Forgotten No More: Intensive Military-to-Veteran Transitional Programming for Other-than-Honorable Veterans to Improve the Rates of Persistent Psychosocial Issues

Other-Than-Honorable (OTH) discharged Veterans within the Veteran Affairs system have long been forgotten, despite their significant needs. There are scant Veteran-centered resources tailored to address their unique psychosocial challenges as a result of limitations imposed by current programs and policies. This presentation highlights the disparities in social, health, and financial outcomes between favorably and unfavorably discharged Veterans, magnifying the vulnerability of OTH Veterans, thereby compounding the effects of military exposure.

A critical investigation of existing retroactive efforts reveal these interventions as inadequate and subsequently perpetuating the stigma and psychosocial distress among this Veteran subpopulation. By conceptualizing OTH Veteran issues through a biopsychosocial perspective, alongside the lenses of Veteran Critical Theory and Military Transition Theory, this presentation humanizes OTH Veterans, challenging the detrimental stereotypes that have long marginalized and oppressed them. The presentation concludes with an innovative, intensive military-to-Veteran transition program designed to deliver timely, all-encompassing wraparound services within the VA.

This effort aims to alleviate and prevent the escalation of psychosocial issues, intending to significantly improve the quality of life that these undervalued United States heroes can achieve, and in doing so acknowledging and addressing their sacrifices and needs unconditionally.