Date
3-22-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Ralph (Mike) Ogburn
Keywords
veterans, career transition, coaching, interpretative phenomenological analysis, identity conflict, purpose, skills articulation, social integration, psychology
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Ingle, Miguel A., "Military Veteran Career Transition Coaching Experiences: Navigating the Shift from Military Service to Civilian Employment" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5260.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5260
Abstract
Shifting from a structured military culture is regarded as a critical juncture in the lives of military veterans. Veterans face career adaptation, identity conflict, and social integration challenges separating from the military, yet current military transition programs fail to address these challenges. Research on veterans’ transition has overlooked how career transition coaching benefits veterans’ reintegration into civilian careers, leaving a gap in understanding veterans’ challenges and successes with career transition coaching. Addressing veterans’ transition challenges is crucial for developing programs that facilitate their successful integration into civilian careers. This multiple-case qualitative study employed interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) to address this gap by investigating the experiences of 11 U.S. veterans who participated in career transition coaching programs during their separation. The research questions explored the influence of aligning career goals with personal values on the effectiveness of career transition coaching for veterans, framed within role and social identity theories. Through semi-structured interviews, four experiential themes emerged: identity conflict, redefining purpose, understanding and articulating military skills, and social and community integration. The findings emphasize the need for personalized career transition coaching that supports personal growth, professional development, and social adaptation. This study calls for research and practice into strategies to improve post-military career outcomes and underscores the role of psychologists, career consultants, VA and DoD programs, and community organizations in supporting improved transition outcomes.
