The military to civilian transition: Exploring experiences of transitions to ‘Civvy Street’ and implications for the self

Abstract: The aim of the current research was to explore veterans’ experiences of the military to civilian transition, specifically focussing on the role of their sense of self. Twenty military veterans were interviewed through semi-structured interviews and asked about their experiences of transition. In answering the question “What is the role of the self in navigating transition into civvy street?”, three themes were generated using reflexive thematic analysis: (a) Destabilising Individualism: People should be standing by their word, and they’re not; (b) Re-negotiating the Self: Extracting what I needed from the forces to get me forward now; and (c) Forging a Self-Understanding. This article provided insight into the challenges and complexities that are faced by military veterans as they negotiate their transition. Several implications were discussed including a need for greater recognition of the challenges and a need for greater connectedness through community practices.

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