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1 – 10 of over 1000Upon discharge, US service members experience an instantaneous immersion back into civilian life. One of the most challenging aspects of that reimmersion is the reentry/entry into…
Abstract
Purpose
Upon discharge, US service members experience an instantaneous immersion back into civilian life. One of the most challenging aspects of that reimmersion is the reentry/entry into the civilian workforce. As such, it is necessary to study the returning veteran's employment experience when considering the veteran's civilian reintegration. The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the returning veteran's civilian employment experience and to identify challenges faced by the veteran in the civilian onboarding experience.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is a qualitative analysis in which 27 military veterans were interviewed about their experience with civilian reemployment. The results of the interviews were compiled, analyzed and grouped by common theme. This study explains some of the major issues confronted by the newly separated veteran and discusses how those challenges may influence job satisfaction and job performance.
Findings
The analysis identified the following three main themes that posed challenges to the veteran to civilian employment transition: civilian employer’s military job knowledge deficit, veteran anxiety with civilian employer’s lack of clearly defined new-hire processes and civilian employer misunderstanding of veteran compensation, benefits and family involvement expectations.
Research limitations/implications
This study is beneficial to scholars in as much as it will help to more clearly identify literature gaps, provide direction on emerging research concepts, add to the existing literature on the veteran to civilian transitions and connect research areas that have not yet been adequately studied. Future research would be well served to follow a similar program of research but by employing different research methods in order to address the limitations outlined above and further support the findings of this research. Specifically, future research should sample across a wider set of individuals as study participants (time since discharge, age, military rank at time of separation, reserve status, etc.). By doing this, future researchers may be able to determine how perceptions change over time and with regard to military experience. A second area of future research may be to conduct related research based on civilian employment opportunities and qualifications. Specific areas of study to be considered should be focused primarily on the macro issues such as military leadership and translating military experiences and skill sets to civilian contexts. Unlike other findings in this research, these two areas cannot be affected at the organizational level, and as such require concept exploration and clarity.
Practical implications
This study provides guidance and direction for veterans and employers alike by outlining areas that may be challenging for new-hire military veterans and bringing to light areas where the civilian onboarding experience can improve to better accommodate veterans. Further, this study identifies areas that directly or indirectly contribute to high veteran turnover rates and ultimately high veteran unemployment rates.
Originality/value
This original quantitative study conducted by the author specifically identifies several areas in the veteran to civilian employment transition that pose challenges for the returning veteran. All data for this study were gathered and analyzed using first-hand face-to-face interviews and established data analysis methods by the researcher.
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This study aims to interrogate the nature and characteristics of military entrepreneurship among veterans of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to interrogate the nature and characteristics of military entrepreneurship among veterans of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Design/methodology/approach
Through the application of case study methodology, the study gathered data that reveal some distinguishing features of veteran entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
Findings
Veterans’ military background and military training appear to have both facilitating and inhibiting effects on veteran entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The study also reveals that veteran entrepreneurship though it may have some distinguishing features, but does not differ significantly to civilian entrepreneurship. Veterans’ entrepreneurs confront the same challenges as their civilian counterparts.
Originality/value
The result provides valuable knowledge for academics/researchers researching success and failure factors in the veteran entrepreneurship field.
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Elliot Bolles and Kami Patrizio
This study investigates the leadership tenets informing veterans’ work as school leaders. Drawing on 15 interviews and surveys with military veterans working as educational…
Abstract
This study investigates the leadership tenets informing veterans’ work as school leaders. Drawing on 15 interviews and surveys with military veterans working as educational leaders, the study relies on Stake’s (2006) case study method to substantiate assertions that veterans: 1) come into education without the support of a transitional program, 2) are committed to taking care of their people, 3) have a strong belief in service, 4) are influenced by leadership that they have witnessed, and 5) are equipped to manage delegating and accountability by virtue of military experiences.
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of veteran status on civilian wages and on retirement age through employing individual-level data.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of veteran status on civilian wages and on retirement age through employing individual-level data.
Design/methodology/approach
Instrumental variable (IV) estimation specifications show that, contrary to public perception, veteran status has a statistically significant positive impact on an individual’s civilian wage and thus helps him retire earlier than his non-veteran counterpart.
Findings
Moreover, the wage premium effect largely holds for less-educated men; however, for highly educated men, military service has adverse effects on their subsequent wages, and thus, on their retirement age. In line with this result, the effects of veteran status on retirement age largely hold for the relatively less-educated group.
Originality/value
This is the first finding to shed light on the link between veteran status and the decision to retire. This work is also first attempt to explore relationship between compulsory military service and subsequent civilian labor market performance, using the Korean individual-level data via relevant IV estimation methodology.
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Nick Beech, Jeff Gold and Susan Beech
The purpose of this paper is to first consider how veterans use talk to shape interpretations of personal and social identify. Second, this paper seeks to gain an understanding of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to first consider how veterans use talk to shape interpretations of personal and social identify. Second, this paper seeks to gain an understanding of how veterans see themselves in a civilian world, their ability to re-conceptualise and realign their perspective on life to support their transition in to a civilian world.
Design/methodology/approach
Underpinned by Ricoeur’s theory of narrative identity, the work provides a qualitative analysis data from coaching interviews with five veterans.
Findings
The findings revealed the on-going legacy of military life and how its distinctiveness and belief centred on kinship shapes personal identity and the way they see their civilian world. The work sheds light on to the benefits of this Ricoeur’s self-reflexive approach and how it can be used to provide a deeper insight in to the nature of personal transitions and how narrative can be used to expose complexities of the narratives of personal history and meaning as the narrator becomes both the seeker and what is sought.
Practical implications
The work reinforces the value of Ricoeur’s self-reflexive approach identifying narrative mediating between two “poles” of identity and the act of mimesis; prefiguration, configuration and refiguration as veterans project stories of their world and their place within it.
Originality/value
The paper provides new insights in to the importance of narrative identify broadening its potential application with engagement across diverse communities, thereby providing depth and rigour of its conceptual understanding of personal identify. The work further provides insights in to the challenges facing veterans to integrate within a civilian society.
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A significant minority of veterans have poor mental health outcomes but their needs are not always well managed by the NHS. The purpose of this paper is to explore veterans’…
Abstract
Purpose
A significant minority of veterans have poor mental health outcomes but their needs are not always well managed by the NHS. The purpose of this paper is to explore veterans’ experiences of NHS mental healthcare in Norfolk and Suffolk to identify ways of improving services.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were conducted with 30 veterans. Template analysis was undertaken to explore key themes in the interview transcripts.
Findings
Participants were reluctant to seek help but were more likely to engage with a veteran-specific service. Those whose symptoms were military related reported better experiences when accessing treatment that was military sensitive.
Research limitations/implications
This was a local study and the findings do not necessarily reflect the views of the wider veteran community. Most participants who received military sensitive treatment were referred to the study by NHS providers, which could account for their positive feedback.
Social implications
The development of dedicated mental health services may encourage more veterans to seek support, helping to improve patient outcomes. There is a need for further research to determine the effectiveness of dedicated services and identify how they should be deployed.
Originality/value
Where academic interest has generally centred on the aetiology of mental health conditions within the military, this study focussed upon service user experience. The findings contributed to NHS England’s recent decision to extend its network of dedicated services in 12 areas of the country to cover veterans across England from April 2017.
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.
Design/methodology/approach
This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.
Findings
This research paper concentrates on the transition experiences of recent military veterans into civilian employment. The interview-based results revealed that, firstly, veterans were struck by civilian employers' lack of knowledge about military jobs and skills. Secondly, the comparatively loose hiring and training processes experienced in civilian firms were a source of anxiety and frustration for military veterans. Thirdly, civilian employers clearly didn't understand the significantly different military compensation and benefits structure, nor the high level of family involvement in military life. Consequently, these civilian employers were deemed to possess little context around the environments these veterans were joining from.
Originality/value
The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
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Gemma Parry, Suzanne Margaret Hodge and Alan Barrett
Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among UK veterans is higher than in the general population. However, prevalence figures do not reflect the complexity of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among UK veterans is higher than in the general population. However, prevalence figures do not reflect the complexity of this phenomenon and ways in which it may be bound up with veterans’ experiences of adjusting to civilian life. The purpose of this study is to explore veterans’ experiences of successfully managing PTSD.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six veterans who had served in the UK armed forces and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Findings
Three themes were developed: accepting the problem, taking responsibility and gaining control; talking to the right people; and strategies, antidotes and circling back around. Managing PTSD appeared to be bound up with veterans’ experience of renegotiating their identity, where positive aspects of identity lost on leaving the military were rebuilt and problematic aspects were challenged. Participants sought to speak about their difficulties with others who understood the military context. They felt that their experiences made them a valuable resource to others, and they connected this with a positive sense of identity and value.
Practical implications
The findings suggest the importance of wider provision of peer support and education for civilian health services on veterans’ needs.
Originality/value
This study adds to the understanding of what meaningful recovery from PTSD may involve for veterans, in particular its potential interconnectedness with the process of adjusting to civilian life.
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Diane Edmondson, Tim Graeff, Lucy Matthews, Don Roy, Raj Srivastava and Cheryl Ward
This study aims to examine consumers’ patriotism, attitudes toward veterans and attitudes and behaviors toward businesses that honor veterans. The goal is to determine if…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine consumers’ patriotism, attitudes toward veterans and attitudes and behaviors toward businesses that honor veterans. The goal is to determine if consumers are more or less likely to support businesses that offer veterans preferential treatment.
Design/methodology/approach
The conceptual model proposed is tested using an online survey with a nationwide sample. Data are analyzed using partial least squares structural equations modeling.
Findings
Results indicate that consumer attitudes toward businesses that honor veterans fully mediate the impact of consumer attitudes toward veterans on behavioral intentions. This suggests that veterans’ discounts or preferential treatments are viewed as a viable means by which consumers can show their support for veterans. Further, results reveal that patriotism has a direct effect on consumers’ behavioral intentions toward businesses that honor veterans.
Practical implications
Businesses routinely offer discounts targeted to specific consumers, such as the elderly and children. These results show that providing discounts to veterans can offer multiple benefits to businesses as well. Positive attitudes toward businesses that honor veterans can lead to positive behavioral intentions from consumers who seek to support veterans.
Originality/value
Despite the existence of businesses honoring veterans by providing discounts or preferential treatment, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, little to no research has investigated the impact that these discounts provide to businesses.
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Jacinta M. Gau, Erika J. Brooke, Eugene A. Paoline III and Krystle L. Roman
The purpose of the study was to determine whether prior military service impacts police officers' job-related attitudes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study was to determine whether prior military service impacts police officers' job-related attitudes.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was administered to sworn police officers in a large urban department.
Findings
Findings indicate that military service has almost no impact on police officers' perceptions of danger in the community and suspicion toward citizens. The small effect that did surface suggests that military veterans perceive less danger in the occupational environment.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the scant existing research on whether and how military service may impact police officers' attitudes; in particular, it speaks to the concern that veterans bring a warrior mentality to the job. Findings suggest that these fears are not founded.
Practical implications
Police agencies commonly give preferential hiring to military veterans. Current findings suggest that this practice does not threaten police–community relations.
Originality/value
Scant research has examined the impact of military experience on police officers' job-related attitudes and specifically on their perceptions of danger and their suspicion of citizens. Additionally, when military service is included in police studies, it is operationalized as a binary yes/no. Here, the authors parse service into different components for a more nuanced examination.
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