Veterans' and Spouses' Transition Experiences Due to Unanticipated Medical Retirement: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

In the southwestern United States, the current qualitative phenomenological study looked at how veterans and spouses reported their lived experiences of moving from military to civilian life owing to unanticipated medical retirement.  The sample consisted of ten married veteran couples who lived in or around the southwestern United States and had one partner who was wounded, ill, or injured while serving in the US Army's IDES. The primary data collecting source was semi-structured interviews, which were supplemented by the researcher's journal and a demographic questionnaire. When they or their spouses received notice of UMR, 15 out of 20 participants (75%) expressed some form of anxiety about the future, and 16 out of 20 participants (80%) described their experiences of the IDES process using language that indicated feelings of being pushed through a complex process without enough information or consideration of their needs. The data also revealed that 13 of the 20 participants (65%) believed military support was insufficient throughout their transitions, and that 19 of the 20 participants (95%) felt a proactive approach to utilise resources and supports benefited their transitions to civilian life after UMR. The veterans' and their spouses' experiences underlined the need for the Department of Defense to expand present programmes for service members and their families.