Open AccessUsing military friendships to optimize postdeployment reintegration for male Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans
Author(s) -
Ramon Hinojosa,
Melanie Sberna Hinojosa
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of rehabilitation research and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1938-1352
pISSN - 0748-7711
DOI - 10.1682/jrrd.2010.08.0151
Subject(s) - active duty , software deployment , military personnel , military organization , unit (ring theory) , military medicine , psychology , military deployment , duty , military psychology , focus group , political science , sociology , law , engineering , ancient history , mathematics education , software engineering , anthropology , history
Social relationships are important to health out comes. The postdeployment family reintegration literature focuses on the role of the civilian family in facilitating the transition from Active Duty military deployment to civilian society. The focus on the civilian family relationship may miss other important personal connections in veterans' lives. One such connection is the relationship many veterans have with former military unit members who served with them when deployed. Drawing on interviews with male Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans conducted from 2008 to 2009, we argue that the members of a military unit, especially during armed conflict, should be considered a resource to help the "family" reintegration process rather than impede it. This research has implications for current reintegration policy and how best to assist veterans transitioning into civilian society.