Qualitative Analysis of the Influence of Military Culture on the Resocialization of Combat Veterans

• In Event: Advances in Cultural Criminology: Socialization, Youth, and Criminalization

Abstract

The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 25 combat-experienced Veterans of the Global War on Terror who fit an operational definition of successful resocialization. Utilizing a snowball method to identify each participant, the most significant finding from these interviews was that the factors of purpose and tribe seem to differentiate the two groups the most. This confirmed the hypothesis that the most significant difference between the two groups was their ability or inability to adapt to the group style of civilian culture. Additionally, all Veterans interviewed for this study said they drastically reduced their alcohol consumption after their active-duty service ended, compared to increased consumption reported by a comparison group of combat Veteran criminal defendants. Veterans who left the military over the age of 25 experienced smoother transitions than those who entered and left the military at younger ages. A logic model of Veteran crime is proposed that warrants further research to verify or nullify the theory. At the philosophical level, this study challenges the ethics of war itself. The best possible way to address resocialization problems of combat Veterans is to avoid creating combat Veterans in the first place.

Author

• Kyle Rodgers, University of Nevada, Las Vegas