Running Head: Impact Military Experience has on Adulthood and Aging

Impact Military Experience has on Adulthood and Again

Elyse Acompanado

Loras College
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Nearly half of all men over the age of 65 have life courses shaped by military experience

or war time. It has been found that veterans often experience physical and psychological health

problems late in life. That is because most of the research done on military experience focuses on

the negative outcomes service members experience in the aging process. These studies primarily

look at the short-term negative consequences on the mental and physical injuries of service

members deployed in warzones. However, there are studies that identify the positive outcomes

and benefits military experience can provide throughout life. For a time, military experience has

been a hidden variable in adulthood and aging that deserves further exploration. It is important to

examine not only the negative outcomes but also positive outcomes in the aging process.

First it is important to understand the lens researchers take on the life-span view of

military service. There are five different principles that where identified by Avron Spiro III,

Richard A. Settersten, and Carolyn M. Aldwin, in 2016 as they wished to propose a conceptual

model for examining the long-term outcomes of military service for aging veterans. The

principles include;

1. Effects of military services are lifelong

2. The effects of service reverberate throughout life

3. Military service leads to both gains and loses

4. Effects of service are experienced within a matrix of social relationships that can protect

veterans or create risks for them overtime

5. Effects occur within and are affected by sociohistorical context, changes over time (Spiro

et al., 2016).
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Throughout the paper these principles will be examined in context of the research found on the

impact military experience has on aging.

Psychologist understand that events in one’s past leave an impact throughout the life of a

person. Different environmental variables impact who a person is and in turn effect their life.

Military experience is one of these events that includes different pathways to service and post-

military pathways that has a lasting effect on life. Those who created the five principles on the

life-span view Spiro, Settersten, and Aldwin, who developed the five principles, also created

individual life span models in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Model of long-term outcomes of military service. (Spiro et al., 2016)

The model establishes a person’s life trajectory within the sociohistorical context. The main

body of the figure represents their military career and what potentially led them to join the

military. It is important to note both the potential positives and negatives in military experience.
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These experiences can then lead to different post-military pathways as they transition to

adulthood. This shows that the effects of military experience are lifelong.

One research article looked into the life disruption and related cost to the life-course patterns

in family, work, and health by Glen H Elder, Michael J Shanahan, and Elizabeth Colerick Clipp.

This longitudinal study began data collection in 1922 under the direction of Lewis Terman,

professor at Stanford University. Questionnaires were administered by mail on four different

occasions (1922, 1928, 1936, and 1940). These preliminary letters focused on different matters

of family, education, and work. Then in 1945 and 1950 the main focus was on their military

experiences. The authors found that the late-mobilized men (those who already transitioned to

adulthood) were at greatest risk of negative trajectories on physical health (Elder et. al., 1994).

Work-life disadvantages account in part for this health effect.

Another research article found looked into why there are higher ratings of female

servicemembers who have service connected disability than male counterparts by Gary Shaheen.

The research focused on 9/11 adult female veterans with service related disabilities and how

transitioned to civilian life. The research found that transition can occur not only in changes to

environments and roles, but intrinsically as well as young females negotiate their way from

civilian to military and back again to civilian identities. Respondents offered that the military

lifestyle and its requirements combined with the physical and psychological resources required

often made them feel more mature than their civilian peers (Shaheen, 2018). However, some

described how their civilian goal attainment felt as if it was off-time compared to that of their

civilian peers. This highlights the fact that one’s vocation is constantly changing as service

member have to adapt coming back to civilian life. Respondent identified that they felt they

needed to catch up in education and employment. They also commented that their military
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experience helped them to better focus on their post-military goals although most admitted that

they were having a hard time fitting back into civilian life. As seen through the life span models

the respondents homecoming led to both positives and negatives. Through the help of Veterans

Affairs (VA) more positives can be made to help transition planning and post-military service

supports should be customized specifically to address the needs of female servicemembers with

disabilities, oriented towards preparing them to resume their civilian lives after exiting the

military institution.

Although this only part of the story that is relevant to tell in relation to the needs and

provisions for aging veterans. The effects of military service reverberate throughout the life

course. Therefore, it is essential that there are careful consideration of the VA benefits and

services available to and used by veterans in the past and present (Wilmoth and London, 2011).

The use of the VA can help promote positive life course outcomes as they help with

social/economic well-being, physical health, mental health, disabilities, mortality, and healthcare

use. One long term longitudinal study of life satisfaction found that life satisfaction behaves in a

complex, nonlinear manner over time (Mroczek and Spiro, 2005). This shows that life

satisfaction may not improve with age like other aspects of well-being. Also life satisfaction

changes with age, it increases to about age 65 and then declines. Not everyone changes and in

the amount of curvature do to different genes and environmental factors. These changes factors

can then play into the impact nature and nurture hold on the probability of mental disorders. The

help and resources provided by the VA can help with life satisfaction as they provide services to

those with mental illnesses.

As stated previously military service leads to both gains and losses. Throughout the life-span

model it is understood that military pathways led to three different points of interest. These
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interests are midlife experience, military benefits, and midlife outcomes. All of these can lend

themselves to different outcomes either positive or negative. Some of these positives directly

attributable to military benefits and public policies such as the GI Bill as this bill facilitates

educational and economic gains (Spiro et. al., 2016). Others include personal developmental

gains including autonomy, emotional maturity and resilience, mastery, and leadership skills, that

lead to better health and well-being in later life (Spiro et. al., 2016). It is important to understand

that these long-term effects vary across persons, change over time within persons, and often

reflect processes of cumulative advantage and disadvantage.

Be that as it may there are still negative outcome that come from military service. Some

serve members do experience post-military pathways that include stress or trauma. This then

leads to poor midlife outcomes in physical health and mental health. While PTSD from military

experience has negative effects later in life there is also posttraumatic growth (PTG). The PTG

stems from stressors and includes higher levels of mastery and social support and better coping

skills and health (Spiro et. al., 2016). Also the different economic and social climate usually lead

to negative outcomes which will be discussed further in sociohistorical context. Other negatives

include identity conflict, threats to income, family stability, risk of homelessness substance abuse

for females who had disabilities (Shaheen, 2018).

The effects of military service are experienced within a matric of social relationship that can

either protect or create risks. When service members are on deployment they form a strong social

network with the network of other service members around them. As they come home their

social network changes because now they are with their family. In order to have a healthy

transition back home, it is import for service members and family members reconnect and be
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able to share how they are feeling. Family members need to educated on what to expect when

their service member comes back home to ensure positive interactions and outcomes later in life.

In a Story Corps father and son, Ernesto Rodriguez and Sebastian Rodriguez, talk about their

homecoming (Story Corps, 2016). The message from this recording was about reconnecting with

home life after being deployed. There are many difficulties on coming back home that can not

only affect the present but the future. Ernesto was struggling with having the right outlook when

he came back home from deployment. His life was going through the major change of

homecoming as well as divorce. He needed time to also readjust to life as a civilian to feel

belonged and find his purpose. Many veterans deal with stress related to military family life or

challenges that are common in families. The most important tool to use is communication

(Family and Relationships, n. d.). Even though it can be hard during this time of change not

communicating during challenging experiences may cause more trouble down the road. This

article stressed the importance of reaching out to family and friends as it is essential to one's

well-being. Putting loved ones first can be done by prioritizing family and working on the

connections between family members can help one's well-being.

There is also research that military service has important effects on family formation,

including the timing of marriage and parenthood, family structure, and the influence of military

culture on families. Family formation among servicemen and women is earlier and more stable

than among civilians of the same age (Kelty et. al., 2010). This research implicates that the

military's success in facilitating the transition to adulthood for young men and women there can

be policy adaptations made.

In addition, there are positive and negative outcomes effected by the homecoming service

members experience in sociohistorical context. These differences are clear between World War
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II and the Vietnam War. For World War II veterans, they come back home to be more actively

integrated into the labor force and civil life when returning (Spiro, 2016). While veterans of the

Korean War came into different political and public sentiments (Spiro, 2016). Moreover,

different pathways that link stress and physical decline are discussed in relation to social

disruption (Elder et. al., 1994). Many service members were not able to express their troubles

and burdens as this was not the norm of the time. Most veterans were expected to get on with

their lives and thus learned to keep their experience to themselves. They were not able to share

their deep feelings of anger and bitterness about the war's personal effect. A common theme

throughout the research is that males do not feel comfortable with sharing their emotions and

experiences.

In one such story, veteran Jesse shares his story about treating his depression that cam from

his military service through the Make The connection campaign. At first Jess could not accept

that he was suffering from depression, he was in denial. He comments that male family of his

who had war experience did not suffer from depression so he should not either (Make The

Connection, 2011). This video brings about the idea of how boxes, or the norms of society,

confine males to not expressing themselves. Jess was not able to express his emotions as he

learned not to growing up and deemed it unmanly. Then because of his environment he denied

his feelings since depression was not something men are supposed to have. This then lead him to

express himself through actions like violence. Through the help of the VA he was about to start

opening up and sharing his experience. He said it was most beneficial to be around other

veterans as they understood so it was easier to let it out.

In conclusion when looking at the impact military experience has on adulthood and aging one

must use five principles. First that the effects of military services are lifelong. Second that the
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effects of service continue throughout life. Third military service lead to gains and losses. Fourth

the effect of service is experienced within a matrix of social relationship that can protect of

create risks for veteran. Finally, fifth the effects occur within and are affected by sociohistorical

context. These provide both the potential for positive and negative outcomes for service

members later in life. This paper highlights the importance for public policy to keep up with the

changes on aging veteran. As more studies are done there will be growth in knowledge about the

hidden gem of military experience on adulthood and aging.

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Reference

Elder, G. H., Shanahan, M. J., & Clipp, E. C. (1994). When war comes to men's lives: Life-

course Patterns in Family, Work, and Health. Psychology and Aging, 9(1), 5-16.

doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.loras.edu/10.1037/0882-7974.9.1.5

Family and Relationships. (n. d.). Retrieved from

https://maketheconnection.net/events/family-relationships

Kelty, R., Kleykamp, M.A., & Segal, D.R. (2010). The military and the transition to adulthood.

The Future of children, 20(1), 181-207.

Make The Connection. [Make The Connection]. (2011). Treating Depression; I was in denial.

Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGvTBTUFELs&list=PL4C28E356872C0E62

Mroczek, D., Spiro, A. (2005). Change in Life Satisfaction During Adulthood: Findings From

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911 Young Adult Female Veterans with Service Related Disabilities. Dissertations -

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Story Corps. [Ernesto Rodriguez and Sebastian Rodriguez]. (2016, July 17). War does change

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