Many soldiers have spent one or more tours fighting in the Iraq war despite criticism from countless sources on the legitimacy of that war. Now these soldiers are returning home to a public that, in large part, doesn’t understand why the war is being fought and therefore, can’t possibly understand the hardships the soldiers faced in battle. The result of this gap in understanding and communication is an increased rate of post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans and the inability to readjust to civilian life. However, the public has a duty to help these soldiers reintegrate into the civilian world because the soldiers upheld the promise they made when joining the military to serve their country and they must be shown that their service is appreciated.

Even the smallest gesture can make a large difference in the ability of a veteran to readjust to civilian life upon returning from the Iraq war. If you know that a soldier served in the war, thank them for their selflessness and the time they spent at war. You don’t have to agree with the war or the reasons why the war was started – that is irrelevant in this case. What you are doing is thanking the soldier for maintaining the promise they made to their country and for the sacrifices they made.

If you are an employer, you should do everything possible to help your veteran employees readjust to the workplace environment. Keep in mind that many veterans have just returned from extremely stressful situations. Offer your support to these workers and let them know you are available to establish a special working plan for a while to help them get used to the workplace again.

The families of veterans are often the main people that need more information on how to help their soldiers return home. This is often includes giving the soldier back some of the household duties they had given up during the tour and just letting the soldier know how much they were missed during the war.