Introduction
Background
The United States has one of the largest and most respected armies in the world. According to Harley and Teaster, not all those who join the American army spend the rest of their lives in the service (43). Some of them often prefer leaving the service after spending few years. Various reasons may force a person to quit the military service to become a civilian working as other citizens in the country. According to Byrd and Chaunda, it is estimated that the country has deployed over two million United States service members to Afghanistan and Iraq since the onset of war on terror following the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attack (117). Some of them, estimated to be about 27% of the above estimates, have been redeployed to these volatile regions more than once. A good number have opted to leave the service soon after coming home because of the experiences they have had in these foreign countries. Others come back home with life-changing injuries. Others witnessed their friends and colleagues die in the battlefields. Others were forced to kill people to protect their own lives and American properties. When they come back home, they find it increasingly challenging to lead a normal life. The mental disorders and physical injuries sustained during their service to the country make it difficult for them to become breadwinners after leaving the military.
The veterans, just as other citizens of this country, need to work to ensure that they can provide for their families. However, not all of them succeed in getting well-paying regular jobs that can sustain their families. The physical and mental disorders sustained during the years spent in their service makes it difficult for them to be fully back into the society. Some of them struggle to get decent jobs, and the lucky ones who do, maintaining those jobs become a great challenge. In a system where the employers are keen on getting the best service from their employees, any mistake from the employees or inability to meet the expectations is rarely tolerated. These employers rarely take time to understand the special needs of their employees and reasons why some of them behave in a given manner. Shilling says that it is increasingly becoming difficult for the veterans to get decent jobs in the American society (41). In many cases, people prefer praising them for their selfless service to the country. However, it rarely goes beyond the praise. Very few employers are always keen on embracing these veterans in their workplaces despite their challenges. In this paper, the researcher looks at the main barriers to employment and integration back to the society that the veterans face, and the manner in which the existing policies can be amended to help create a level playing ground for them.
Rationale of the Research
According to Sayer et al., the United States service men and women play a critical role in ensuring that the country achieves social, economic, and political superiority in the world (590). Many unfriendly countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Russia and terror groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda are always trying to find ways of destroying the country because of reasons they feel are justified. However, that has remained more of a wish than a reality. Other than the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attack, the United States has remained a relatively safe country where the enemies cannot pose a significant threat to the people. The economic success that the country has been registering since the end of the Second World War is significantly attributed to a strong military that is capable of ensuring that the interests of the United States is respected all over the world. Some of the soldiers who travel from the country to other parts of the world are not lucky enough to come back to the country the same way the left. They end up losing their lives in the battlefield while others sustain serious physical and mental disorders soon after coming back to the country. It is, therefore, important for the society to appreciate the veterans who have sacrificed a lot for the country.
According to a report by the Veteran Health Administration, a significant number of the veterans suffer from mental problems because of their experiences in the battlefields (Deflem 44). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common problems that these veterans have. Others suffer from depression, substance use or abuse, and many other behavioral problems. The Veteran Affair has reiterated this claim, stating that most of the veterans find it difficult reintegrating back to the society as civilians because of the mental and physical problems that they have. The main challenge that these veterans face in their lives as civilians is getting sustainable jobs that can help them provide for their families. In most of the cases, they find that their skills and experience in the military do not match the needs of most of the jobs readily available. Others are of advanced age and cannot go back to college to learn the skills needed in the modern workplace. Some may have the skills and experience needed in the workplace, but the mental and physical challenges they face make them undesirable to many employers.
In such a workplace environment where the veterans are viewed as less deserving and less desirable employees, it becomes difficult for them to sustain their jobs. Given the service and the sacrifice that these veterans have made for the nation, it is important to find ways of leveling the ground for them as normal civilian employees once they leave the service. If necessary, it may be prudent to review the current policies with the view of changing them to accommodate the men and women who once served in the military. That is why this study is very important. It seeks to address an issue that many in the society have ignored for a long time. It is now necessary to ensure that the veterans’ interests are protected in this great country.
Aims and Objectives
Integration and employment of the veterans who have service-related disabilities into the American society has been an issue in this country for the past several years. When the Second World War ended, the United States became a world power economically, socially, and politically (militarily). Its military men and women have served in various parts of the world as peacekeepers and in other positions. However, their military engagement outside the borders of the country intensified following the war on terror after the country came under Al Qaeda attack in 2001. The number of the veterans rose suddenly and it has never changed ever since. However, statistics show that the veterans find it difficult to get integrated into the society (Hamrick and Rumann 43). This research project seeks to address this injustice. The following are the specific aims that the researcher seeks to achieve in this study:
- This project will add to already existing literature regarding reintegration barriers faced by veterans and look for gaps that exist in exiting literature and policies.
- Possibly use findings to advocate policy change either at state or federal level and will create a level playing field.
The study should help the policy-makers in formulating laws and regulations that will help protect the country. The researcher will use both primary and secondary data sources to achieve the set aims and objectives.
Research Questions
Integration of veterans into the society and eliminating barriers that hinder their ability to get decent jobs in the United States is a topic that has raised serious concern among the stakeholders. It has become a central focus among many scholars in the country. Some of these scholars have witnessed the suffering of this group of people who have selflessly served this country in the past. The following are the central questions that guided the entire process of data collection in this research:
- What are the barriers faced by veterans when trying to get integrated into the society?
- What are the specific challenges that the veterans face when trying to get employment in the United States?
- What are the possible strategies that can be employed to advocate for policy change either at state or federal level to protect the interests of the veterans?
Literature Review
In the recent past, the plight of veterans has attracted attention of many scholars in the United States as the society seeks to find ways of helping them lead a normal and fulfilling life outside the military service. As an academic scholar, it was important to review what other scholars have found out to help build on the existing knowledge. Krannich says that every research project should add new information to the existing bodies of knowledge (59). It is not prudent to reproduce information that has already been made available by other scholars. That is why the researcher has dedicated this section to reviewing existing literatures and determining the existing knowledge gaps. The researcher reviewed books, journal articles, and reliable online sources to build a strong background for this research project to help in informing the conclusion and recommendations.
Integration of the Veterans into the Society
The United States service men and women are often held in high regard as they risk their lives and happiness of their loved ones to protect the country from external threats. Some of them leave the country to some of the most volatile parts of the world to protect the interest of their country. American soldiers have been sent on active service to Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and Libya among other places. Some of these soldiers have lost their lives in their service to the country. Others sustain serious physical injuries that make it difficult for them to lead normal lives once they leave the service. Those who are lucky enough to come back to the country without serious physical injuries, the psychological trauma caused by the experiences in these foreign countries make it very difficult to lead a normal life. They struggle to fit into the civilian life, especially if they spent long time in the service (Kelley et al. 41). Other than the psychological problems, that the veterans have to deal with, there is a pattern of life they are used to that do not exist in the outside world. They are used to either issuing or receiving commands on their official duties, which must be respected and followed. However, such practices do not exist in the civilian lives and it may take a while for them to adopt.
Integration of veterans into the society is important. Many soldiers quit the service when they are relatively young, and that means that they have to find alternative jobs to take care of their families. They need to be accepted by the society as people who are unique based on the experiences they had while in service. Integration of veterans starts at the family level unit. Abbott says that members of the family may find the behavioral change of their loved one who served in the service relatively strange (81). Some may find it difficult relating with these veterans because sometimes their behavior may be completely different from what they were before joining the service. Despite their changed behavior, Deflem says that these veterans still need the love and acceptance from their family and friends (45). They need a sense of belonging, just as they used to before and during their service to the country. When they are faced with rejection from family members, they may develop resentment towards them and anybody close to them. The problem may be compounded if they are suffering from mental or physical challenges. The feeling that their own families cannot accept them may be so painful that some may make irrational decisions. The urge to inflict pain on others may drive them to commit heinous crime against their families, friends, or the society in general. Some of these veterans may develop deep hatred against the government when they feel that they or their people have been denied justice.
Benight says that sometimes these veterans may be tempted to use their skills and experience in the military against the establishment if they feel that the injustice has persisted for long (13). Micah Johnson, an army veteran who was involved in a serious shootout with the police in Dallas that killed five officers and wounded many others, once served in Afghanistan. He is a perfect example of a veteran who was unable to get integrated into the society because of the realities he could not withstand. He believed that as a former service member, he had the capacity to execute justice against those he believed were inflicting pain and suffering against the people he loved. He completely disregarded the need to respect the law and ended up taking lives of people who were not directly involved with actions he was protesting against at that time. Cases have been reported where the veterans become a threat to their own lives. Harley and Teaster say that some of them find life after service so frustrating that they consider taking their own lives (31).
It is the responsibility of the American society to ensure that the veterans are successfully integrated into their respective communities and that they are offered opportunity to play a role in socio-economic and political development. As explained above, some of these veterans may have varying physical or psychological problems acquired during their time in the service. Burton says, “The number of civilian veterans aged 18+ living in the community nationwide is 19,344,883; of these, 5,522,589 (28.5%) have a disability,” (112). It means that the number of veterans with disabilities is high. Those who have supportive families who can take care of them without straining may find it unnecessary having to get gainful employment. However, others have to work to provide for their families even if they have disabilities. Even those who have supportive families may have the need to be employed just to make them feel useful in their civilian lives. However, in many cases they fail to get jobs that meet their expectations.
Most of the employers in this country are reluctant when it comes to hiring people with physical or mental disabilities. They feel that their disabilities may affect their ability to deliver the needed services. Paludi says that sometimes these veterans are unable to retain the good jobs they get because of the psychological challenges they have to live with, in their civilian lives (78). In absence of policies and regulations that can protect them in their workplaces, these veterans often lose their jobs with they commit slight mistakes in the workplace. It is important to find ways of protecting these veterans in the society. Krannich says that integration of the veterans into the American society should be the responsibility of every American citizen (20). The society has to understand that they are human beings who need our care and love as our family members, friends, neighbors, or workmates to lead normal lives. The employers also need to understand the uniqueness of people in this demographic and as such, accord them special treatment when it is necessary.
The Modern American Workplace Environment
The modern American workplace environment has been changing over the past years as the market become increasingly competitive. According to Bruyère and Barrington, companies in the United States enjoyed monopoly in the global market soon after the end of the Second World War (64). However, that is no longer the case anymore. Many companies from Europe and Asia have risen to dominance and competition has become very stiff. Local firms do not just feel threatened in the global market that they once dominated but also at the local level. Chinese products are finding their way into the country and it forces local companies to not only increase the quality of products they offer but also lower their market price. Efficiency has become critical in ensuring that these firms survive in the market. The need to remain sustainable has pushed many firms to streamline their operations to ensure that these firms get the best from their employees. They are forced to select the best talents and to maintain high levels of productivity as a way of achieving efficiency. Many have come up with appraisal systems that allow them to separate the best performers from underperformers. Those who are classified as underperformers are dismissed after some time while those who register impressive performance are rewarded with promotions.
The veterans find it increasingly challenging when it comes to surviving in such an environment. Bennet notes that some of the veterans lack any specialized training when they leave the service (2). They come out only armed with the skills and experience gained in the military service. They are introduced into a dangerously competitive system where survival is determined by one’s capacity to deliver results. It becomes even more challenging given that most of those they are expected to compete against have the right training for the job and possibly relevant experience. Most of these veterans often struggle to perform as per the expectations of their employers. Harley and Teaster say that some of these veterans are advanced in age and as such may not be as receptive to change as the younger generation (71). They struggle to keep pace with the emerging technologies in the workplace, especially when they work in departments that need them to use modern technology.
Some of these veterans remain resilient and manage to meet the expectations, sometimes at the cost of their own happiness. Others, out of great pressure and the feeling of lack of support from workmates and colleagues, often quit to look for less demanding jobs. Another group is dismissed by the top management after failing to meet the set standard of performance within the organizations. Irrespective of the fate that each of these veterans face, it is true that the modern American workplace environment is not sustainable for the veterans. The competition is stiff and firms are quick to dismiss anyone who they believe is incapable of meeting the set goals.
Discrimination in the Workplace and Employment Barriers
Discrimination in the workplace within the American society is a common problem that has always attracted attention of policy-makers, scholars, and the public. According to Byrd and Chaunda, African American, people of color and women have been the main victims of discrimination in the workplace (77). However, the veterans are currently facing the same problem, as they are considered different from other groups of employees. Chrisinger says that one of the common problems that these veterans face is stereotyping (19). One of the most common misconceptions in the modern American workplace is that all veterans have psychological problems and that they can be physically abusive. It is true that a relatively high number of veterans have psychological problems compared with other members of the society who have never served actively in the military. However, it is wrong to have a blanket condemnation of all veterans as people who have mental problems.
Lee et al. says that it is common to find cases where employees pressurize the top management to dismiss or transfer a veteran from one department to another at the slightest thought that they can be violent (61). When non-veterans become violent in the workplace, many consider it normal and feel that they can easily manage the situation. On the other hand, when a veteran becomes violent, what comes to the minds of many is that they can sustain life-changing injuries or even lose their lives. The unique fear that employees have towards the veterans is a big challenge in having a conducive working environment for them. Deflem says that sometimes an employee may reject assignments where they have to work with a veteran (51). The fear is very common among female employees who feel they are physically weak and cannot defend themselves in case it becomes necessary. Others feel they cannot make light jokes that may annoy a veteran because of the fear of their reaction.
According to West and Kregel, the veterans feel affected when they sense that people around them are obsessed with fear (55). It is good to have power, but it can only be beneficial if it earns one respect, love, and friendship. In this case, the fact that one is a veteran drives others away. They feel so lonely, especially when they cannot share light moments with the rest of the population who feel that they are dangerous. They find themselves addressing many personal and workplace problems alone other than sharing with colleagues. In such an environment, it is difficult to be a performer. It becomes worse if the veteran is suffering from psychological or physical problems. Anyone with disability needs close care and attention from people around him or her. The veterans are no exception. For the veterans to overcome their challenges, they need their colleagues to understand and appreciate their problems be willing and determined to help them cope, and work closely with them to achieve the organizational goals.
Discrimination against the veterans is also witnessed during training sessions. Unlike the young college graduates who are techno-savvy, it takes time for the elderly veterans to adapt to the new technology-driven changes in the workplace. During training, they deserve special attention to help them understand the new systems and structures. However, Bennet says that during training sessions, employees in the same department are often grouped together and offered training without paying attention to the special needs group (51). The veterans struggle to understand the new knowledge because they lack background upon which the new knowledge can be based. They are also slow in learning technology-based strategies. Their problem is compounded by the fear that other employees have towards them. Sometimes the veterans become withdrawn as they feel that the system is working against them.
According to Miller, veterans with service-connected disabilities face numerous barriers to employment that should not be ignored any longer (22). Many employers understand the challenges that veterans face as they struggle to lead normal lives as civilians. They know that even though these veterans may not have physical disabilities, they sometimes suffer from mental problems. It is also common knowledge to these employers that in many cases employees fear veterans and may be unwilling to work with them. As such, many often deliberately deny them opportunity to work in their firms believing that they will have a negative impact on their workforce. When presented with other alternatives, they would prefer hiring young college graduates who are flexible and capable of trying new things in the workplace. They prefer hiring people who they believe will not elicit fear among employees because of their experiences or past careers. These challenges and discriminations make it difficult for the veterans to get decent jobs. When they succeed in getting that job, it becomes difficult to retain it long enough.
Policy Formulation and Implementation
According to Holden et al., a time has come when the American society has to appreciate the role played by the veterans in securing the borders of the country (63). Some of them sacrificed the opportunity they had to join college after high school just to serve the country. When these people leave the service for one reason or the other, they need to find an accommodating society. They need to feel loved when they are at home. As Paulsen, it starts with the family members. The fact that these people may have psychological problems does not turn them into beasts (95). Their problem can be overcome through love and support they get from home. Their problem is unique, and as such, they should not be viewed differently from other members of the society. In the workplace, workmates have a role to play in making these veterans feel comfortable and able to integrate freely back to the society. They need respect and love, just like any other employee. Above all, they need understanding as people who have gone through challenging experiences in their lives as service men and women.
According to Nickerson and Sanders, other than the advisory recommendations made by many scholars to veterans’ families, friends, and colleagues in the workplace, it is important to enact laws that must define the employment status of this group of people (54). Affirmative action that was embraced in the country to empower women in the United States and other parts of the world has seen more women playing critical roles in the corporate world. Today, we have the highest number of female chief executives than we have ever had in the history. That is because of consistency in promoting female empowerment as championed by the American society. The country has had its first African American president, Barrack Obama, a sign that nothing is impossible in this country. It means that the same will power can be used to ensure that the veterans can succeed in civilian life after leaving the barracks. Laws should be put in place requiring employers to have special treatment when it comes to handling the veterans as long as they do not pose threat to their colleagues and property.
The qualifications for employment set for the veterans should not be the same as the qualifications set for the young college graduates or other members of the society who have never been in the service. The goal is not to treat the veterans in a special way, but to create a level-playing ground based on the challenges that they have in life. In 2013, President Barrack Obama stated the commitment of his government in ensuring that the veterans, including those with various forms of disabilities, get employment both in the public and private sector (Zogas 23). He stated that the private sector has already employed over 290,000 veterans and plans are underway to ensure that 400,000 more are employed in the years to come. His promise to the veterans saw many policy changes that have promoted hiring of the veterans. Despite the effort put in place by the former president, veterans still face a number of challenges in the workplace and more needs to be done to protect them.
Research Method
In this section of the report, it is important to discuss the research methods, which were used to collect and analyze data from various sources. Integration and employment barriers for veterans with service-connected disabilities are topics that are widely researched. In this project, the researcher collected data from both primary and secondary sources. Secondary data sources came from books, scholarly journal articles, and reliable online sources. Data collected from secondary sources is presented in the literature review chapter above. Primary data was collected from a sample of respondents who were identified to take part in this project. The conclusion and recommendations made in this study was based on the data collected from the two sources.
Sample Population
According to Deflem, the United States is home to 21.8 million veterans (92). It may be necessary to collect data from all of them, but that is not possible given the constraints faced by the researcher in this academic project, especially the need to complete it within the set deadline. As such, it was important to collect data from a small sample of the target group to represent the entire population. The researcher selected a sample of ten veterans who agreed to be part of this research project. The participants were selected randomly from the entire population based on their availability and willingness to take part in this project. After identifying the participants, the researcher contacted them through phone calls and informed them about the study. They were informed about the role they were expected to play in the project. They were informed of the confidentiality in the study and their freedom to withdraw from the project in case they changed their mind along the way.
Data Collection Method
Primary data was collected from the sampled veterans. The researcher prepared a simple questionnaire to help in the process of collecting data. After preparing the questionnaire, the researcher called the respondents and planned a face-to-face meeting with them. Given that the researcher was interested in getting their experiences that vary from one veteran to another, the questions were open-ended. The nature of the questions made it possible for the respondents to explain the challenges they have encountered and their beliefs when it comes to addressing the problem.
Data Analysis
This research embraced qualitative methods of data analysis, and that is why open-ended questions were used to collect data. Qualitative data analysis made it possible to explain phenomena that illustrate the challenges veterans go through. This approach of analyzing data also made it possible to explain how the problem can be overcome through policy formulation and other appropriate strategies.
Analysis and Discussion
Data Analysis
In this chapter, the researcher will focus on analyzing the data collected from the field and discussing the findings with the view of finding the way forward to deal with this issue. Two former presidents of the United States, George W. Bush, and Barrack Obama have emphasized on the need to create systems that will make it easy for the veterans to find job once they are discharged from the service. The veterans, through various platforms, have complained about the difficulty they face when trying to get employment, especially when they have service-related disabilities. As explained in the methodology section above, the researcher sampled ten veterans who responded to various questions related to the topic that was posed to them. The section will look at the questions posted to them and how they respondent to each of them. The first question focused on capturing the experience of these veterans when looking for employment.
Q 1: As a fellow veteran, what are some of the problems you encountered when looking for employment or when trying to integrate back into society after active duty in the military?
A 1: “I quickly realized that most of the skills, if not all, do not translate into the civilian world and most civilian hiring officials do not understand our military specific terminologies”
This problem was reiterated by almost every single veteran who was interviewed in this project. Given that the researcher has served actively in the American military, it was easy for the researcher to understand their concern. Most of the skills learnt in the military involve war plans, how to prevent an attack, how to organize one, how to coordinate once in the battlefield, and many other techniques directly related with physical combat in the war front. That knowledge is very different from the strategies needed in the workplace. Although the strategic moves learnt in the military academy may be translated in some marketing plans, it requires significant modification to achieve the desired goals. This respondent also stated that the military specific terminologies they are used to are less common in the workplaces outside the barracks. It forces them to unlearn skills and languages they once learned through pain and perseverance for many years. Another respondent blamed the training in the military service as shown in the answer below:
A 2: The military did not prepare me adequately to survive in the civilian world, and the transition assistance program available is not vigorous enough. Most of the transition job programs benefits technical jobs more than any other field.
In the military academies, focus is always on how to win wars against enemy states. Although the American military training is always thorough, it is not in any way related to skills one need as a civilian. In fact, majority of the respondents stated that the training is designed in a way that one cannot use it outside the barracks or battlefronts. The military curriculum fails to understand that sometimes a soldier may decide to end his or her career in the service in pursuit of other interests as civilians. It means that when these soldiers leave service to become civilians, they are ill equipped to deal with the new challenges in life that they face. Another respondent, who happens to be suffering from PTSD, also weighed in on this issue when answering the same question.
A 3: I am currently a full time student in one of the public universities, and I feel like the professors and the school officials are not accommodating enough in the sense that they do not put my medical disability into consideration. As a veteran with PTSD service connected disability, it take a little extra effort for me to understand and retain some of the things being taught, so I expect the school leadership to have a separated form of academic expectation for me. We hope academic institution will tailor courses to suit veterans with TBI like myself.
It is clear, from the detailed response obtained from the third respondent above, that the problem is not unique in the workplace. Learning institutions have also failed to understand the special needs of the veterans. Some of the veterans, knowing that they are ill equipped to get decent jobs as civilians, consider going back to college to specialize in areas of their interest. However, the same problems that their colleagues face in the American workplace is what they face in their places of work. They are given the same treatment as their classmates, most of whom are always younger and without any psychological problems. Rarely do these institutions care for their mental challenges. Some of the respondents also felt that it is necessary for institutions of higher learning to come up with special courses that is more suitable for the veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Discussion
The respondents who participated in this research stated that they find it difficult integrating back into the society and finding decent jobs that can sustain their lives as civilians. As can be seen in their responses, the problem is not just unique in the workplaces. The veterans who decide to go back to school to equip themselves with skills that can enable them find jobs of their dreams often face various challenges. Many institutions have not developed curriculums that can take care of the unique needs of the veterans, some of whom are advanced in age. They find themselves subjected to the same treatment as other fellow students despite the fact that they have special needs. Some of these veterans suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in the battlefields. Others have to deal with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for a very long time after leaving the service. However, the learning institutions are yet to come up with programs that can help the veterans who decide to go back to school.
According to Gade, the veterans are rarely aware of the life that awaits them outside the military service (7). Most of them often have very high expectations. They believe that the respect and love accorded to them while in military regalia is the same that they will get when they decide to lead a civilian life. However, the opposite is true. Once people learn that one is a veteran, the respect that these ex service men and women enjoyed is translated into fear and the love turns into stereotyping. They are viewed as people who can become violent at any time and with the slightest provocation. Their skills in battlefield created fear among people around them. Life becomes very unbearable for most of them as they struggle to integrate back into the society. Many employers are always keen on hiring people who can work in teams. The employers are aware that in many cases, people tend to fear veterans because of the belief that most of them suffer from psychological problems and can easily snap. When presented with other alternatives, these employers would prefer hiring younger employees who are open to change and capable of working easily in teams without eliciting fear.
The society has come to realize that indeed the veterans are always subjected to unfair treatment when trying to integrate into the society. The former President Barrack Obama clearly stated that it was important for individual companies, whether public or private, to make commitment that they will hire veterans. Other leaders have also come out to emphasize on the need to protect the interest of the veterans in the society. Til et al. says that with proper training and help, the veterans can become successful employees by translating their military experiences into real life challenges they face in their workplaces (1170). Their level of resilience when dealing with a challenge is often above average when compared with other employees. It means that whenever they face a challenge within their organization, they will not avoid it. They are trained to face the problem and eliminate it at all costs and that is what they are likely going to do when they are accorded the love, respect, and support in the workplace (Moore et al. 76). It may be necessary to enact laws that can protect the interest of these veterans.
Conclusion
The United States is one of the countries with the highest number of veterans in the world. Although the government has created a department that specifically deals with the concerns of the veterans, these people still face serious challenges as they try to get integrated back to the society. They find themselves in very awkward situation where the skills and knowledge they have acquired in the military service do not match job requirements. When they try to further their studies in institutions of higher learning, they find that the systems favor young learners who are fresh from high school at their expense. The society understands that the veterans are more likely to suffer from psychological problems related to their service in the military. However, instead of creating an enabling environment for them overcome their challenges, in many cases the veterans find themselves abandoned and discriminated against in the workplace, at school, and in the society. The study strongly recommends enactment of new policies that will protect the interest of the veterans. The new policies should compel the employers to have different criteria when recruiting veterans. Systems should also be put in place to enable them overcome service connected disabilities.
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