Veterans face stress and hardship due to the loss of identity, community, and friends, as well as the need to navigate new life decisions like job roles, regions to move to, and school choices.
Spouses share the same sacrifices and challenges as veterans, including loss of identity and community. They need to be actively involved in the transition process, making decisions together about future plans.
Preparing for the transition can reduce stress and ensure a smoother process. Veterans should treat the transition as a mission, understanding that it requires training and planning.
There are innovative resources in medicine, therapy, and healing available today. The book 'Warrior to Civilian' provides a list of these resources, encouraging veterans to seek out and utilize them.
Veterans should focus on fixing themselves first to be able to contribute fully to their families and communities. Finding a mentor who can guide them through emotional and identity challenges is crucial.
While the United States military has the most advanced training and equipment to offer our soldiers who fight for us, many times we don't prepare our brave men and women what to expect when they transition back to civilian life. The sad trend of too many soldiers committing suicide after returning home continues but there are resources and advice those leaving the military could really use. On this Veteran's Day we honor those that bravely served and also highlight the struggles they sometimes face after leaving the battlefield.
FOX’s Tonya J. Powers speaks with Lieutenant (SEAL) Rob Sarver and Alex Gendzier, co-authors of 'Warrior to Civilian: The Field Manual for the Hero's Journey', forthcoming in January 2025 (Hachette Publishing), about the difficulties many of our soldiers have with transitioning back to civilian life and the tools they have learned to help veterans with the process.
Click Here) To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition'
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)