Each year, more than 200,000 service members transition to civilian life. After years, or even decades, in uniform, adjusting to civilian life and finding a new career can be a confusing and difficult process.

Visible and invisible service-connected disabilities make that transition even more challenging. Veterans may return home managing physical injuries, chronic conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), hearing loss or other service-connected disabilities. These challenges can change where veterans work, the types of jobs they pursue and the support they need to build sustainable careers after service.

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we must confront the persistent disparities impacting veterans’ ability to work and thrive after service. Veterans should have sustained access to the benefits, healthcare and employment resources that help them build stable lives, careers and independence as they transition from military service to civilian life.

Service-Connected Disabilities Impact Life Long After Service

When veterans transition out of the military, they leave behind a highly structured environment, established routines, close-knit teams and a clear sense of purpose and responsibilities. Veterans have to navigate employment, healthcare, benefits, finances, family responsibilities and new communities, all while figuring out what they want their new life to look like.

In one Mission Roll Call survey, nearly half of veterans and family members reported feeling unprepared for the military-to-civilian transition and the challenges that come with it. Managing one or multiple service-connected disabilities adds yet another responsibility to that load.

Today, 6.3 million veterans live with a VA-rated disability. Of those veterans, 2.5 million live with a 50% to 90% disability rating and 1.8 million live with a 100% disability rating. While every veteran’s experience is different, service-connected disabilities change how they approach work and the environments that fit their daily lives.

Some conditions are visible. Musculoskeletal injuries, burns or scarring, loss of vision or hearing, injuries requiring amputation, spinal cord injuries or joint damage can affect mobility, physical capacity and the types of jobs a veteran can perform comfortably and safely. For instance, a veteran with a back or joint injury may need a job that lets them spend less time on their feet throughout the day, while someone with a neurological or respiratory condition may need to plan around symptoms that surface in their day-to-day life.

Other service-connected disabilities are less apparent. Conditions including PTSD, anxiety, depression, Military Sexual Trauma (MST), hypervigilance, traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraines or nerve damage can affect concentration, sleep, communication, relationships, emotional well-being and daily routines. Employers and coworkers may not always recognize these challenges, especially when a veteran’s disability is not immediately visible. A veteran may appear to be adjusting well while quietly navigating symptoms that affect their day-to-day life

Learn More About Service-Connected Injuries and on Mission Roll Call’s Priority Spotlight Page.

Employment Helps Build Stability After Service

A job can provide the structure, financial stability, community connection and renewed sense of purpose that veterans need as they build their lives after service. Employment gives veterans a place to use the leadership, teamwork, problem-solving and specialized skills they developed in the military. A steady career can also help veterans regain a sense of independence as they take on new responsibilities and make decisions about their future outside the military.

But getting there can be difficult. Veterans with a service-connected disability face an unemployment rate of 6.4%, much higher than 3.4% of unemployed veterans without a disability. An MRC poll on transition assistance also found that only 19% of nearly 5,000 veterans reported receiving transition assistance from a local nonprofit, business or community provider. This is far too low and stops talented, skilled veterans from entering the workforce, gaining financial stability and contributing to their communities. Veterans must translate years of military experience into language civilian employers understand while navigating applications, career websites and interviews that may not always be accessible.

The right support can make all the difference, and sometimes, that starts with knowing where to look. For instance, the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is a comprehensive program that helps veterans with disabilities with resume development, job-seeking skills, training and coaching. State and community-based programs also offer specialized programs that help veterans with service-connected disabilities find employment, train for new careers and request workplace accommodations.

Transition Support Doesn’t Look the Same for Every Veteran. Find the Right Support For Your Needs.

Mission Roll Call’s Veteran Resource Directory brings together hundreds of programs and resources that help veterans navigate life after service. Resources span employment, service-connected disability support, healthcare, housing, education, mental health, financial assistance, family support and other areas that affect a veteran’s transition.

Veterans looking for transition-specific assistance can search the directory using keywords such as “Employment” or “Transition” to find organizations and programs focused on career development, job placement, education and other services.

Employers also need to recognize the skills, experience and expertise veterans with disabilities bring to the workplace. People with conditions and disabilities aren’t less talented or valuable than employees without disabilities, and a service-connected condition should never overshadow a veteran’s qualifications or limit their ability to contribute.

Continued investment in these services, along with stronger connections among employers, nonprofits, workforce agencies and veteran-serving organizations, can help more veterans build stable careers after service.

What Effective Transition Support Looks Like

Transition support needs to continue throughout veterans’ lives. Veterans living with service-connected disabilities may need continued medical care, rehabilitation, therapy, medication or mental health services years after leaving the military. Consistent access to those services can help veterans better manage their health, continue thriving in their new careers and remain active in their communities.

While helpful resources such as Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) exist to help veterans whose physical or mental health challenges affect their ability to work through vocational counseling, job training and supportive work placements, and important legislation such as the PACT Act has expanded access to care and benefits, veterans still need continued support.

Whether that looks like advocating for bills, including the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act – a comprehensive legislative package that addresses multiple disability and support programs, including the Major Richard Star Act – or supporting community organizations that help veterans with service-connected disabilities navigate employment, healthcare, benefits and daily life, we need to keep advancing work that reaches veterans who need support now.

Mission Roll Call will continue advocating for improved access to care and services, supporting caregivers and families and bringing greater attention to visible and invisible injuries that too often go overlooked.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month reminds us that supporting veterans with service-connected disabilities also requires supporting their ability to participate fully in the workforce, and that successful reintegration depends on sustained support that helps veterans manage their conditions, access the care and benefits they need, pursue careers and build stable lives after service.

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Mission Roll Call exists to amplify the voices of veterans and their families. Have a question, want to share your story, priorities or offer feedback? We’d love to hear from you. Your input helps us identify and address the most pressing issues for veterans and their families.