The Lived Experience of Retired Enlisted Male Military Veterans Reintegrating Into Civilian Culture: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

This study explored the lived experience of retired enlisted male military veterans as they reintegrate into civilian culture following long-term service. Utilizing interpretive phenomenological analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who had served 20 or more years and were actively attempting to transition outside of U.S. Department of Defense employment. The analysis yielded six superordinate themes: (a) change of identity, (b) change of purpose, (c) perceived institutional abandonment, (d) civilian cultural disconnect, (e) resilience and self-directed adaptation, and (f) family and relational shifts. These themes were examined through a Jungian archetypal lens, revealing the destabilization and reconfiguration of hero, warrior, king, magician, and lover energies in the absence of military structure and cultural containment. Findings suggest that reintegration is a prolonged, disorienting psychological passage marked by identity disruption, loss of meaning, and cultural dislocation rather than a discrete adjustment event. Clinical implications emphasize the need for depth-oriented approaches that validate military-shaped traits, address moral injury and existential challenges, and situate distress within cultural and institutional contexts. This study highlights the importance of greater civilian awareness and institutional support to facilitate meaningful identity reconstruction for retired veterans.