Veteran Stereotypes: A Closer Look

The American military has conducted continuous combat operations for more than a dozen years. Over 2.5 million active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members have deployed in support of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.1 These men and women and their families comprise a remarkable team characterized by courage, resilience, agility, and selfless service. For these reasons and others, Americans have more confidence in the military than any other institution or group in the country.2 This confidence is well placed, and it is in our Nation s interest to continue to invest in these veterans and their families. They have much to offer our communities long after they hang up the uniform. Each year for the next five years, more than 200,000 service members will transition from active duty service to the civilian community. Many of them will face significant challenges as they reintegrate back into civilian society.