Publication year
2015
Citation Title
Homecoming of soldiers who are citizens: Re-employment and financial status of returning Army National Guard soldiers from Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Journal Name
Work
Journal Volume
50
Issue Number
1
Page Numbers
85-96
DOI
10.3233/WOR-131794
Summary
Survey data were used to examine the relationships between employment, financial difficulties, social support, and general adjustment among Army National Guard Soldiers after returning from deployment. Although few Guard Soldiers reported financial strain, negative experiences during and after deployment were most linked to financial difficulties. Among Guard Soldiers who reported financial strain after deployment, not having resumed their pre-deployment job was most associated with financial difficulties.
Key Findings
Few Guard Soldiers experienced financial difficulties during (7%) or (12%) after deployment.
Of the Guard Soldiers who reported financial difficulties during and after deployment (6%), not having resumed pre-deployment employment was strongly linked to financial difficulties.
Guard Soldiers who had the most financial difficulties after deployment also reported more negative experiences during and after deployment (e.g., loss of significant others, being angry and frustrated).
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide workshops to Service members and their families to help them learn about available employment and financial services
Disseminate information regarding how deployment can influence military families’ financial stability and employment opportunities
Educate military couples regarding how financial issues can negatively affect the psychological well-being of families and discuss positive ways to cope with financial stressors
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support financial literacy programs for Service members and their families
Encourage collaboration between DoD programs and community-based employers to support and maintain job positions for Service members while they are deployed
Recommend education for service providers regarding how to recognize financial distress among Service members and their families
Methods
Data were taken from a screening inventory, which Soldiers voluntarily complete within 60-90 days after returning from deployment.
Participants completed questions related to problem behaviors (e.g., suicidal thoughts), deployment stressors (e.g., financial issues), perceived social support, and deployment information (e.g., location of deployment).
Soldiers were grouped into four different categories based on their survey responses regarding employment and post-deployment financial hardships.
Participants
The sample (n = 4,567) was comprised of Army National Guard Soldiers primarily deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom (83.5%) or Operation Enduring Freedom (15.7%).
Most Soldiers had one deployment (65%) in the last year; the majority of deployments (90%) were 7-12 months long.
No other demographic information (i.e., gender or race) was provided.
Limitations
No background or personal characteristics were used when analyzing data, and it’s possible that the results may have been different if those characteristics were included in the analyses.
The sample only included Guard Soldiers and may not be generalizable to Active Duty Soldiers.
Guard Soldiers self-selected to participate in the study and there may be a selection bias where participants with the least amount of distress volunteered for the study.
Avenues for Future Research
Explore how background characteristics and personal factors (e.g., race, gender) contribute to financial stress for Guard Soldiers after deployment
Examine the influence social support has on rates of post-deployment employment among Guard Soldiers
Conduct studies on the impact of unemployment on children’s outcomes in Guard Soldiers’ families
Focus
Army
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
This study examined civilian employment among Army National Guard soldiers who had recently returned from Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF). Of specific interest were relationships of re-employment and financial difficulties to several conditions, such as amount of social support during and after deployment, combat exposure, negative feelings during and after deployment, and postdeployment adjustment symptoms. Survey data from the Army’s Reintegration Unit Risk Inventory were used (4,546 soldiers in 50 units who were deployed during 2010). Few soldiers reported financial difficulties during deployment (7.1% of the sample) and after having returned (11.8%). Of those who reported postdeployment financial difficulties, nearly one-half had reported such difficulties during deployment, and not having resumed the predeployment job was associated with more postdeployment financial difficulties. Logistic regression analyses showed the relative contribution of the study variables to changed financial status, from deployment to postdeployment. Reported deployment support (e.g., trust in the unit chain-of-command and available support) was associated with decreased financial difficulties. In contrast, increased financial difficulties were associated with having seen others wounded or killed in combat. Other postdeployment experiences, such as feelings of anger and frustration and available support, were associated with increased financial difficulties, in addition to alcohol use, trouble sleeping and suicidal thoughts. Implications of results for policy and practice to lessen financial hardships and job loss associated with deployment are discussed.
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