Using military friendships to optimize postdeployment reintegration for male Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans

Interview data from Reserve and Army National Guard men deployed in support of OIF/OEF were examined to explore the importance of military friendships during and after deployment. Qualitative analyses revealed that military friendships helped Service members deal with deployment, and that these friendships were missed post-deployment. Also, findings indicated that many of the men reported difficulty maintaining their military friendships post-deployment.