The immense value of military service is not always reflected in veterans’ experiences upon leaving the military. They often face problems related to difficulties in transitioning from military life to civilian life, which can involve navigating complex bureaucracy to accessing benefits; the effects of traumatic or moral injuries; and systemic gaps in mental health services.

Veterans’ common stressors can impact family, social, and professional relationships.

To make matters worse, many civilians may not be aware of or fully understand these unique issues. 

Mission Roll Call aims to give veterans a unified voice on issues that matter to them. Through online polls, in-person outreach across the country, and social media, we identify and highlight the unique needs of our country’s veterans to encourage greater support from legislators and among communities.

Here are the seven most common challenges U.S. veterans face:

1. Difficulties Transitioning From Active Duty to Civilian Life
2. Experiencing PTS and Gaps in Mental Health Support
3. Missing the Camaraderie, Community, and Purpose Found While Serving
4. Access to Benefits for Underserved Veterans
5. Lack of Proper Transportation for Disabled Veterans
6. Homelessness
7. Being Confronted with Veteran Stereotypes in Entertainment and Civilian Life

1. Difficulties Transitioning From Active Duty to Civilian Life

What difficulties do veterans face when transitioning from the military?

An estimated 250,000 men and women leave or retire from U.S. military service and return to civilian life each year. As of 2023, there were a reported 17.9 million former service members in the U.S. In transitioning to civilian life, navigating the VA healthcare system, finding affordable housing, and applying for jobs can present difficult challenges.

According to a Mission Roll Call poll, 85% of veterans said they felt the military transition assistance program did not prepare them well for leaving military service.

When on active duty, service members receive food and housing assistance along with comprehensive healthcare. The process of securing a job that allows them to provide for their families in the same way and assures the same kind of financial security in a new phase of life is not easy, especially for those with a service-connected disability.

Veterans can experience social and relational challenges with family and friends post-service as well. Shifting from service-related responsibilities to the demands of civilian life and new work environments is a distinct journey that others are not usually able to relate to.

The VA’s Transition Assistance Program, known as TAP, provides tools, information, and resources to service members and their loved ones to help prepare them for the transition to civilian life. Yet its broad approach to aiding veterans is not sufficient preparation in many cases.

Veteran feedback published in the Journal of Veterans Studies underscores this.

Its 2020 article exploring what a successful transition model could look like notes that more attention should be given to adjusting to “new work/educational/cultural settings, meeting family transition needs, financial management issues, procuring housing, dealing with trauma responses, or assuring that veterans truly obtain the benefits and support they need.”

Simply put, veterans would benefit from clear, comprehensive roadmaps and support for this significant life change. The VA must enhance its initiatives and programs to effectively prepare veterans.

2. Experiencing PTS and Gaps in Mental Health Support

Do veterans experience post-traumatic stress at higher rates than non-veterans?

Service members can be exposed to combat and non-combat situations that can negatively impact their mental health. This, along with systemic gaps in mental health care, can cause veterans to experience post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms at higher rates than civilians.

PTS has come to be known as the “signature wound” of veterans of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) in particular. The VA reports that 15% of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively – have experienced PTS symptoms in the past year, and 29% of veterans from these wars will experience PTS at some point in life. Part of the reason is that the GWOT saw a rise in improvised explosive devices (IED) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can elevate the risk of PTS and other mental health challenges.

For instance, an estimated 22% of all OIF and OEF combat wounds were brain injuries, which have been associated with issues such as memory loss, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. The high rates of PTS among veterans have also been connected to concerning rates of veteran suicides — though it’s only one of many issues that can contribute to self-harm or suicidal ideation.

For instance, Brown University’s 2021 Costs of War Project found that a significant number of GWOT veterans who have died by suicide did not all serve in combat roles. This suggests that the circumstances leading to their death went beyond the common dangers associated with war and could have been attributed to factors like moral wounds, mental health stigmas, and issues in military culture.

Additionally, there are systemic healthcare gaps that can prevent veterans from getting the care and support they need for PTS and other mental health conditions. RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research data shows that less than half of veterans in need of mental health services receive treatment, and less than one-third of those who do are getting proper evidence-based care.

The Biden administration announced in 2023 that veterans in suicidal crisis can now receive free emergency medical care at any VA or private care facility, even if they aren’t enrolled in the VA system.

This new policy is a step in the right direction. However, no veteran should get to that point. It will take greater coordinated efforts between Congress and the VA to address gaps in veteran mental health care and ensure veterans can receive quality care in a timely manner. Reducing appointment wait times, fixing disparities in rural communities, and expanding community care provisions should be at the forefront of that agenda.

3. Missing the Camaraderie, Community, and Purpose Found While Serving

Do veterans lose their sense of purpose once they leave the military?

Though veteran experiences are wide-ranging and not narrowly defined, transitioning from the military can be one of the most challenging life changes for an individual and family. Many service members have a sense of identity,  purpose, and camaraderie wrapped up in being part of the military, and it’s easy for that to feel strained or lost once they leave.

The Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) surveyed 10,149 military and veteran families for its 2023 report on their quality of life and support. More than 59% of military and veteran families reported experiencing feelings of loneliness – an increase from 2021’s survey. Fewer than one in five veterans still felt they had a connection to military life.

 

The unique experiences associated with leaving the military can impact service members in several ways. On one hand, there are practical challenges like securing employment, housing, and healthcare benefits, along with social factors that can make this change jarring and complex for veterans. Then there are the socio-emotional shifts: Veterans may find themselves without a sense of purpose and feeling detached from their military community. This can exacerbate the practical difficulties of adjusting to life after service, making it harder to cope with the changes. The military also provides structure that’s not often found in other work environments.

A VA-funded study on veteran social connectedness and its links to depression found that “among five forms of social connectedness, loneliness was tied to the highest levels of depression and suicide ideation, or thoughts of committing suicide. Loneliness was also associated with the lowest levels of patient efforts to manage their health and to seek help.”

In improving assistance for veterans transitioning to civilian life, adequate focus should be placed on the socio-emotional aspects of this major life change. The VA and veteran service organizations should look toward implementing effective ways to foster support systems for service members — such as community initiatives, mentoring, and connection groups — as they shift to this new chapter.

4. Access to Benefits for Underserved Veterans

What challenges do veterans face in accessing their benefits?

More than four million veterans reside in rural communities across the country. Of the more than 18 million United States veterans, nearly a quarter of them – 4.4 million – live in rural areas. 

Access to all types of care is important for rural veterans especially because many rural veterans are at an advanced age, with 54% age 65 or older. Additionally, rural veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and heart conditions. These conditions require more frequent, ongoing, and costly care.

Among rural veterans are another underserved group – Indigenous veterans, who serve in the U.S. military at higher rates than any other group. There are an estimated 160,000 Indigenous American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native veterans in the United States, and about 39% live in rural areas. 

According to the VA, tribal veterans are more likely to lack health insurance and have a disability – service-related or otherwise. Additionally, Native American health is disproportionately worse than other racial groups in the U.S., with extremely high rates of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. 

Providing comprehensive, high-quality care to underserved veterans is a challenge, leading to further health disparities among these communities.

In transitioning to civilian life, veterans can experience significant challenges when navigating the complexities of VA benefits, particularly as it relates to the VA healthcare system.

Blue Star Families’ 2023 Military Lifestyle survey found respondents named access to military/VA health care systems as one of their top concerns.

Nearly half of all veterans are unaffiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or a veteran service organization. One of these reasons is because, for many, VA facilities are backlogged or far away. 

The VA’s Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, does not adequately prepare veterans for the complexities of securing benefits nor the current pitfalls of VA care, such as long wait times and disparities in rural areas.

In fact, an April 2022 audit from the VA department’s inspector general found data on VA healthcare facilities was being reported inconsistently and in a way that conceals true wait times. And a February 2023 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that veterans living in rural areas often face unique barriers to accessing mental health care largely due to “staff shortages in rural facilities and transportation issues.”

There have been a few promising legislative steps in recent years. The VA expanded benefits eligibility to over 3.5 million veterans after the PACT Act was passed in August 2022. The VA also launched a mobile application called VA: Health and Benefits, meant to centralize veterans’ health and benefits information. The VA’s Connected Care Program seeks to bring broadband access to more rural places with limited capacity, in order to support remote virtual care.

Still, there’s significant work to be done. The VA must:

• increase awareness and better explain VA benefits prior to service members’ exit from the military;
• reduce wait times for appointments with VA providers and right-size VA inequities in underserved areas; and
• ensure veterans can receive quality care elsewhere when the VA cannot provide it in time or within a reasonable distance.

A 2023 RAND study concluded that “for veterans with limited access to a VHA facility or who are unable to access timely care, community care providers are a potentially important resource.” 

Most of all, Congress needs to provide oversight to see that the VA adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Mission Act — aimed at strengthening comprehensive healthcare for all veterans (especially those who suffer proportionately higher rates of health challenges, such as rural and tribal veterans) — and that funds are being allocated effectively.

5. Lack of Proper Transportation for Disabled Veterans

What transportation needs do veterans face, and how can we meet them?

Transportation helps connect veterans to employment, regular health care visits, support services, and other necessities that are vital to a good quality of life. Lack of access to proper transportation or the funds to secure it can be a significant hindrance to veterans accessing their basic needs.

In a Bureau of Labor and Transportation survey, nearly half of  veterans reported that they travel more than 60 miles one way to receive medical services.

A considerable number of veterans need specialized transportation as well. There are an estimated 5.27 million veterans — over one-third of the veteran population — who identify as having a disability that requires transportation assistance.

 

It’s critical that veteran benefits include comprehensive transportation assistance, especially for veterans with a service-connected disability.

In a promising step, the AUTO Act was also signed into law in early January 2023, allowing disabled veterans who need modified vehicles to receive a grant from the VA every 10 years rather than once in a lifetime.

Nevertheless, additional efforts are needed by Congress and the VA to ensure all veterans have access to proper transportation and are aware of the transportation benefits available to them. This should include periodic follow-up with recently transitioned veterans, awareness campaigns around benefits, and a review of funding allocation for veteran transportation assistance.

6. Homelessness

Do veterans experience higher rates of homelessness than nonveterans?

Veterans have a higher likelihood than nonveterans of becoming displaced from their homes. Veteran homelessness is one of the top issues of concern for U.S. veterans. In a Mission Roll Call poll of veterans nationwide, more than 90% of veterans said they do not think enough is being done to address veteran homelessness. 

The number of homeless veterans is increasing – rising more than 7% from 2022 to 2023. On an average night in 2023, 20,067 veterans were living in shelters. A staggering 15,507 veterans were living without any shelter at all.

There are also racial disparities. Black veterans are significantly overrepresented among homeless veterans, making up 31% of the homeless veteran population (but only 14% of the overall veteran population). 

A number of interconnected factors are contributing to the rise in veteran homelessness, including gaps in mental health support and the growing disparity between housing costs and income.

Government efforts to solve this crisis are being made. In 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs set goals to permanently house at least 41,000 homeless veterans and ensure that 95% of them do not return to homelessness within the year. Also in 2024, Housing and Urban Development announced nearly $3.16 billion in Continuum of Care program awards for over 7,000 projects that provide housing assistance and/or supportive services to people experiencing homelessness.

However, over $50.3 billion has been collectively spent on government programs since FY2005. Yet, veteran homelessness and hunger persist. It’s clear that money alone is not enough to fix this problem. 

Mission Roll Call advocates for more funding for community-based nonprofits and businesses that are on the frontlines of many veterans’ services. These services don’t just address homelessness specifically but also target the root causes of homelessness. These community organizations have touchpoints in the veteran community that the VA will never have.

7. Being Confronted with Veteran Stereotypes in Entertainment and Civilian Life

What are the common stereotypes about veterans, and how can we address these?

There are several stereotypes and misconceptions that can negatively impact the daily lives of veterans. A 2021 study by the University of Cincinnati looked at common stigmas veterans face. Through in-depth interviews with veterans ages 20 to 60, it found that “depictions of veterans in news media and pop culture often carry negative associations such as poor mental health or violence.”

Respondents shared that “views about military personnel are skewed by war movies that depict returning veterans as psychologically damaged by their experience” and many believed these portrayals can lead to “inappropriate and off-base comments by civilian peers.”

Yet veterans have lower unemployment rates than nonveterans, as of July 2024.

Veterans are also more likely to be civically engaged than non-veterans, and on average, veterans contribute more volunteer time in their communities than non-veterans.

And while the majority of Americans look up to people who have served in the military, there are still negative misconceptions that have permeated society.

Adding to this, and unlike other high-stress occupations such as law enforcement, medicine, or emergency response roles, veterans who enter the workforce usually aren’t surrounded by people with similar experiences and perspectives. This contributes to gaps in understanding, and they can be met with unrealistic or unfair assumptions about their capabilities.

These portrayals and misconceptions can have serious implications on veterans’ mental health, careers, social lives, and overall well-being. Workplaces, entertainers, and everyday people should be mindful of the inaccurate stereotypes impacting veterans and do all that’s within our power to put an end to them.

Bottom Line:

While some challenges for veterans may be obvious and widely discussed, there are stressors that the average person is not unaware of.  As individuals, we can show support to veterans by educating ourselves on their unique needs and challenging harmful stereotypes or stigmas. We can also volunteer with veteran nonprofits and point former service members to useful benefits, service organizations, social groups, and other resources.

Mission Roll Call is dedicated to advocating for action on each of these issues in 2024 and beyond. Through outreach, polling, storytelling, and media, we present the concerns of veterans across the country to leaders in Washington. Collectively, we can urge Congress and the VA to address these unique stressors veterans face by sending letters or emails to our congressional representatives. Join us to add your voice to the conversation. 

It’s time for effective solutions to these solvable issues. We must ensure our courageous veterans and their families have access to the benefits they’ve earned and the basic essentials for a good quality of life.