scholarly journals The Map of Need: identifying and predicting the spatial distribution of financial hardship in Scotland’s veteran community

2021 ◽  
pp. e001718
Author(s):  
Matthew D Kiernan ◽  
M Rodrigues ◽  
E Mann ◽  
P Stretesky ◽  
M A Defeyter
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Financial Hardship ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Financial Benefit ◽  
Data Set ◽  
High Deprivation ◽  
Beneficiary Community

IntroductionDuring military service, many household costs for both married and single service personnel are subsidised, and transition can leave veterans unprepared for the financial demands of civilian life. Armed Forces organisations such as Sailor, Soldier, Air Force Association (SSAFA) play a central role in understanding the financial challenges that UK veterans face and provide an insight into the financial hardship experienced by veterans. The aim of this study was to use SSAFA beneficiary data as a proxy to identify the nature of financial benefit, the spatial distribution of financial hardship in the Scottish SSAFA beneficiary community and explore factors that might predict where those recipients are located.MethodsUsing an anonymised data set of Scottish SSAFA financial beneficiaries between 2014 and 2019, this study used a geographical methodology to identify the geospatial distribution of SSAFA benefit recipients and exploratory regression analysis to explore factors to explain where SSAFA beneficiaries are located.ResultsOver half of benefit applicants (n=10 735) were concentrated in only 50 postcode districts, showing evidence of a clustered pattern, and modelling demonstrates association with area-level deprivation. The findings highlight strong association between older injured veterans and need for SSAFA beneficiary assistance.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate that beneficiaries were statistically clustered into areas of high deprivation, experiencing similar challenges to that of the wider population in these areas. Military service injury or disability was strongly associated with areas of high SSAFA benefit use and in those areas high unemployment was also a significant factor to consider.

Contribution of mental ill health during military service to postservice benefit claims in the UK

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-107050
Author(s):  
Howard Burdett ◽  
Nicola T Fear ◽  
Simon Wessely ◽  
Neil Greenberg ◽  
Roberto J Rona
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Population Attributable Fraction ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
The Uk

ObjectivesWhile most UK military personnel transition successfully into civilian life, some experience unemployment and disability, which may be partly attributable to in-service factors. This study aims to determine the degree to which in-service mental health problems impact on postservice benefit claims.MethodsUsing data from a cohort of 5598 recent leavers from regular service in the UK Armed Forces linked with data from the Department for Work and Pensions, we assessed associations between in-service mental health and postservice benefit claims, and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of benefit claims related to in-service mental health. An analysis with postservice mental ill health as mediator was performed to determine the degree to which the observed effects were a consequence of persistent illness, as opposed to remitted.ResultsMental illness occurring in-service predicted both unemployment and disability claims, partly mediated by postservice health (23%–52% total effects mediated), but alcohol misuse did not. Common mental disorder (CMD) (PAF 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.11) and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PAF 0.05, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.09) contributed to unemployment claims. Probable PTSD was the largest contributor to disability claims (PAF 0.25, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.36), with a smaller contribution from CMD (PAF 0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.27).ConclusionsIn-service mental ill health gives rise to benefit claims. These effects are only partly mediated by postservice mental health, implying that in-service (or pre-service) mental issues have carry-over effects into civilian life even if remitted. Better prevention and treatment of in-service PTSD symptoms may well reduce postservice disability claims.

Russian military patriotic education: a control tool against the arbitrariness of veterans

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Sieca-Kozlowski
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Patriotic Education ◽  
Russian Military ◽  
The Military

The military had been concerned about military patriotic education for a long time when Putin's Patriotic Education Programme was published. As soon as the collapse of the Soviet Union occurred, followed a few years later by the creation of the Russian armed forces, they had already been developing patriotic education programmes aimed primarily at youth, aided by veterans of local wars, both volunteers and recruits. The aim of this article is to show that the military version of patriotic education aims openly to encourage military service, and that the Russian state will try to enlist veterans of the Afghanistan and Chechen wars in activities linked to military patriotic education and its spread in military and civilian spheres. Our hypothesis is that the determination to bring veterans together around a common project has two aims: (1) to federate veterans around the authorities and (2) to channel a population that escapes government control and some of whose excesses on their return to civilian life (violence towards the population in the context of their function, for veterans of the Interior Ministry in particular) have darkened the image of the ministries known as the “power” ministries.

Military history: The experiences of people who become homeless after leaving military service

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard Lemos
Keyword(s):  
Support Services ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Military History ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Alcohol Dependency ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Relationship Breakdown ◽  
Disproportionate Number

A disproportionate number of homeless people have spent time in the armed forces. This study used interviews with ex‐homeless people with a Services background to record their individual experiences and look at the factors which might increase the likelihood that someone will become homeless after leaving the Services. Disrupted family backgrounds were a feature of the lives of the youngest respondents. Alcohol dependency, mental health problems and relationship breakdown featured strongly among the group as a whole, although they were associated more strongly with older respondents. A central conclusion is that help with housing should be complemented by greater access to emotional and psychological support services during and after the period of transition from military to civilian life.

scholarly journals ‘It’s Like Therapy But More Fun’ Armed Forces and Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs: A Study of Their Emergence as Veterans’ Self-Help Communities

2020 ◽  
pp. 136078042090584
Author(s):  
Jim McDermott
Keyword(s):  
Military Service ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mutual Support ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Support Organizations ◽  
Short Period

The armed forces veterans’ support sector is vast and, some would argue, overprovided for. At a time when some long-established ex-armed forces support organizations appear to be losing members, Armed Forces and Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs (AFVBCs) continue to grow. This article examines this phenomenon arguing that AFVBCs, which are organized in a somewhat unconventional way, provide a safe domain for veterans to reminisce, provide mutual support with others who share the same experiences, and understand military service and the difficulties of transition to civilian life, all factors which contribute to their well-being. They enable the generation and protection of military identity which is highly salient and prominent for many veterans. This study sees AFVBCs as a veteran’s self-help community which can also provide a focus for those responsible for implementing the Armed Forces Covenant. A total of 250 veterans contributed to this study, the majority being those who ‘do well’ in civilian life but with a minority who suffer in some way and need help. Veterans attending AFVBCs come from all branches of the armed forces, some having served for a short period and others a full career. Data were collected face-to-face at one AFVBC, from a study of online testimonials, conversations with the AFVBC founder and an online survey.

scholarly journals Do galactic bars depend on environment?: an information theoretic analysis of Galaxy Zoo 2

2020 ◽  
Vol 501 (1) ◽  
pp. 994-1001
Author(s):  
Suman Sarkar ◽  
Biswajit Pandey ◽  
Snehasish Bhattacharjee
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Mutual Information ◽  
Local Density ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Host Galaxy ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Information Theoretic

ABSTRACT We use an information theoretic framework to analyse data from the Galaxy Zoo 2 project and study if there are any statistically significant correlations between the presence of bars in spiral galaxies and their environment. We measure the mutual information between the barredness of galaxies and their environments in a volume limited sample (Mr ≤ −21) and compare it with the same in data sets where (i) the bar/unbar classifications are randomized and (ii) the spatial distribution of galaxies are shuffled on different length scales. We assess the statistical significance of the differences in the mutual information using a t-test and find that both randomization of morphological classifications and shuffling of spatial distribution do not alter the mutual information in a statistically significant way. The non-zero mutual information between the barredness and environment arises due to the finite and discrete nature of the data set that can be entirely explained by mock Poisson distributions. We also separately compare the cumulative distribution functions of the barred and unbarred galaxies as a function of their local density. Using a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, we find that the null hypothesis cannot be rejected even at $75{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence level. Our analysis indicates that environments do not play a significant role in the formation of a bar, which is largely determined by the internal processes of the host galaxy.

scholarly journals Military Veterans and Welfare Reform: Bridging Two Policy Worlds through Qualitative Longitudinal Research

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Lisa Scullion ◽  
Katy Jones ◽  
Peter Dwyer ◽  
Celia Hynes ◽  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Welfare Reform ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk

There has been an increasing focus in the UK on the support provided to the Armed Forces community, with the publication of the Armed Forces Covenant (2011), the Strategy for our Veterans (2018) and the first ever Office for Veterans’ Affairs (2019). There is also an important body of research – including longitudinal research – focusing on transitions from military to civilian life, much of which is quantitative. At the same time, the UK has witnessed a period of unprecedented welfare reform. However, research focused on veterans’ interactions with the social security system has been largely absent. This article draws on the authors’ experiences of undertaking qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) to address this knowledge gap. We reflect on how QLR was essential in engaging policy makers enabling the research to bridge the two parallel policy worlds of veterans’ support and welfare reform, leading to significant policy and practice impact.

Military Veterans’ Transferrable Skills

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie E. Davis ◽  
Sarah E. Minnis
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Civilian Workforce ◽  
Retention Initiatives ◽  
Civilian Employment ◽  
Hrd Professionals

The Problem Military veterans face a number of employment challenges as they transition from military service to civilian employment. Although the American workforce has become much more diverse, there continues to be a lack of understanding and misperceptions about veterans’ skillsets and military experiences which inhibits successful employment after military service. Veterans are a source of talent for civilian employers as they bring distinctive capabilities and valuable skills developed through real-world, high-pressure experience, but some human resource development (HRD) practitioners may not be aware of the vast array of skills, training, and knowledge that veterans bring to the civilian workforce in addition to supervisory and management skills acquired during their time in the armed forces. Given the civilian public’s general lack of knowledge about military experience, HRD practitioners, in particular, may be less able to effectively evaluate and integrate veterans’ military experiences, skills, and capabilities in the civilian employment sector. These misunderstandings are contributing factors impacting veterans’ ability to transfer their skills from military to business cultures. The Solution It is imperative that HRD practitioners understand the potentially strong contributions and societal misperceptions regarding the business value of military veterans’ skills and experiences. This article will explore distinctive capabilities of veterans that make them assets in the civilian workforce as well as some potential concerns and highlight HRD’s role in recognizing and facilitating the development of veteran hiring and retention initiatives in civilian employment. Educating HRD professionals about how to integrate military veterans’ skills, knowledge, and abilities in business cultures and mitigate concerns is vital to promote veterans’ contributions to civilian organizations and is necessary for effective hiring and talent development. The Stakeholders Veterans, HRD professionals, scholars, practitioners, and policy makers interested in the HRD field, private sector, federal, nonfederal public sector, and U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

scholarly journals Making dialogue with an existential voice in transition from military to civilian life

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 832-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Grimell
Keyword(s):  
Military Personnel ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Identity Work ◽  
Civilian Life ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Dialogical Self ◽  
Dialogical Self Theory

Dialogical Self Theory has contributed to the endeavors to map and grid self-identity work in transition from military to civilian life throughout an empirical and longitudinal research project which focuses on existential dimensions. This article is based on a case study from this project and centers upon Sergeant Jonas, who, upon his return from deployment in Afghanistan, struggled with his transition as a new existential position was vocalized throughout the following annual interviews. This voice narrated feelings of meaninglessness, emptiness, and of having been deceived. In turn, this existential voice required an answer to a question which apparently had no answer. The meaning-making eventually evolved into an acceptance which enabled Jonas to proceed with his life. Dialogical processes between positions are important in order to go on with life amid existential concerns in the aftermath of military service since dialogicality of the self opens up a complex of dynamics of meaning-making processes, negotiations, and transformations. Based on the findings, it is suggested that the Personal Position Repertoire could potentially be strengthened by the addition of an internal existential position to its standard repertoire, at least when working with military personnel and/or veterans.

Analysis of the results of medical examination of citizens of draft age

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Sergey Aleksandrovich Kuzmin ◽  
Lyubov Kuzminichna Grigorieva ◽  
Kargla Amanzhulovna Izbagambetova
Keyword(s):  
Military Service ◽  
Digestive System ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Medical Examination ◽  
Inpatient Setting ◽  
Outpatient Basis ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Mental And Behavioral Disorders

In the context of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the issues of recruiting troops with healthy, physically developed and mentally stable young conscripts are of paramount importance. Only citizens "A" - fit for military service and "B" fit for military service with minor restrictions are subject to conscription. When analyzing the results of medical examination of persons of military age, it was found that over the studied period of time, fitness for military service for health reasons decreased by 3.8% (from 78.3% in 2016 to 74.5% in 2020). However, despite the general decrease in fitness for military service, there is an increase in the fitness for military service "A" by 13.5% (from 23.4% in 2016 to 36.9% in 2020). Every year, during the period of work of the draft commissions, a significant number of citizens (more than 10%) were sent for additional examination to medical organizations. As a rule, the examination of conscripts was carried out on an outpatient basis (up to 85%) and much less often in an inpatient setting (up to 15%). The first place was occupied by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, which accounted for 24.9%. Mental and behavioral disorders ranked second with an indicator of 18.7%. The third place was taken by diseases of the circulatory system - 14.9%. Diseases of the eye and adnexa ranked fourth - 8.2%. Diseases of the digestive system were less common, accounting for only 4.5%. Thus, in total, the listed diseases accounted for 71.2% and were the main ones in determining the fitness of conscripts for military service for health reasons.

Association of Medication-Assisted Treatment and Age With Treatment Completion Among Veterans Seeking Non-VA Treatment for Opioid use Disorder at Non-Veterans Health Administration Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph G Pickard ◽  
Carissa van den Berk-Clark ◽  
Monica M Matthieu
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Treatment Completion ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment

ABSTRACT Background Medication-assisted treatment has been shown to be effective in treating opioid use disorder among both older adults and veterans of U.S. Armed Forces. However, limited evidence exists on MAT’s differential effect on treatment completion across age groups. This study aims to ascertain the role of MAT and age in treatment completion among veterans seeking treatment in non–Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare facilities for opioid use disorder. Methods We used the Treatment Episode Data Set—Discharges (TEDS-D; 2006-2017) to examine trends in treatment and MAT usage over time and TEDS-2017 to determine the role of age and MAT in treatment completion. We examined a subset of those who self-identified as veterans and who sought treatment for an opioid use disorder. Results Veterans presented in treatment more often as heroin users than prescription opioid users, and older veterans were more likely to get MAT than younger veterans. We found that before propensity score matching, MAT initially appeared to be associated with a lower likelihood of treatment completion in inpatient ($\beta $ = −1.47, 95% CI −1.56 to −1.39) and outpatient ($\beta $ = −1.40, 95% CI −2.21 to −0.58) settings, and age (50+ years) appeared to mediate the effect of MAT on treatment completion ($\beta $ = −0.54, 95% CI −0.87 to −0.21). After matching, older veterans were more likely to complete substance use disorder treatment ($\beta $ = 0.21, 95% CI 0.01-0.42), while age no longer mediated the effect of MAT, and MAT had a significant positive impact on treatment completion in detox settings ($\beta $ = 1.36, 95% CI 1.15-1.50) and inpatient settings ($\beta $ = 1.54, 95% CI 1.37 -1.71). Conclusion The results show that age plays an important role in outpatient treatment completion, while MAT plays an important role in inpatient treatment completion. Implications for veterans are discussed.

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