From Soldier to Civilian: Redefining Identity and Purpose After Serving in the Militar

Veterans experience a loss in personal identity while acclimating from their military identity into their civilian identity. Soldiers returning home from war are put into a state of cultural survival upon reentering life outside the military. Veterans of the Gulf War and Global War on Terrorism come home to an isolating transition into society. The loss of daily comradeship from their time in active duty aids in leading to this lost sense of identity. The soldier's relationships, job, and general purpose become reexamined causing the soldier to essentially start over. The transition back to civilian life for the Gulf War and GWOT Veterans closely mimics the experiences of veterans from the Korean War.;While all returning veterans face transitions coming home, the level of support during their transitions has wavered. Veterans of WWI, WWII, and Vietnam found strength in active groups. The veterans of WWI, WWII, and Vietnam managed to maintain a level of comradeship during their transitions back into civilian life. This level of comradeship is a reflection of the cultural times in which the veterans returned home. The Korean War, Gulf War, and GWOT soldiers returned to a society focused on the individual.