Mcgill-queen's University Press
19 The Paradox of Military Training: Survival on the Streets among Homeless Veterans
-
Abstract
This secondary analysis of the first national study on homelessness among veterans of the Canadian Forces (CF) and Allied Forces (AF) explores homeless veterans’ survival on the streets as both helped and hindered by their military training. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used as the methodology for the study. Although all fifty-four transcripts from the primary study were reviewed, fifteen were chosen because these participants spoke extensively about their lives on the streets. Military training as a double-edged sword for homeless veterans is the overarching analytical interpretation that emerged. Common sub-themes were identified until an understanding of homeless veterans’ survival on the streets was attained. The three sub-themes illustrate the paradox.
Sub-theme one: Although their military training prepares them for survival on the streets such as sleeping rough, they may keep their distance from others and may therefore have difficulty in accessing services.
Sub-theme two: The training to “fight” if directed onto civilian society can result in difficulties obtaining and retaining employment, difficulties in relationships, and difficulties with the law.
Sub-theme three: Difficulties developing an autonomous adult identity as normal development can be interrupted by military training that precludes independent decision-making, which is a required adult coping ability.
Health-care service providers need to recognize, validate, and respond to the effects - positive and negative - of life in the armed forces for homeless veterans in order to provide the best care. Building upon their strengths attained during their military training and education about conflict resolution, assertiveness, and the provision of counselling to build an adult identity post-military are some of the implications from this study.
Abstract
This secondary analysis of the first national study on homelessness among veterans of the Canadian Forces (CF) and Allied Forces (AF) explores homeless veterans’ survival on the streets as both helped and hindered by their military training. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used as the methodology for the study. Although all fifty-four transcripts from the primary study were reviewed, fifteen were chosen because these participants spoke extensively about their lives on the streets. Military training as a double-edged sword for homeless veterans is the overarching analytical interpretation that emerged. Common sub-themes were identified until an understanding of homeless veterans’ survival on the streets was attained. The three sub-themes illustrate the paradox.
Sub-theme one: Although their military training prepares them for survival on the streets such as sleeping rough, they may keep their distance from others and may therefore have difficulty in accessing services.
Sub-theme two: The training to “fight” if directed onto civilian society can result in difficulties obtaining and retaining employment, difficulties in relationships, and difficulties with the law.
Sub-theme three: Difficulties developing an autonomous adult identity as normal development can be interrupted by military training that precludes independent decision-making, which is a required adult coping ability.
Health-care service providers need to recognize, validate, and respond to the effects - positive and negative - of life in the armed forces for homeless veterans in order to provide the best care. Building upon their strengths attained during their military training and education about conflict resolution, assertiveness, and the provision of counselling to build an adult identity post-military are some of the implications from this study.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgments ix
- Foreword xiii
- Preface xv
- Introduction xvii
-
Military and Family Health
- Differentiation of Physiological Measures of Neck Myalgia by Principal Component Analysis 3
- Novel Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Quantify Neuronal Hemodynamic and Metabolic Underpinnings of Cognitive Impairment in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 20
- Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Gas Emboli Formation in Canadian Forces Experimental Divers 35
- The Road to Joint Task Force Nijmegen 2012: The Soldier On Team Pilot Project 51
- Essential Task Identification for Military Occupations Using the triage Technique 74
- Life Satisfaction among Canadian Forces Members 84
- Public Opinion and Soldier Identity: Tensions and Resolutions 103
- Health-Care Management in the Canadian Forces Health Services: A Comparative Study on Military and Civilian Health Leadership Skills 114
- Canadian Forces Nursing Officer Pediatric Clinical Preparedness 121
- Group for Children and Families Having a Parent with an Operational Stress Injury 139
-
Veteran and Transition Health
- Veterans’ Health in Canada: A Scoping Review of the Literature 153
- Exploring the Relationships between Untreated Adverse Childhood Events and Substance Abuse, and Their Impact on ptsd Relapse Rates among Canadian Military Veterans 180
- Evidence-Based Treatments for Military-Related ptsd: A Review of Advances in Psychotherapy 196
- Service Use in an Outpatient Clinic for Current and Veteran Military and RCMP Members 210
- Integration of Chiropractic Services into the United States Veterans Health Administration 231
- Overcoming Systemic Obstacles to Veteran Transition to Civilian Life 249
- Literature Review on Rural–Urban Differences in Well-being after Transition to Civilian Life 265
- Transition-Focused Treatment: An Uncontrolled Study of a Group Program for Veterans 281
- The Paradox of Military Training: Survival on the Streets among Homeless Veterans 291
- Pilot Project on Incarcerated Former Military Personnel in Three Ontario Detention Centres, 2011–2012 307
- Abbreviations 319
- Contributors 323
- Index 335
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Acknowledgments ix
- Foreword xiii
- Preface xv
- Introduction xvii
-
Military and Family Health
- Differentiation of Physiological Measures of Neck Myalgia by Principal Component Analysis 3
- Novel Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Quantify Neuronal Hemodynamic and Metabolic Underpinnings of Cognitive Impairment in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 20
- Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Gas Emboli Formation in Canadian Forces Experimental Divers 35
- The Road to Joint Task Force Nijmegen 2012: The Soldier On Team Pilot Project 51
- Essential Task Identification for Military Occupations Using the triage Technique 74
- Life Satisfaction among Canadian Forces Members 84
- Public Opinion and Soldier Identity: Tensions and Resolutions 103
- Health-Care Management in the Canadian Forces Health Services: A Comparative Study on Military and Civilian Health Leadership Skills 114
- Canadian Forces Nursing Officer Pediatric Clinical Preparedness 121
- Group for Children and Families Having a Parent with an Operational Stress Injury 139
-
Veteran and Transition Health
- Veterans’ Health in Canada: A Scoping Review of the Literature 153
- Exploring the Relationships between Untreated Adverse Childhood Events and Substance Abuse, and Their Impact on ptsd Relapse Rates among Canadian Military Veterans 180
- Evidence-Based Treatments for Military-Related ptsd: A Review of Advances in Psychotherapy 196
- Service Use in an Outpatient Clinic for Current and Veteran Military and RCMP Members 210
- Integration of Chiropractic Services into the United States Veterans Health Administration 231
- Overcoming Systemic Obstacles to Veteran Transition to Civilian Life 249
- Literature Review on Rural–Urban Differences in Well-being after Transition to Civilian Life 265
- Transition-Focused Treatment: An Uncontrolled Study of a Group Program for Veterans 281
- The Paradox of Military Training: Survival on the Streets among Homeless Veterans 291
- Pilot Project on Incarcerated Former Military Personnel in Three Ontario Detention Centres, 2011–2012 307
- Abbreviations 319
- Contributors 323
- Index 335
