Beyond the Uniform: A Framework for Mitigating Relational Friction in Veteran Reintegration

Authors

• Danyal Beale, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

PTSD and Veteran Reintigration

Advisor

Professor Thomas Colletti

Abstract

ABSTRACT

 Purpose: To evaluate the necessity of a systemic, trauma-informed administrative shift that integrates family-inclusive wellness metrics into the veteran's reintegration paradigm.

Background: The transition from active-duty military service to civilian life is a high-stakes longitudinal shift transcending a singular administrative discharge date. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) acts not merely as a clinical diagnosis, but as a systemic disruption to the "homecoming" process. Current medical models within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) often isolate symptoms within fragmented, individual-centric clinical settings. This institutional failure to address the secondary trauma and "relational friction" of transition contributes to increased healthcare utilization, substance use disorders (SUD), and workforce attrition.                                                                         

Approach: By reframing PTSD as a longitudinal homecoming disruption, this framework provides physicians and Physician-Associates (PAs) with the tools to address the "Cultural Paradox" of military resilience and improve downstream clinical save ratios. Through a comparative review of DVA and VAC pathways alongside an analysis of cultural barriers, this research demonstrates how individual-centric models fail to treat the relational environment where successful reintegration occurs, establishing an ethical imperative for a Whole-of-System framework.                                                                                                                     

Conclusion: Implementing family-inclusive care is an ethical requirement to preserve the integrity of the veteran's household, bridge federal-provincial regulatory gaps, and reduce long-term national healthcare burdens. Future efforts must prioritize longitudinal auditing of resource allocation across rural and urban catch-basins to ensure a transparent and resilient homecoming.

Recommended Citation

Beale D. Beyond the Uniform: A Framework for Mitigating Relational Friction in Veteran Reintegration. University of Lynchburg Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2026; 8(2).