Experience of Transition from the Military for Combat Veterans Who Served After 9/11

Research Objectives: To address the high rate of veteran suicide by providing an understanding of the experience of transition from active duty to civilian life for combat veterans who served after 9/11.

Design: A phenomenological research method was chosen to describe the lived experience of transition from active duty to civilian life for combat veterans who served after 9/11. Data collection included in-depth interviews and coding of transcriptions until data saturation was met and themes were developed.

Setting: This research study took place in the general community using a purposive sampling procedure.

Participants: A snowball sampling technique was used until data saturation was met at nine participants. Inclusion criteria: English speaking, adult male or female veterans who served in combat at some time after the 9/11 attacks. Participants were required to be cognitively and emotionally able to utilize technology as well as to participate in complex interviews. Therefore, participants who reported a diagnosis of moderate to severe TBI, personality disorder, or other severe uncontrolled psychopathology were excluded from this study.

Interventions: Participants completed a demographic form followed by semi-structured interviews with the researcher that consisted of open-ended questions online via Zoom and in person. Combat service was verified by review of the veteran’s DD-214 form, which includes their career as a military transcript. The DD-214 form was presented to the researcher at the time of the interview and only viewed by the researcher in front of the participant. Interview questions focused only on the experience of the participant during transition from the military.

Main Outcome Measures: Colaizzi’s (1978) seven steps of data analysis were employed to explicate the meaning of this phenomenon through the voice of the participants that led to the creation of, and validation of themes. Trustworthiness and validation strategies were kept. In order to triangulate data, member checking of preliminary findings was offered to all participants and to non-participant gatekeepers.

Results: During the initial coding process, a clear and common timeline emerged in narrative form. The main themes that emerged from the data included: (1) Having Expectations; (2) Confronting Barriers; (3) Crisis of Identity; (4) Employing Coping Mechanisms; and (5) Filling a Void.

Conclusions: The findings from this study provide further insight for rehabilitation professionals and policy makers in addressing high suicide rates during transition from the military for combat veterans who served after 9/11.

Author(s) Disclosures: There are no conflicts to declare by any of the authors listed.