National Science Foundation: Assessing the Impact of Military Service on Our Returning Veterans

Jay Teachman and his colleagues from Western Washington University studied employment, health and the family life of veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War and the most recent military eras to learn how they had adjusted to civilian life. Patterns emerged that detailed disadvantages in educational and occupational trajectories compared to civilian peers. These gaps diminished over time but they vary significantly by military branch, length of service and demographic group. [2:59]