After transitioning from active military service, many women veterans feel lost and disoriented. Many struggle to find their place in the civilian world, unable to bridge the gap between their previous life and the life they now must live. Women veterans often feel isolated, have difficulty finding a job, or get
used to being around family and friends unfamiliar with their struggles while serving. They may also experience feelings of anxiety, depression, and frustration when it comes to finding meaningful work after leaving the military. Additionally, women veterans that return home may also encounter challenges related to accessing healthcare services and other benefits they are entitled to receive due to their service.
These issues, compounded by a lack of understanding from civilian communities, overshadow what it means to have served in the military. It is difficult for women veterans to find support networks with people who understand their experiences or resources that can help them navigate daily life outside of the military. The emotional toll this disconnect can take on female veterans is profound, leading many women returning home from active duty to feel confused about what steps to take next.
Women veterans also need help seeking medical care or accessing employment opportunities since there is often insufficient recognition of their particular needs and skill sets. Women-centered organizations exist across the country that provides assistance tailored explicitly for female veterans in transition - such as career coaching services and job placement programs - yet these need to be more funded or more affordable in rural areas where many female veterans live. As a result, many veteran women need to be aware of aid programs that could ease their transition back into civilian life.