The Impact of Prior Deployment Experience on Civilian Employment After Military Service
Abstract
Concerns exist over whether mental disorders and combat deployment experience among US military personnel affect postservice employment. The objective was to determine if deployment experience in support of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan or a positive screen for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or panic/anxiety disorders were associated with reporting employment after military service. Former US military active duty and Reserve or National Guard personnel from the Millennium Cohort Study were followed for an average of 3.2 years from the time of mental disorder reporting and potential deployment experience to self-reported employment status. Among all separated personnel except for those who retired with a pension, screening positive for depression, panic, or anxiety did not significantly affect the ability to obtain future civilian employment. Military combat experiences examined in this study and a positive screen for PTSD were not associated with postservice employment status. Screening positive for depression and panic/anxiety disorders predicted higher odds of subsequent unemployment among those who routinely retired with a pension. Most veterans secured civilian careers in fields similar to their previous military occupations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA619413
Entities
People
- Besa Smith
- Charlene A. Wong
- Edward J. Boyko
- Isabel Gomez Jacobson
- Jaime L. Horton
- Margaret A.K. Ryan
- Timothy Steven Wells
- Tyler Clain Smith
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center