At the turn of this new decade, we’ve been thinking about
what’s ahead for our nation’s veterans. Statistics tell us that the veteran
population in 2030 will look quite different than it does today. So what will
it look like, and what do these changes mean for communities serving veterans?
This series of blogs compares the demographic makeup of the 2020 veteran
population to that of 2030. We’ll consider the circumstances driving these
demographic shifts, imagine the challenges and opportunities they present, and
offer considerations for collaboratives as they work to create communities in
which veterans and their families can thrive after service. Here’s what we know
about 2030...
The largest service-era cohort will also be the group
with the longest continuous wartime service.
In 2030, the majority of veterans—52.8%—will have served
during the Gulf War era, including Post-9/11 veterans who will make up 23.8% of
the veteran population. It is possible that by 2030, the entire military
experience of the majority of America's veterans will been served during times
of war.
Communities can continue to improve how they serve these
veterans and their families by:
- Continuing
to support the caregivers who play a significant role in recovery and
well-being for ill and injured veterans.
- Considering
that surveys show that
many veterans who participated in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are
unsure that they made a difference or believe they did not; for veterans
experiencing this dissatisfaction, cynicism, or ennui, traditional
gratitudes and honors may not resonate or otherwise be well-received.
- Remaining
abreast of research and best practices—both for clinical practitioners and
anyone serving veterans—on connecting with and caring for veterans with
the “trademark injuries” of these wars: PTSD, TBI, and moral injury.
People living with each (or some, or all) of these injuries may experience
cognitive changes that inherently make it difficult to both recognize when
there is a problem and ask for help to solve it.
- Tightening public-private connections with active duty military installations and guard and reserve units to identify ways to bring veterans into the fold sooner.
- KEEP READING
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