing veterans with disabilities. Future research should focus on how guided employer toolkits, AI-driven accessibility solutions, and credentialing frameworks translate military experience into civilian qualifications. Longitudinal studies are recommended to assess retention, advancement, and policy outcomes.
Army Sergeant First Class Anna Cherepnina shares her experiences of life, love, and loss that started in Ukraine and led her to Mount Everest. Her transformative journey highlights themes of resilience, meaning-making, and identity that led to her current role in a non-profit as a mental health and wellness advocate for veterans.
This article presents qualitative findings from interviews with participants in an outdoor activity programme aimed at assisting them to alleviate symptoms of military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aside from exploring if and how participants felt the programme helped them manage their PTSD symptoms, the study also sought to identify factors that may help to inform future programme development. Thematic analysis of transcripts drawn from semi-structured interviews focused on respondents’ reflections on programme participation, early life experiences, military and post-military experiences, and mental health issues. The results supported the conclusion that the outdoor activities in a natural environment provided participants with a setting redolent of previously positive military experience, in which these former soldiers felt they could safely reveal and discuss troubling mental health and military matters, without fear of stigma. They also reported the benefits of the calm, tranquil environment aiding not only openness with peers but providing immediate beneficial effects on feelings of safety, sleep, and subsequent wellbeing. Conclusions indicate that such nature-based interventions may be a useful adjunct in the toolbox of treatments striving to reduce military-related PTSD symptomology.
As objects of public commemoration, there is an expectation that national war and veteran memorials draw coherent narratives from numerous, often contradictory, experiences. In return, visitors bestow these places with an extraordinary amount of authority, allowing them to define the essence of events from years ago. As pieces of material culture, memorials can shape notions of the truth of a war for generations. This research investigates the implications that emerge for site programming when a four-truth framework is applied to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial, which is currently in the planning phase. With data from on-site observations of visitors at existing war and veteran memorials, semi-structured interviews with key staff and GWOT veterans, and a review of memorial literature, the research examines the ways current memorials have, or have not, evolved to include new narratives and the already contested nature of their subjects. The findings suggest that for the GWOT Memorial to achieve its goals, it must be deliberately designed with a capacity to enable shared reflection, honor multiple perspectives and stories, and acknowledge new insights over time. These actions are the essence of crucial engagement.
Review of Troublemakers: The Greatest Dog and Pony Show in Iraq by Stephen Russell | Print length: 276 pages | ISBN-10: 0999095137| ISBN-13:978-0999095133 | Published by Blue Ear Books, Seattle, WA (2024). This book review critically examines Stephen Russell’s memoir, Troublemakers: The Greatest Dog and Pony Show in Iraq, through the lens of veteran studies. The review explores the memoir’s structure, narrative voice, and use of humor, visual art, and storytelling as tools for critique and catharsis. Drawing on interviews and podcasts featuring Russell—including Oscar Mike Radio, Tango Alpha Lima, and Fortress on a Hill—as well as the publisher’s description from Blue Ear Books, the review situates Troublemakers within the broader context of post-9/11 veteran literature. The memoir’s political critique, cultural significance, and ability to bridge the civilian-military divide are analyzed in depth. The review concludes that Russell’s work is a powerful, irreverent, and necessary contribution to the discourse on war, service, and storytelling.
Guided by social cognitive theory, this qualitative study examines how participation in team sports shape PTSD symptoms and psychological well-being among military veterans. Using phenomenological interviews with eight veterans actively engaged in team sports, this study explored shifts in perceptions of PTSD and recovery. Findings indicate benefits veterans described as lifesaving, including attenuation of suicidal ideation, stronger peer support, and renewed identity and purpose. Team participation fostered a sense of belonging, structure, and accountability, which veterans linked to increased resilience and motivation to reengage with family, work, and community. The results suggest that team sports can function as a practical, community-based component of veteran care, complementing clinical services while remaining accessible and low-cost. Implications include designing inclusive programs that prioritize psychological safety, trust, and peer leadership, with routine assessment of engagement and perceived outcomes. This study contributes to veteran studies by foregrounding team sport as a structured, nonclinical intervention and by offering evidence to guide sport managers and support providers seeking to integrate sport with holistic models of care.
Governments worldwide have invested in employment programs for veterans to aid the transition from military to civilian life, yet there is a lack of evidence of their impacts. This study outlines existing evidence of the health and wellbeing impacts of employment and vocational-based interventions. A scoping literature review was conducted between October 2022 and August 2023 to identify peer-reviewed literature that reported data on health and wellbeing outcomes from studies of employment or vocational-based interventions with veterans. A total of eight articles were included in the final review. Findings showed that academic literature surrounding the impact of employment or vocational-based employment programs on veterans’ health and wellbeing is lacking. While studies of employment and vocational-based interventions show some positive impacts on veterans, findings derive from a few studies conducted in one country—the United States. Additionally, existing studies fail to identify how and why health and wellbeing outcomes occur. These results suggest a requirement for further research to inform evidence-based policy and practice. This includes broadening the geographical scope of studies, using qualitative approaches, exploring individual components of employment and vocational-based programs for veterans, and considering pre- and post-intervention contexts.
The shell-shocked soldier has been condemned as a madman in the official Great War literature. He was dangerous due to his mental trauma, isolated from his loved ones, and pushed to the fringes of society. Very little has been shared from the perspectives of shell-shocked soldiers. Most soldiers of the Great War did not discuss or write their psychological suffering as they were expected to remain brave and stoic. The few Canadian shell-shocked soldiers who did write about their war experiences break the silence of the archives and reveal new perspectives that have been historically shunned in war literature. There are even fewer stories of shell-shocked veterans after the war. The few stories and perspectives that exist reveal the challenges and issues that Canadian shell-shocked veterans encountered, including access to pensions, suicide rates, therapeutic methods, film, and institutionalization.
This review critically examines Walking From The Shadows: My Journey With Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Kevin A. Macomber (2025), a memoir that blends personal narrative with practical guidance for individuals living with PTSD. The book is structured around thematic chapters that reflect key stages in the healing process, such as “Accepting,” “Cutting,” and “Walking.” Macomber’s work is notable for its accessibility, emotional honesty, and utility as a self-help tool. This review evaluates the book’s structure, themes, tone, and relevance for both clinical and non-clinical audiences, highlighting its strengths and limitations within the broader context of trauma literature.
The engaging roundtable focused on holistic approaches that support United States veterans’ well-being. This discussion explored complex and diverse perspectives to encourage collaborative problem solving, mutual learning, and implications for future research. The moderator and three panelists actively discussed integrating holistic practices with conventional medical treatments, emphasizing the importance of coordination, community engagement, and working alongside veterans throughout the process. They highlighted the need for personalized and veteran-driven approaches, addressing physical and psychological challenges, and the role of peer mentoring and community partnerships. Specific examples of holistic approaches included canine therapy, beekeeping, photovoice methods, and storytelling. The challenges to implementing and engaging of these holistic approaches were identified as stigma, active engagement, physical limitations, and funding. Nonetheless, the importance of ongoing training, internships, and customized support are paramount to enhance veterans’ resilience and overall well-being.
Ten individuals who played key roles in formalizing veterans studies at American universities or within professional associations reflect on the field’s origins, key developments, institutional support, social and historical influences, and its evolution over time. Their responses, condensed and edited for clarity, elucidate the invisible, arduous, and complex labor involved in attempting to establish an academic discipline in 21st century America.
The vast majority of veterans experience traumatic events; however, few go on to develop clinically significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of those that do develop PTSD, the number of traumatic events is associated with worsening PTSD. Among veterans with PTSD, treatment seeking is generally low and among those in treatment, dropout rates are high; thus, exploring mechanisms that may facilitate treatment seeking is pivotal. Along these lines, trauma-related guilt (TRG) and mental health self-stigma (MHSS) are reported at elevated rates among combat veterans and have been associated with increased PTSD severity and decreased treatment-seeking behaviors (e.g., attending therapy). The current study explores the associations between the variables TRG, MHSS, trauma exposure, and the number of traumatic events a veteran experiences with help-seeking behaviors among combat veterans. Participants (N = 211) completed an online survey assessing demographics, PTSD, treatment-seeking behaviors, TRG, and MHSS. Results suggest TRG and MHSS mediate the association between the number of traumatic events a veteran experienced and their help-seeking behavior. The overall model was significant (F = 15.8, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.37). TRG and MHSS mediated the relationship between number of traumatic events and help-seeking behavior (b = –.45, p < 0.05). The directionality was significant if TRG first predicted MHSS and not the other way around. Results suggest TRG may impact MHSS development and maintenance in veterans with traumatic experiences. These findings suggest targeting TRG and MHSS in interventions for veterans, especially those with trauma exposure, to increase their help-seeking behaviors.
Objective: This Evidence Integration Review evaluated the effectiveness of multimodal interventions, which targeted physical, psychological, and social outcomes for military veterans. Through a mixed methods approach, this review integrated findings from randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional studies, and qualitative analyses to assess intervention impact and veterans’ lived experiences. Interventions included mindfulness practices, physical activity programs, social support mechanisms, and employment-focused initiatives addressing PTSD, depression, anxiety, and reintegration challenges. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science for US-based studies published between January 2014 and November 2024. Eligible studies employed quantitative or qualitative designs and examined exercise, mindfulness, or social support. Quantitative data were synthesized using PRISMA guidelines and Julius.ai, while qualitative themes were analyzed in ATLAS.ti. Participants were primarily post-9/11 veterans aged 28.1 to 57.1 years old. Majority of the participants were male (81.8%); however, four studies focused on female veterans. Results: Forty studies involving over 7,500 veterans were included. Interventions showed significant improvements in PTSD, depression, and reintegration. Mindfulness and trauma-focused therapies yielded strong psychological benefits. Social support improved reintegration, and physical activity enhanced resilience and reduced chronic pain. Limitations included dropout, inconsistent adherence, and underrepresentation of female and minority veterans. Conclusions: Multimodal interventions improved veterans well-being but must be inclusive to address systemic barriers. Future research should emphasize longitudinal evaluations, stigma reduction, and digital access to enhance sustainability.
This roundtable explored the significance of methodological and theoretical innovation in advancing veterans studies as an interdisciplinary field. Traditional research on veterans has often relied on narrow, deficit-based models that fail to account for the diversity and complexity of veteran identities and experiences. By integrating critical theoretical frameworks, the participants argue for a more inclusive, reflexive, and ethically grounded approach to veteran research. These innovations challenge dominant narratives and enhance the field’s capacity to inform policy, elevate marginalized voices, and engage veterans as co-creators of knowledge instead of research subjects.
This study examined the association between perceived inadequate military transition support and institutional betrayal during the transition of U.S. military veterans into civilian life. A cross-sectional, quantitative design was used to survey 269 veterans, utilizing the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire 2 – Military Version (IBQ.2-M). Veterans who reported feeling inadequately prepared for the transition out of military service were significantly more likely to report high levels of institutional betrayal, as measured by affirmative responses to core IBQ items. Chi-square (χ2) analysis confirmed a strong association, χ2(1, N = 268) = 47.76, p < .001, with a moderate effect size (Φ = –.422). Among veterans who felt unprepared, 79.5% endorsed six or more betrayal items, compared to 33.3% of those who felt adequately prepared. Strong internal consistency was demonstrated with Cronbach’s α = .84 with the IBQ.2-M. Exploratory bivariate analyses demonstrated significant associations between most betrayal items and perceived inadequate preparation. There were no significant associations discovered between demographic variables and perceptions of betrayal, which might indicate that this experience is not only limited to subgroups. These findings suggest that veterans may interpret inadequate transition planning as a form of systemic neglect, contributing to broader perceptions of institutional betrayal. The results highlight the need for meaningful reforms in transitional support programs and carry important implications for clinical intervention.
This roundtable discussion—Veteran Identity Through an Intersectional Lens: Moving Beyond the Monolith—brings together diverse voices to explore how race, gender, sexuality, trauma, and cultural background shape the lived experiences of veterans. Moderated by Dr. Leeshe Grimes, a retired US Army combat veteran and mental health clinician, this panel features insights from veteran advocates, scholars, and civilian allies who challenge the singular, dominant narrative of the American veteran. With a focus on storytelling, research, and lived experience, the conversation highlights systemic failures in veteran care, cultural blind spots in policy, and the emotional toll of exclusion. Panelists reflect on their personal and professional journeys to advocate for a more inclusive understanding of veteran identity. From the invisibility of women and LGBTQ+ veterans to the racialized distribution of military roles and benefits, this dialogue underscores the urgent need for intersectional frameworks in both veteran services and public discourse. The discussion sheds light on long-standing injustices and offers actionable recommendations, including policy reform, culturally competent care, and representation in leadership. Held over Memorial Day weekend, the conversation honors the complexity of service, the diversity of those who serve, and the responsibility to remember all veterans in full, not just in part.
Forest therapy has gained increasing attention as an outdoor therapeutic intervention for individuals with various health challenges. However, its impact on nature connection, mood states, and life satisfaction among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains underexplored. This pilot study investigated the outcomes of a structured forest therapy intervention for U.S. veterans with PTSD using a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of thirty-five participants (N = 35) were recruited over multiple years through a convenience sampling approach during the one-day nature camp programs for smaller groups of veterans (n = 5, on average per group). Each group engaged in a guided one-hour forest therapy walk which incorporated a standard sequence of mindfulness-based invitations on a quarter-mile long natural dirt trail in a midwestern U.S. region forest. The intervention outcomes were measured using a questionnaire that included the Connectedness to Nature Scale, Profile of Mood States, and Satisfaction with Life Scale, before and after the intervention. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare differences in the outcomes of the intervention. The results revealed that participants reported a stronger sense of nature connection. Negative mood states, including anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, decreased significantly, while the positive mood state of vigor showed a notable increase. Life satisfaction was significantly enhanced following the intervention. These findings underscore several substantial benefits of structured forest therapy for improving psychological nature connection, mood, and life satisfaction in veterans with PTSD. The study provides evidence-based support for implementing structured nature immersion interventions for similar populations.
This scoping review synthesises evidence on the system-level barriers Australian veterans and their families encounter during post-service reintegration, with a particular focus on accessing resources across the health, social, and community domains. A structured search of seven databases (CINAHL, JBI EBP Database, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and Google Scholar identified 509 studies published between 2013 and 2024, of which, 16 met the inclusion criteria. The findings reveal significant challenges, including fragmented service coordination, limited accessibility, employment-related constraints, and low awareness of entitlements and available supports. Although the military-to-civilian transition is widely recognised as a vulnerable period, existing research tends to prioritise psychosocial outcomes, leaving the structural and institutional barriers underexamined. While grounded in the Australian context, this review offers insights relevant to other Five Eyes nations and calls for more cohesive transition programs and integrated support systems to improve long-term reintegration trajectories.
More than one million current and former members of the United States military are enrolled in higher education in the United States. Prior research has demonstrated that demographic factors and campus engagement predict academic success for such Student Service Members/Veterans (SSM/V). In this study, we explored the extent to which a learning mindset—a student’s sense of belonging, confidence in their ability to be successful, perception that coursework is relevant to future success, and belief that the ability to learn can grow—might also predict such outcomes. Using 130,617 student responses from the 2018 Community College Survey of Student Engagement, the results showed that, relative to their civilian peers, SSM/V had a slightly less-positive learning mindset but slightly higher GPAs, even when controlling for a host of variables, including age, race, gender, and parental college attendance. A mediational analysis revealed that the statistical effect of SSM/V status on GPA was partially mediated by mindset, suggesting that SSM/V would have had even higher GPAs, on average, had their mindset been more positive. These findings suggest that mindset interventions for SSM/V have the potential to produce positive academic outcomes. At the same time, we caution against generalizing that SSM/V have broadly different learning mindset or academic achievement than civilian students because the differences between them, although statistically significant, are minor.
Transitioning from military to civilian life is a complex process influenced by veterans’ social networks, health, employment, housing stability, and access to support services. For Australian Defence Force veterans, rising rates of homelessness highlight the challenges of reintegration. While the majority successfully navigate this transition, others face interconnected barriers that increase vulnerability to housing insecurity. This scoping review explores pathways leading to homelessness among veterans and examines housing solutions, with a primary focus on the Australian context and insights from international literature. A search was conducted in October 2024 across CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Joanna Briggs Institute, Google Scholar, and grey literature, focusing on pathways to homelessness, housing solutions, and broader housing challenges. Of 175 papers identified, 77 published between January 2014 and October 2024 were included following screening. Findings reveal complex pathways involving economic and housing instability, mental and physical health issues, justice system involvement, and social isolation. Housing responses include emergency accommodation, transitional housing, and affordable housing with Housing First approaches. These findings emphasise the fragile relationship between housing, health, and community integration, and the need for tailored, trauma-informed, veteran-centred interventions. While much of the existing evidence originates from the United States, strengthening the Australian evidence base requires future research that prioritises local veterans, particularly underrepresented groups, through longitudinal studies. Key areas include integrated care models, rural housing solutions, and improved veteran identification in national datasets. A holistic and coordinated response is essential to support the long-term reintegration and housing stability of Australian veterans.
