THE VETERAN PERCEPTION: EXPLORING THE ROLE OF VETERANS BENEFITS ON THE TRANSITION FROM SERVICE MEMBER TO CIVILIAN by LEONA M. LOPEZ B.S., Colorado State University – Pueblo, 1997 M.S., University of Cincinnati, 2011 A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Leadership, Research, and Foundations 2016 © Copyright By Leona M. Lopez 2016 All Rights Reserved ii This dissertation for the Doctor of Philosophy degree by Leona M. Lopez has been approved for the Department of Leadership, Research, and Foundations by ________________________________ Sylvia Mendez, Chair ________________________________ Corinne Harmon ________________________________ Phillip Morris ________________________________ Al Ramirez ________________________________ Patricia Witkowsky ___________ Date iii Lopez, Leona M. (Ph.D., Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy) The Veteran Perception: Exploring the Role of Veterans Benefits on the Transition from Service Member to Civilian Dissertation directed by Associate Professor Sylvia Mendez This qualitative study was conducted using a phenomenological approach, and a transitions framework, to explore the role that three basic needs veterans’ benefits play on the transition from service member to civilian. In-depth, one-on-one, interviews of 20 veterans of the United States military were conducted to determine if the veterans’ benefits of education, housing, and health care were beneficial during their transitions. Nine themes were identified as they relate to this process. Findings indicated that the benefits of education and housing were the most beneficial to the transition to civilian; the health care benefit presented the most challenges. The findings also indicated that there is room for improvement in the availability and administration of veterans’ benefits as multiple difficulties, delays, and challenges were noted. These difficulties included challenges applying for benefits, lengthy delays receiving benefits, and having limited access to Veterans Administration (VA) facilities. In spite of this, the veterans expressed gratitude for the availability of basic needs benefits. In addition, many similarities existed among the veterans’ experiences during each phase of the transition process despite differences in age, race, gender, and branch of service. Overall, the findings indicated that reform is needed to improve the transition from service member to civilian through ensuring veterans experience fewer barriers to benefits and have timely access to the benefits they are entitled to. iv DEDICATION To all veterans of the United States military, past and present. If not for you, the world we know and the freedoms we celebrate may have never been. Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our country. You will never be forgotten. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to have many people who supported me throughout this journey. To begin, I would like to thank my mother and father, Eva and Elberto, who have always been my biggest cheerleaders. Your unyielding support has meant more to me than words can adequately express. Thank you to my extended family, your kind words of encouragement and support over the years has not gone unnoticed. Thank you to the friends who have stood by me and supported my goals (you know who you are). Your support was an integral component of my success by keeping me motivated to do my best! I also offer sincere thanks to my committee. Dr. Sylvia Mendez, thank you for being a wonderful advisor and committee chair. I appreciate you looking out for me. Dr. Corinne Harmon, thank you for serving as my methodologist. Your advice has been invaluable to me. Dr. Philip Morris, thank you serving on my committee. Your commitment to veterans is commendable. Dr. Al Ramirez, thank you for offering years of sage advice. Your classes were among my favorites. Dr. Patricia Witkowsky, thank you for your feedback and thoughtful commentary. Also, special thanks to Dr. Christopher Nelson and Dr. Harriet Napierkowski. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Your time and guidance will always be remembered. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all!! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................. 4 Research Questions .................................................................................. 5 Transitions................................................................................................ 5 Benefit Eligibility ..................................................................................... 8 Military Socialization ............................................................................... 8 Military Culture ........................................................................................ 9 Missions ................................................................................................. 10 Transition Assistance Program ............................................................... 13 Research Gap ......................................................................................... 16 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................... 16 Schlossberg’s Models of Transition............................................. 16 Application to the Study .............................................................. 21 Definitions.............................................................................................. 22 Summary ................................................................................................ 24 II. LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................. 26 Education Benefits ................................................................................. 29 GI Bill: History and Evolution ................................................................ 31 Servicemen’s Readjustment Act .................................................. 31 vii Veteran Presence on Campus ...................................................... 33 The GI Bill’s Influence on Higher Education .............................. 34 A Rocky Start ............................................................................. 35 The SRA’s Legacy ...................................................................... 38 Korean Conflict GI Bill ............................................................... 40 Post-Korean-Vietnam Era GI Bill................................................ 40 Post-Draft GI Bills ...................................................................... 41 Montgomery GI Bill ................................................................... 41 Post 9/11 GI Bill ......................................................................... 42 The Contemporary Veteran Student ........................................................ 44 Challenges in Academia .............................................................. 44 Veterans Health Administration .............................................................. 45 Eligibility for VA Healthcare ...................................................... 46 The Need for Health Care ........................................................... 46 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ...................................... 47 Traumatic Brain Injuries ............................................................. 49 VA Healthcare Delays................................................................. 50 Veterans Housing Benefits ..................................................................... 53 VA Home Loan........................................................................... 54 Veteran Homelessness ................................................................ 55 Summary ................................................................................................ 57 viii III. METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................... 59 Qualitative Approach .............................................................................. 59 Phenomenological Approach....................................................... 60 Research Questions ................................................................................ 61 Participants ............................................................................................. 61 Participant Profiles ...................................................................... 65 Recruitment & Access ................................................................ 68 Sampling..................................................................................... 70 Research Location .................................................................................. 71 Colorado Springs, Colorado ........................................................ 71 A Military Town ......................................................................... 72 Procedures .............................................................................................. 72 Ethics ..................................................................................................... 74 Informed Consent ....................................................................... 74 Participant Safeguards