People often ask, “What was the hardest part of military life?” Oddly enough, for me, it was my transition away from it. Returning to civilian life after serving two combat deployments brought both expected and unexpected challenges – and I’m not alone. Depression, addiction, and joblessness are all much more common among veterans than the rest of the population.

According to a 2011 Pew Research Center survey, approximately 21 percent of those who have served have a “somewhat difficult” time adjusting and 6 percent have a “very difficult” time going back to a normal way of life.

If you’ve recently gotten your DD-214 or you’re going to be discharged soon, here are some of the most common challenges to be aware of and some ways you can deal with them.

Financial and Career Concerns

Finding a job out of the military may require learning new skills, catching up on any social changes that have occurred, and even embarking on a different path from what you’ve been trained to do. It’s very common that the military has trained you for years on a specific task only to find these skills aren’t needed in a civilian position. Because it can be tough to find a job right away, this can pose financial difficulties. According to the VA, nearly 53% of all veterans face a period of unemployment after returning home. Unless you have a budget in place, you may find yourself in a bind. Be sure to budget your income and take advantage of military benefits like the Post 9/11 GI Bill, to make sure bills are covered until you land a new job.

Finding an Apartment

In the military, when moving to a new base or a new duty station, moving assistance is always provided. This helps a lot when adjusting to a new place. There are also many ways that service members can instantly feel like they are a part of the community. This includes entering a new unit of people with similar jobs and the same mission. You may have found that you know the same people or had the same instructor. But when you begin looking for a home or an apartment after leaving the military, you may find yourself feeling isolated and alone. Unless of course, you are returning home to family and friends. If you’re a veteran moving to a completely new place, or all of your hometown friends are gone, it might make the transition to civilian life difficult. In this case, make an effort to join a gym or a local group and connect with some of your new neighbors.

Consumer Choices

When you’re on active duty, most of your clothing, food, and housing are decisions you don’t really have to think about. There aren’t many choices when you have to wear the same uniform 5 days a week. One of the reality checks of re-entry into civilian life is the number of decisions you have to make every day about almost everything. This can be even more overwhelming if you spent the last four years living in the barracks. Things like what to eat, what to wear, and where to shop can be a little overwhelming at first. Try taking someone along with you or make a detailed list of things you need. You will also want to make sure you’re not going over budget either.

Read the whole article at TheMilitaryGuide.org
Source: TheMilitaryGuide.org