Complex perceptions of identity: the experiences of student combat veterans in community college

Conceptual Models of Student Veteran College Experiences

“…Although it draws on the Jones and McEwen () multiple dimensions of identity model, the Rumann and Hamrick () study did not sufficiently address identity development among student veterans. Subsequent research by Hammond () provides a better theoretical understanding of this population by exploring how combat student veterans experience college and subsequently construct a more complex sense of self as part of their overall transition.…”

“…The lack of literature related to student veterans, specifically the study of identity and the unique aspects of contemporary war, requires a new lens by which to view student veterans in higher education today (Hammond, ). Rumann and Hamrick () first suggested veterans are continuously renegotiating their own personal identity as they transition from a military environment to college.…”

“…Increases in the student veteran population on college campuses since 2005 spurred a new era of scholarly activity and research on this population. The first wave of studies drew important initial attention to veterans while demonstrating that the field needs more salient conceptual models to understand and study the student veteran experience more holistically and evolve from concepts that only address transitions from the military to higher education (Hammond, ; Vacchi & Berger, ). A new wave of student veteran scholars (e.g., Downs, Hammond, Hullender, Jones, McBain, Minnis, Phillips, Vacchi) aims to explore beyond the area of veteran transitions into higher education and to examine the success of veterans in college from a more holistic perspective.…”

Student Veterans in Higher Education: A Conversation Six Decades in the Making

“…Similar to their counterparts from World War II, veterans from OEF and OIF enrolling in higher education tend to be more mature and motivated in their studies than the general student population (Ackerman, DiRamio, & Mitchell, ; Brown, ; Brown & Gross, ; Hammond, ; Herrmann et al., ; Mangan, ; Rumann & Hamrick, ). This heightened sense of maturity has led some combat veterans to be frustrated with their younger peers and often influence behavioral outbursts of student veterans in the classroom or at the university as a whole (Byman, ; Hammond, ; O'Herrin, ). However, more concerning was a perceived lack of campus support found by first‐year combat veterans in comparison to nonveterans (National Survey of Student Engagement, ).…”

“…The veterans of OEF and OIF require unique educational and cultural adjustments in order to make a smooth transition from the military to a civilian college environment (Hammond, ; McBain, ; Rumann & Hamrick, ). The influence of the Post‐9/11 G.I.…”