Military Transition for Solider and Spouse

Every year it's estimated 250,000 enlisted service members leave the military. Transition can be extremely hard for not only solider but spouse as well. We know, because we've experienced it.

A soldier can feel a number of things from challenges such as, loss of connection, loss of purpose, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, worry of entering the work force, difficultly of adjusting to a different pace of life and lifestyle, heath care issues, identity crisis, finances and PTSD. A spouse faces challenges such as, relocation, loss of support and connection, employment, stress, depression, anxiety, caretaker responsibilities, loss of purpose and pride, identity, finances, and loss of community and culture. Ryan and I have faced many of these challenges, but thankful not all of them.

We recently found a PEW research that shared factors that predict an easier or harder re-entry into civilian life. Soldiers will have an easier transition if they have a college degree, were an officer, understood missions, and are religious.  Soldiers that have a harder transition experienced a traumatic event, were seriously injured, married while serving, post 9/11 veterans, served in combat and knew someone killed/injured. Ryan pretty much has every box checked on the harder transition side. The one thing on the easier side is that he is religious. 

Even though Ryan and I have faced just about every challenge with transition and the odds have been extremely high against us we keep pushing forward. Day by day we are working through transition and building our new normal.