Life After the Military: A Handbook for Transitioning Veterans

This robust compendium of information for veterans leaving the military covers essential topics including entering a new career, starting a business, furthering education, finding a home, insurance, benefits, and other financial concerns. Mental health specific to veterans is explored, including PTSD and the impact of military separation on identity. Helpful web links, clear explanations of important laws and benefits, and facts and figures necessary to taking full advantage of benefits are provided. The book also has a softer side, with a detailed guide to marital health, including housing, dividing chores, and increasing domestic harmony. Sections on entrepreneurship and business provide info on writing a business plan and simple crash courses in financial management. The authors delineate which benefits and services will be unavailable post-military and encourage readers to "use it or lose it." The tone is always approachable and encouraging, and appendices include useful websites, transition checklists, a guide to entrepreneurship, and a list of VA facilities. The authors aim to compile all the information that readers need (without having to pursue themselves). They've admirably met that aim.--Publishers Weekly
A Library Journal Best Core Nonfiction Book! Wounded Warrior Handbook coauthors Hill and Don Philpott and Cheryl Lawhorne-Scott, who works with the Wounded Warrior Regiment in Quantico, VA, use their extensive experience working with veterans to put together the information veterans need to more easily transition to civilian life. They offer practical advice on finding employment or education, obtaining VA medical benefits, and planning finances. The authors provide the specifics of benefits, including the names, phone numbers, and websites of the appropriate VA agencies for each claim. The four appendixes list an abundance of transition-related websites, transition checklists for the recovery care program, a guide to entrepreneurship, and lists of VA facilities by geographic area. Excellent for a new vet, this is an essential purchase for public libraries.--Library Journal, Starred Review (07/01/2011)
Hill (consultant), Lawhorne-Scott (Wounded Warrior Regiment), and Philpott (freelance writer) created this book by extracting valuable material from federal Web sites and supplementing it with their own content as necessary. The covered topics (leaving the service, developing a career, becoming an entrepreneur, finding a home, returning to school, managing finances, acquiring transition benefits, and obtaining health and other insurance) are all pertinent to new veterans. Much of the content introduces readers to federal programs and services for veterans. Though the writing style is matter-of-fact, the authors do a good job with topics that call forth emotional responses, such as the marital effects of military service. The chapters on career development and entrepreneurship are especially strong. The text uses many headings and subheadings, making it easy to browse....Appendixes contain a list of useful Web sites, the transition checklists used for the federal Recovery Care Coordinator Program, a guide to entrepreneurship, and a listing of VA facilities. This book is more an all-around guide than others that focus specifically on career development. Many veterans will appreciate the print version, but with its reliance on information published online and referrals to additional Web links, the e-book version has definite benefits. Summing Up: Recommended. Large public libraries and libraries serving a significant veteran population; lower- and upper-level undergraduates and general readers.--CHOICE