As a member of the Air National Guard, a student at the University of Iowa, and someone who works in the area of veteran support, I have seen first-hand the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on our veteran and military-connected (VMC) community. While no two people’s experiences of the pandemic have been the same, one defining feature that lockdown had on the VMC community was loss.

It’s no secret that many, though not all, veterans find joining the VMC community beneficial during their transition from the military to civilian life. A veteran who is transitioning to civilian life has had a variety of experiences in the military. Some were incredibly exciting, many were mundane, and some were associated with trauma.

These varied experiences can often be difficult to talk about with people who don’t “get it.” No one wants to stop and explain cultural nuances when they are trying to describe an exciting memory or discuss a traumatic experience.

When I transitioned from the military to civilian life, I struggled to reframe my purpose as a college student. I was used to performing my military job for eight to 10 hours a day, something that brought me deep pride and satisfaction. When I transitioned to part-time military and full-time student, I struggled to frame my current purpose and see the bigger picture. Joining the VMC community provided me with peers who could help me with the transition so I could learn how to enjoy my undergraduate experience.

Losing access to these community members can make the transition difficult. When COVID-19 forced everything online, it made community building much more difficult. Veterans who were actively transitioning weren’t able to meet their peers face-to-face and those of us who were underway in our transition suddenly didn’t have the robust community available for our usual support.

How can we help support veterans as we emerge from the pandemic?

Campus veteran organizations are available

If you want to find a student organization that specializes in something, you can usually find it at the University of Iowa. The UI Veterans Association, also known as UIVA, is the main student organization for VMC students. This organization meets regularly and organizes occasional events like the annual The Things They Carry Ruck March.

While the UIVA is geared toward students, the university-wide VMC support organization IVETS offers resources for UI students, faculty, and staff. Some of the individual colleges even have VMC community programming, like the College of Education’s I-SERVE program.

Community-based support and community centers

The Iowa City area and eastern Iowa communities have many community-based veterans support organizations. The Vet Center, a program housed in the Department of Veteran Affairs, has offices across the country including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Des Moines to name a few. The Vet Center offers mental health services to qualifying veterans, current guard members, and reservists that provide unique community-building opportunities and events.

A plethora of other organizations that support veterans also can be found online. A comprehensive list of veteran service organizations has been compiled by the Veterans Association. The state of Iowa has further identified some such organizations that operate within Iowa.

Listen to the veterans in your life

Although the experiences of veterans can be unique, the human condition is universal. If a veteran opens up to you about their transition, that’s awesome. Even if you can’t relate to the specifics of their experience, veterans take comfort in having someone simply listen to them. Just remember that not every problem needs a solution and there may be some cultural aspects of the military that don’t quite make sense to you … and that is completely OK.

Don’t be upset if veterans don’t want to talk to you

Don’t be offended if a veteran in your life doesn’t open up to you about their time in service. As mentioned before, everyone has a different relationship to their time in service. Some people love talking about that chapter of their life, but others are more interested in moving past their service and closing that book. If a veteran doesn’t want to talk about their time in service, this isn’t a reflection on you nor does it mean that the veteran had a bad or traumatic experience. Some people simply wish to not talk about it.

Transitioning out of military life is an ongoing process. Many people who are going through this process find comfort in connecting with a community that has similar experiences. There are multiple entry points to the VMC community, so don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help finding your community.

Matthew Hayes
Veteran Resource Specialist, I-SERVE College of Education