#VETERANS
VETERANS POST
by Freddy Grove
The RAND Corporation has spent a decade researching concerns for veterans, especially when it comes to transitioning to civilian life. It recently released a study with 10 areas of investigation, and some of the answers are eye-opening. Here are a few of the questions:
How widespread is veteran unemployment?
The answer depends on the age of the veteran. Older unemployed veterans are on par with civilians, but the younger ones, aged 18-24, have more hurdles to jump, at least for a short period after leaving the service. RAND points out that the media lumps everyone into a group and doesn’t account for demographics.
Are tax credits for hiring veterans useful and cost-effective?
Bottom line: Yes. The credits cost $610 million but increased veterans’ income by $1 billion. It helps that the credit-eligibility rules have changed. It used to be limited to disabled veterans who had to leave the military because of service-related disabilities, but credits now can be used for any disabled veteran who was recently discharged or unemployed for more than six months.
Do service members and veterans earn less than civilians?
Short answer: No. Veterans earn more than civilians, as do active duty members when the benefits are added in. Further, if the veteran worked in communications, intelligence or health care, he or she will earn more as a civilian than other veterans will.
How effective are support services for veterans’ transitions?
Bottom line: It depends on the service. But no matter what support service is used, some employers still can’t figure out how to translate military jobs into their civilian equivalent.
More questions in the study include: How widespread and costly are mental-health problems among service members and veterans? And is suicide a crisis in the military?
To read the whole report, “10 Frequently Asked Questions About Veterans’ Transitions,” go online to www.rand.org.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
