It is vital to provide our veterans with a path and a guide to adjust to the transition of civilian life. The transition should ideally start pre and continue post-separation from duty (one-year pre/post). This readjustment period is essential. The Armed Services do provide such programs; however, they may not be wholly adequate to meet the needs of all individuals. It is necessary to keep in mind that time in the service may have been in dramatically different circumstances than others or for varying lengths of time.
This readjustment period is essential for making sure our veterans have a significant period to smoothly acclimate to civilian life, minimizing the emotional and social impact on them, given the enormity of the changes that come with living life outside of the military.
This time should incorporate tools to assist in finding employment, managing finances, work on discarding emotion “constriction” in so doing this will more easily allow veterans to re-connect with civilians. It has been noted in literature that the seeming lack of emotions been used as a survival tactic, often as a result of traumatic events. This can affect interactions with family and friends, especially in specific, potentially triggering settings.
Any life changes take time and concerted effort for anyone. However, moving from a life of structure, clearly defined roles, objectives, and responsibilities can present unique challenges. Our goal at TGFF in our Life Transition program is to create as positive and seamless an experience for the incredible men and women who have risked everything for the lives and freedom of people they do not know and will likely never meet. With this commitment in mind, our commitment is to ensure that our veterans have the best possible chance with life here at home.
More Information about the Life Transition Program and the various intake periods will be available at the end of August, 2020.