title: Civilian employment among recently returning Afghanistan and Iraq National Guard veterans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  National Guard service members face deactivation from active duty soon after they return to the United States and rapid entry into the civilian workforce; therefore, it is important to examine employment among these Veterans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 585 National Guard service members. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted examining the associations between mental health symptoms, alcohol use, number of deployments, and combat exposure with employment status and full-time versus part-time employment as outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one percent of National Guard service members were employed 45 to 60 days following demobilization. Among those who were employed, 79% were employed full-time. Age, family income, and combat exposure were associated with employment; income and health status were associated with part-time versus full-time employment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mental health status may not be strongly associated with initiating civilian employment among National Guard service members; however, better mental health status is associated with being employed full-time versus part-time.
authors.affiliation: VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burnett-Zeigler
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenstein
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilgen
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zivin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult