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Military Veterans

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Military veterans—individuals who complete military service whether at home or deployed overseas, in peacetime or in combat—are entitled to and in some cases require various government services. RAND research has examined the physical and mental health, interpersonal relationships, and employment problems that U.S. military veterans and their families face, and has recommended policies to support veterans' reintegration into civilian life.

Content
RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute
The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute, housed at the RAND Corporation, is dedicated to conducting innovative, interdisciplinary, evidence-based research to improve the lives of those who have served in the U.S. military.
Jul 15, 2021
Content
Veterans' Data in Focus
A collection of infographics focused on veterans’ social, economic, and physical well-being can be used to shape policies and interventions that address veterans’ needs, close gaps in support, and foster better understanding of the veteran population and their families.
Oct 24, 2023

Explore Military Veterans

Report
"If Everyone Is Responsible, Then No One Is": Proceedings from a Roundtable on Factors That Affect Veterans' Transitions from Military to Civilian Life
The RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute hosted a roundtable discussion on the transition to becoming a veteran and its implications for life trajectories, spanning one year prior to one year after leaving military service.
Dec 6, 2023
Journal Article
Estimating the Lifetime Prevalence of Incarceration in the U.S. Veteran Population
This brief report estimates the lifetime prevalence of incarceration among U.S. military veterans using data from three nationally representative U.S. samples.
Nov 27, 2023
Blog
Supporting Veterans, Israel-Hamas War, AI and Geopolitics: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on supporting America's veterans, what Israel's ground offensive in Gaza can and cannot accomplish, how AI might affect the rise and fall of nations, and more.
Nov 10, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: November-December 2023
Features explore the use of psychedelics to address depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders among veterans, and the prevalence of food insecurity among active-duty military families and veterans.
Nov 9, 2023
Essay
Therapeutic Use of Psychedelics in Treating PTSD and Depression Among Veterans
Clinical trials have shown that psychedelics can have a positive effect on mental health conditions like PTSD or depression for some people. Enthusiasm for these treatments has grown among veterans and providers who work with military populations. The VA should invest in research and provide guidance on psychedelics.
Nov 8, 2023
Essay
Why Are U.S. Military Families Experiencing Food Insecurity?
Around a quarter of active-duty service members qualify as “food insecure.” But what's causing that, how to fix it—even what it means—is not clear. Food insecurity is a multifaceted problem that needs multifaceted solutions.
Nov 6, 2023
Report
The Road to Reintegration: Status and Continuing Support of the U.S. Air Force's Wounded, Ill, and Injured
How do wounded, injured, or ill airmen feel about their medical and nonmedical care and the services provided by the U.S. Air Force? The authors of this report examine the quality of support provided to those who are wounded, ill, or injured.
Nov 1, 2023
News Release
RAND Factbook Highlights Demographic, Mental Health and Labor Participation of Military Veterans
A factbook, accompanied by a collection of infographics, explores trends and estimates about the demographics of veterans. It focuses on the size, sex, age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and geographic distribution of the veteran population as compared with nonveterans.
Oct 24, 2023
Infographic
Prevalence of Past-Year Serious Psychological Distress Among U.S. Veterans
Certain subgroups of veterans — including female veterans, veterans aged 18–34, multiracial veterans, and bisexual veterans — experienced past-year serious psychological distress at rates significantly higher than the overall veteran population.
Oct 24, 2023
Infographic
Trends in U.S. Veteran Demographics
Veterans who served after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are younger, more diverse in terms of sex and race/ethnicity, and more educated than earlier cohorts of veterans. The overall number of U.S. veterans has been steadily declining.
Oct 24, 2023
Infographic
U.S. Veteran Labor Market Trends
Veterans, regardless of race/ethnicity, have lower unemployment rates than nonveterans and are more likely to work in the public sector. The top industries for veteran employment are public administration and manufacturing.
Oct 24, 2023
Infographic
Alcohol and Substance Use Among U.S. Veterans
Nearly one-quarter of all veterans report binge drinking within the past month. Veterans who served after 9/11 have higher rates of all substance use behaviors, including alcohol and drug use disorders, than those who served exclusively before 9/11.
Oct 24, 2023
Report
A Summary of Veteran-Related Statistics
What are some trends and statistics among the U.S. veteran population? Baseline estimates related to veterans' demographics, mental health, and labor market outcomes can support the work of policymakers and researchers focused on veteran-related issues.
Oct 24, 2023
Blog
Risks of AI, Israel Faces Hard Choices, China 'Doesn't Get It': RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the risks of artificial intelligence, tough choices facing the Israeli government, China's blunders on the international stage, and more.
Oct 20, 2023
Testimony
Improving Treatment Outcomes for Veterans with Mental Health Conditions
Current treatments for veterans experiencing PTSD and other mental health conditions are largely effective but they do not work for everyone. More treatments that yield better outcomes are needed. With sustained research investment and careful planning, psychedelic-assisted therapies hold great promise to improve care for veterans.
Oct 19, 2023
Report
What Is the Housing Cost Burden Among U.S. Veterans?
Fewer veteran households than nonveteran ones are financially burdened by housing costs. Veterans are more likely to be homeowners than nonveterans are, and have lower housing costs than nonveteran homeowners. Veterans who are younger, are female, live in high-cost housing markets, or rent are the ones most in need of housing support.
Oct 12, 2023
Commentary
A Matter of Trust: More Delays for the VA's EHR System
Given how long it's taken to get five Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals online, the path to around 170 hospitals using the VA's new electronic health record system seems hard to envision. The next step won't even come until March. Until then, veterans just have to wait as fixes are made, money is spent, and patients are hopefully kept safe.
Oct 6, 2023
Journal Article
Veteran Journeys: Creating an Opera Based on Research, Clinical, and Personal Experiences
RAND researcher Kenneth Wells shares his story in the form of an opera, Veteran Journeys, to encourage others to find a path to integrating clinical, personal, and creative experiences, to share meaningful stories of how people survive and thrive.
Oct 4, 2023
Journal Article
Integration of Arts and Health Sciences in Developing an Opera on Veteran Resilience and Recovery
This case study illustrates how research data informed an opera on Veteran recovery. To engage a broad audience and address stigma, accessible composition techniques (melody, harmony) were used.
Oct 4, 2023

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RAND Topic:
Military Veterans

Topic Synonyms:
War Veteran

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Laura Werber

Senior Management Scientist

Laura Werber is a senior management scientist at RAND and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She applies organizational theories and methods to a wide array of policy issues, including talent management, performance management, organizational design, veteran reintegration, and…
Mary Keeling

Research Leader

Mary Keeling is a research leader at the RAND Corporation. Focusing on defence and security at RAND Europe, her main role is as the research manager of the Forces in Mind Trust Research Centre. Prior to joining RAND, she worked in academia.

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