The war goes on, it doesn’t go away, even when we don’t see it on the news feeds. Our defenders die and are wounded every day on the front lines, every day they save our future at the cost of their health and lives. But there is another struggle that is often forgotten – it is the battle of veterans for their place in peaceful life. And this struggle does not begin after the end of the war, but already now, while their brothers remain at the front.
Veterans returning home find themselves on a new battlefield – psychological and social. Peaceful life meets them with indifference, unpreparedness and, worst of all, lack of support. The state and society have not yet created an adequate infrastructure for the reintegration of those who have already given part of themselves for our lives. Rehabilitation programs, employment, medical assistance – all this, as a rule, does not look systematic and are only partial measures that do not solve the general problem.
Many veterans, returning home, face the problem of social isolation. They are not understood, their experience is foreign to those who have never seen war. Many of them cannot find a job because of stereotypes or because of the lack of opportunities to acquire new professional skills. And what hurts the most is that help is not always provided when it is most needed – in the first months of return.
The war leaves its mark on the soul of everyone who went through it. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common problems among veterans. Pain, memories, night terrors, guilt and anxiety haunt them for years. And at this time, help should be as accessible and professional as possible. But is our society ready to provide such support?
Unfortunately, the answer is often no. Psychological support for veterans is still underdeveloped, access to qualified professionals is limited, and the topic of PTSD is still perceived as something distant and irrelevant. However, veterans need help now, not in a few years, when the trauma takes root more deeply and develops into more serious problems.
Another critical issue is the employment of veterans. Returning to a peaceful life, they often feel useless and rejected. Those skills that were useful in war do not always find application in peaceful reality. However, society needs to understand that veterans are not just former soldiers. These are people with great life experience, discipline and inner strength who can become drivers of changes in a peaceful life.
The creation of special programs for retraining and employment of veterans should become a priority for the state and business. This is not just social responsibility – it is an investment in the future of the country. Each veteran who successfully integrates into society is not only a thank you for his service, but also new opportunities for the development of the entire state.
Historical experience of returning veterans to peaceful life
The history of returning veterans to peaceful life after wars has always been complex and ambiguous. Each era, each war brought its own characteristics to this process, but the general challenges remained similar: physical and psychological trauma, employment problems, social isolation and the need for support from society.
After the end of the First World War in 1918, Europe was faced with a huge number of veterans returning from the battlefields. Most of them were physically and psychologically wounded, because it was the first war that revealed new forms of violence – chemical weapons, trench warfare, mass destruction.
The governments of many countries tried to provide veterans with various forms of compensation: pensions, medical care, rehabilitation programs. In Great Britain and France, for example, organizations were created that engaged in the employment of veterans, providing them with work at state-owned enterprises. However, most veterans could not quickly adapt to peaceful life. Society saw them as heroes, but at the same time distanced itself from them due to fear of their mental and physical injuries. Many veterans suffered from the so-called “shot-down syndrome,” now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. But in those days, no one knew what kind of psychological support to provide. Therefore, the majority either sought relief in alcohol or ended their lives by suicide.
After World War II, states did more to support veterans. The program “G.I. Bill” in the USA, which provided veterans with preferential conditions for obtaining education, employment and housing loans. This gave millions of American veterans the opportunity to acquire new professions, start their own businesses or receive higher education, which positively affected the economic growth of the country in the postwar years.
In post-World War II Europe, the situation was also difficult, especially for those returning to destroyed towns and villages. For many veterans, especially in the USSR, life after the war became a great challenge. Despite numerous promises from the state, many veterans did not receive adequate assistance. Many of them had to return to hard physical labor or live in impoverished conditions.
A special example is the veterans of the Vietnam War in the United States. Unlike previous wars, they met with no recognition or gratitude. On the contrary, society, which was politically and ideologically divided by an unpopular war, met them with indifference and sometimes hostility. Veterans were returning to a country where they were blamed for the war, not honored as heroes. This has led to a huge number of psychological problems, high unemployment among veterans and social isolation. Although the government has introduced a number of programs to support veterans, including health care and social benefits, many have been left on the sidelines. It was only decades after the war that American society began to recognize the trauma of these veterans and provide them with adequate support.
After the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the 2000s, many countries, including the United States and NATO countries, began to change their approach to the return of veterans. Recognition of PTSD as a serious problem has led to the development of new psychological rehabilitation programs. States have begun to invest more heavily in programs for veterans, including education, employment and support for starting their own businesses.
However, even these measures were not always sufficient. Many veterans still face difficulties in reintegration into society, social isolation, unemployment and uncertainty about the future. Returning from the war, where their mission was clear and understandable, they feel emptiness and loss of meaning in peaceful life.
The experience of foreign countries as a model for planning one’s own system of adaptation of veterans
The stories of past wars show that returning veterans to peaceful life is always a huge challenge both for the veterans themselves and for society. Although every state is taking steps to support its veterans, it is imperative that such efforts are systematic and long-lasting. The experience of foreign countries can serve as an example for other states facing similar challenges.
The United States has one of the most developed veteran support systems in the world. The aforementioned program “G.I. Bill”, which provided World War II veterans with preferential conditions for education, housing loans and employment support, had its positive consequences. This program has given millions of veterans the opportunity to successfully reintegrate into peaceful life, acquire new professions and even start their own businesses. In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs operates in the United States, which provides a wide range of services – from medical care and psychological support to financial benefits and social programs. Special attention is paid to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and ensuring access to medical care through specialized hospitals for veterans. There are also employment programs, including help in starting your own business.
It is worth remembering that no system can be flawless. Therefore, the US system of adaptation measures also has its shortcomings. Even today, many American veterans face problems of unemployment, homelessness and psychological difficulties. But the US government responds quickly to problems and knows how to listen to its citizens. And that’s why it’s constantly creating opportunities for access to education and employment for veterans through new programs and funding.
In the UK, there is a strong focus on transition programs that help veterans prepare to return to civilian life before their service ends. The “Career Transition Partnership” program provides advice, training and support in finding a job. This program was created to ensure a smooth transition from military service to a civilian career.
There are also a number of charities in the UK, such as Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion, which provide financial, psychological and medical assistance to veterans and their families. They also rehabilitate servicemen who have been seriously injured during service.
Israel is a country with a constant threat of military conflicts, so the issue of adaptation of veterans is extremely relevant for this country. Veterans who have been injured or suffer from PTSD have access to special medical centers, such as the Rehabilitation Center at Tel a Shomer. There they are provided with full medical, physical and psychological rehabilitation.
The Israeli system also provides social and professional support for veterans. For this, there are retraining programs, career counseling and financial benefits. The state ensures adaptation of veterans to new professions and helps them return to normal life.
In Germany, veterans receive significant support from the state. After completing their service, the military can take advantage of programs to acquire a new profession, which includes financial assistance for training and retraining. The state also provides veterans with housing and medical services, including rehabilitation for those who have been injured. A particularly important aspect in Germany is the integration of veterans into society. The government and community organizations are actively working to ensure that veterans feel a part of civilian life, rather than feeling isolated by their service. The German system also pays attention to the psychological support of veterans and their family members.
The Ministry of Veterans Affairs operates in Australia, which provides comprehensive assistance to veterans. Special emphasis is placed on psychological support and treatment of PTSD, as this problem was recognized as one of the key ones after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Australian system also provides retraining programs to help veterans acquire new vocational skills. There are special study grants and financial benefits for those who want to start their own business.
In Canada, veterans have access to the “Veterans Affairs Canada” program, which provides them with medical assistance, pensions, psychological support and opportunities for professional adaptation. The program includes support when transitioning to new jobs, educational grants and scholarships for further studies. Canada also has a Veteran Family Program system that helps not only veterans, but also their family members to integrate into peaceful life, providing psychological support, counseling and social security services.
As we can see, the experience of foreign countries shows that the reintegration of veterans is a long-term process that requires a systematic approach and close cooperation between state institutions and public organizations. Society also plays not the last role in this process.
What should the state do now?
Waiting until a war is over to begin caring for veterans is a mistake that can be very costly. Veterans are returning today, they are already here, among us. And they already need our support. To wait is to lose time and people. Without adequate support, veterans risk being sidelined, which can lead to new social problems: unemployment, depression, conflict and increased crime.
We, as a society, should not only honor heroes, but also create conditions for their return to normal life. This means not only physical, but also moral and social rehabilitation. Opening doors to new opportunities, providing access to education, helping with employment and psychological support are the steps that should be taken today. State veteran policy will be developed on the basis of a special strategy and corresponding changes to the legislation. The government should be guided By Presidential Decree of Ukraine from August 22, 2024, to urgently approve the Veterans Policy Strategy for the period until 2030 and the plan of measures for its implementation. The transition from military service to civilian life should be accomplished by providing veterans with services that will engage them in non-military employment. Employment of veterans should be ensured in those areas where skilled workers with skills acquired during service are needed.
Currently, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs is working on a Strategy for the formation of a transition system from military service to civilian life. Thanks to this strategy, all opportunities will be created for servicemen and veterans to restore their health and receive appropriate educational services, to purchase housing or start their own business. The implementation of this strategy should be aimed at developing inclusive approaches in society and creating a barrier-free environment in all regions and spheres of social and economic life.
It is clear that the process of developing such a global strategy requires deep analysis, clear organizational and management activities. All this will take a lot of time, and therefore you should not wait for the end of the war. It is necessary to act in advance.
The war will leave its mark on each of us. But it is how we meet and support veterans that will determine our readiness for the future. Their new start is not just a reboot of their personal life, it is also our responsibility. Creating favorable conditions for the adaptation of veterans today is an investment in a stable and prosperous tomorrow for all of us.
War does not end with the last shot or the signing of a peace treaty. The war continues in the hearts and minds of those who have passed through it. Veterans returning home today already face a new front – one of adjusting to a life that will never be the same again. They are our heroes who deserve more than just thanks. They need our support now.
To wait for the end of the war to start acting is to lose precious time and the opportunity to give veterans a chance for a fresh start. Their struggle for a peaceful life takes place here and now. It needs not only state programs, but also our attention, understanding and willingness to help.
Veterans should already feel today that their return is not the end, but the beginning of a new page. We cannot afford to delay. They do not wait for the future – they fight for it now. And our help, our action is what can change their lives for the better.
