Abstract
Increased deployments to combat operation areas have resulted in veterans transitioning from the military in more significant numbers. Likewise, African American veterans are also leaving the military in higher numbers. Transition assistance training is necessary to prepare these veterans for higher education and civilian employment since these are the most likely destinations for the successful transition of this population of veterans. Transition Goals, Plans, Success Program (Transition GPS) prepares military personnel for the transition back to civilian life. Transition GPS focuses on helping military personnel to become career-ready through mandatory curriculum-based training in a classroom setting before departing the military for civilian life. This study aims to understand better the transition experiences of African American veterans, their participation in the Transition GPS program, and the challenges they face obtaining employment and higher education after military service. Moreover, higher education is vital for the self-improvement and economic stability of African American veterans. The participants for this study were six African American veterans who served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Army National Guard. Each participant served in their respective branch of the military for 20 years or more. Veterans in this study highlighted the challenges they faced during their transition from the military to civilian life and acknowledged the importance of higher education. The themes that emerged are representative of the participants’ life experiences, military transition experiences, and demonstrates higher education’s role in a successful transition. The participants expressed the importance of family during their transitions, but they need help to better understand civilian careers and employment before leaving the military. Furthermore, African American veterans need career counseling to help them understand their transition experiences and help to prepare an adequate resume that translates their military skills into a civilian job match.
Highlights
Military service is one of the most accessible means for young Americans to gain skills and employment experience
“Disposable Heroes: The Betrayal of African American Veterans,” Fleury-Steiner (2012) discussed several presidents and the political systems which implemented and made decisions aiding in African American veterans leaving the military for a socio-economic condition in distress
As African American veterans leave the military, transition assistance training and career counseling should be the first steps in their path to a successful reintegration into civilian life
Summary
Military service is one of the most accessible means for young Americans to gain skills and employment experience. A serious impact comes from more significant numbers of veterans transitioning out of the military services as a result of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. As of 2012 approximately 200,000 veterans were projected to transition out of the military to the civilian sector every year (Anderson & Goodman, 2014). These wars have led to African American veterans leaving the military service in higher numbers as compared to other veterans (Ottley, 2014). Anderson, Goodman, and Schlossberg (2012) found 51 percent of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan reported their transition and adjustment to civilian life was complicated. The transition to civilian life for military veterans is a complicated and challenging task. Anderson, Goodman, and Schlossberg (2012) found 51 percent of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan reported their transition and adjustment to civilian life was complicated. Zogas (2017) found 61 percent to 68 percent of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan reported their transition
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