Now home, these soldiers may have to fight for jobs.
By analyzing data from veterans of World War II, Vietnam, and the Korean War, MacLean found combat vets were more likely than their non-combat and non-veteran counterparts to suffer from unemployment and disability. So while military service may help non-combatants (who had the lowest rates of unemployment among the three groups), the scarring effects of combat can put veterans at a relative disadvantage that stays with them throughout their lives.
Some suggest vets from disadvantaged backgrounds suffer most from combat because they lack coping resources, while others think those with pre-combat social advantages suffer most since combat represents a more drastic negative turning point in their lives. MacLean, though, discovers the effects of combat exposure are equally deleterious for all vets, regardless of social background. As more and more vets return home from our current wars, it remains crucial to understand the disadvantages of combat experiences—especially in an era of both high unemployment and heavy military recruitment. Uncle Sam may seem good for the resume, but if you find yourself in the crossfire, the uphill battle may have just begun.
