Returning to Civilian Life

After successfully serving their term for four years, military service men and women are given the choice to stay in the military or return to civilian life.

For some, having to readjust to civilian life is one of the most challenging obstacles our returning soldiers and marines will ever have to face. While people may think that readjusting should be simple, they must take into consideration all the physical and mental stress our serviceman went through.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat.

Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. In the military, the Marines are given a two-week course on how to return to civilian life.

Unfortunately, some will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individuals may develop PTSD.

People who suffer from PTSD have difficulty sleeping because they are often reliving the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life.

Fullerton College, like most college, has its own Veteran's Office. Ray Bustos has been running the office for 3 years. Bustos acts as a liaison for the school and the veteran students. He makes sure the veterans returning to school get the right benefits. There are various types of financial aid for soldiers, marines, and reservists. He strongly encourages the use of the Veterans Affairs website.

The website is very informative and extremely helpful for veterans as well as for friends and relatives of veterans who want to learn more.

This is how I found out about PTSD. It is here where our service men and women can find out where they can receive counseling, job placement, and financial benefits.

Karl Reta is a second year Fullerton College student. He has been my inspiration for writing this article. Reta joined the United States Marine Corps in December of 2000.

He was looking for a challenge and to travel. His first choice was the Navy, but was advised to go "next door" to the Marines. He went through the same process as everyone else did - boot camp.

However, it was easy for him. He was smart and did some research before going in. He knew it was all a mind game and knew the goals. Physically, it was a challenge but he did it. Although Reta did get to travel, going to war didn't cross his mind. After 9/11 he had to go to Iraq.

Sergeant in the Infantry, one of his biggest jobs was making sure all his men were okay. His unit at one point comprised of 23 men. However, his main unit was only 11. He had to oversee that his men were financially, emotionally, and physically well. If they had family problems, he would have to try and figure them out.

He knew he had succeeded when his men were in a good state of mind. During his service as sergeant, Reta did not lose any men. Yes, there were some injuries, but fortunately no deaths.

Watching Reta readjust to civilian life has been interesting. Here is a guy who's served our country, took responsibility of others' lives, dodged missiles and now has to work a civilian job. Like most veterans, his outlook on life has changed. He views others differently. His family and close friends view him differently, too.

He said he feels like he's more respected. His standards of people have changed. He left the Core because he wanted to commit to school.

In the Marines, he wouldn't have been as focused. He received his financial aid and plans on attending a UC school. He advises people as well as other Marines to just do it.

The benefits are out there, you just have to do some extra work and find them.