Introduction

The dawn of a new century found our nation at war in Afghanistan and Iraq in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Nearly two million Americans have now served in these wars, risking their lives to protect our country and preserve our freedoms.1 Their service is not mandated by government, but is a voluntary act of courage, conscience, and commitment. These servicemen and women join the ranks of approximately 45 million Americans before them who have served in America's wars from the War for Independence to the present day.2 They reflect the ethic of the inspirational Founding Father and pamphleteer, Thomas Paine, whose words inspired a citizen movement for independence and prompted more Americans to take up their muskets to serve — "if there be trouble, let it be in my day, so that my children may have peace." This ethic of service echoes down the ages as a sergeant who lost his leg and was being airlifted out of Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2003 repeated the words of Nathan Hale — that he regretted he had but one life to give for his country.3 When Americans think of service to country, they first think of our nation's veterans.

How our nation treats its returning veterans says a lot about our gratitude for their service and the respect we have for the sacrifices they have made and the skills they have acquired. Rightfully so, much attention has been paid to the mental and physical health, employment status, and family situation of veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the U.S.Government's designations for the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq, respectively. Veterans are a vulnerable population, especially during the transition home.

It has been well documented that many OIF/OEF veterans face significant mental and physical health challenges. For veterans between the ages of 20 and 24, their suicide rate is estimated to be between two and four times higher than civilians the same age.4 At this rate the number of suicides among OIF/OEF veterans may exceed their combat death toll, a statistic that cries out for both increased mental health care for our veterans and proven interventions like meaningful service opportunities that increase happiness and well-being, hopefulness and purpose.5

It is estimated that almost 3,000 OIF/OEF veterans have sought assistance from the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs or National Coalition for Homeless Veterans agencies for homelessness.6 Given the age of these current veterans, these early numbers do not bode well for the future. The unemployment rate for veterans who have served in the military since September 2001 outpaces the adult unemployment rate, jumping to 11.3 percent in August 2009, up from 9.8 percent the month before, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.7 Volunteering provides veterans with an opportunity to hone skills, or to develop new skills, as well as networking opportunities that can assist in finding paid employment.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that among 1 million veterans who have served in the military since 9/11, nearly 72,000 are paying more than half of their incomes in rent, instead of building equity in homes.8 According to the Defense Commissary Agency, military members and their families redeemed food stamps last year at nearly twice the civilian rate. More than $31 million worth of food stamps were used at commissaries nationwide in 2008 — an increase of more than 25 percent.9

After long absences from home, OIF/OEF veterans also face challenges with their families. One in five service members have filed for divorce since 2001. More than 27,000 service members filed for divorce in 2004, a 44 percent increase from 2001.10

In addition to being members of our active duty military, national guard, and reserve, these veterans are also husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and neighbors and community members. Yet, almost no attention has been focused on their civic lives: how they re-integrate into their neighborhoods, what roles civic and religious institutions play in their transitions home, what their attitudes and interests are in continuing to serve on the home front, and what America can do to utilize their talents and skills as they move from military to civilian life. Neuroscience tells us that improving a person's civic health can improve his physical and mental health.11 Studies have shown how participation in service efforts can boost job prospects.12 Civic connectedness also can provide additional support to families as they adjust to the transition of having their loved ones back home. Furthermore, veterans are untapped national assets, having acquired experiences and skills while serving in the military that have significant value in the workplace and in communities. They are beacons of hope that can encourage our next generation to serve their country in the military, in government service, in national service, or in traditional volunteering. As our country welcomes home this generation of veterans, we must pay close attention to, and act upon, OIF/OEF veterans' perspectives on their civic lives. In doing so, we can improve the veteran's transition home, engage them in meaningful work and service on the home front, and hold them up as the leaders that they have become to a grateful nation.

This report is based on the first-ever nationally representative survey of OIF/OEF veterans and aims to elevate their voices and share perspectives on their civic lives as they transition from battlefields abroad to communities at home. This survey was distributed veteran to veteran, taken entirely anonymously, with no monetary incentive, and commissioned by an independent public policy firm, as further described in the Methodology section of this report. The questions focused solely on how these veterans view their civic lives, what they can tell us about their transitions home, and what their attitudes and interests are with respect to continued service on the home front. The questions were largely multiple-choice, but several included free response blanks where veterans could give more context or offer anecdotes to better explain their answers, and many veterans were enthusiastic to share their perspectives. We also feature four profiles of veterans. Three of the profiles are OIF/OEF veterans who recount the impact of service on their transition home. The fourth profile is of a Vietnam veteran, who offers his story of service and insight on this generation of veterans. We recognize the importance of the interconnectedness of the generations of veterans, and felt it was important to highlight this bond.

The primary purpose of this report is to spark a national effort around the civic engagement of our nation's veterans. We hope this endeavor will promote that dialogue and action in earnest so that we as a nation can look back on this moment as when we truly rallied around veterans — not just with parades and yellow ribbons or job training and health care, but also by unleashing the civic talents of these extraordinary Americans for their own benefit and the benefit of the American people.