For Those Who Served the Mission Continues: Veteran Integration Back into Civilian Life via Higher Education after Military Service

Veteran integration back into society from military service is a lingering social problem due to the lack of research surrounding the issues that many veterans face today in regards to emotional stability. After time spent in combat zones many veterans are facing psychological issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and physical disabilities but these are only some of the problems veterans face since many of them chose to pursue higher education after their military service. How can we help veterans integrate back into civilian life through higher education after military service? This research conducts in-depth interviews with student veterans to obtain information on what problems they are in fact experiencing reintegrating back into society and to learn the effectiveness of available programs designed to help them. The research expects to find unique problems that student veterans have in transitioning back into society through higher education and the reasons why some available programs prove effective while other do not. This research seeks to make an important contribution towards designing support systems that are as effective as possible for higher education initiatives for veterans that are increasingly funded by federal programs such as the “new G.I. Bill” – the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.