title: Using military friendships to optimize postdeployment reintegration for male Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans.
abstract: Social relationships are important to health out comes. The postdeployment family reintegration literature focuses on the role of the civilian family in facilitating the transition from Active Duty military deployment to civilian society. The focus on the civilian family relationship may miss other important personal connections in veterans' lives. One such connection is the relationship many veterans have with former military unit members who served with them when deployed. Drawing on interviews with male Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans conducted from 2008 to 2009, we argue that the members of a military unit, especially during armed conflict, should be considered a resource to help the "family" reintegration process rather than impede it. This research has implications for current reintegration policy and how best to assist veterans transitioning into civilian society.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, 1601 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA. ramon.hinojosa@va.gov
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hinojosa
authors.forename: Melanie Sberna
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hinojosa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005195:Family Relations; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult