Date of Conferral

1-1-2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

James S. Herndon

Abstract

Many past researchers have reported problematic issues and challenges with militarypersonnel transitioning to civilian life and to the civilian workplace. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of 20 retired military officers who had between 24 and 42 years of military service regarding how they may have experienced the losses of social identity and organizational socialization and how those losses may have impacted their second careers in civilian organizations. Data for this study were collected via semistructured interviews and the use of interview protocols. The conceptual framework consisted of a combination of social identity theory and the theory of organizational socialization; those were the lenses through which the entire study was framed and the collected data were analyzed. The findings of this study indicated that shades of social identity and organizational socialization losses occur, and the losses do have a temporary impact on the participants’ second careers in civilian organizations. However, the social identities that made the participants successful in the military made them successful civilians as well. The current military Transition Assistance Program could be revised to include the missing psychological portion of the veteran and retiree transition. The implications for positive social change include addressing the psychological portion of the transition, which includes the potential losses of social identity and organizational socialization, leading to more psychologically successful and aware veterans and retirees.

Download

Share

 
COinS