Final answer:
For recent veterans, military service can lead to increased confidence and leadership skills, as well as intellectual growth. However, transitioning to civilian life also presents challenges, such as resocialization issues, mental health struggles, and increased risk of alcohol abuse and suic'de. Education benefits can provide a pathway to career advancement, but can also affect the nature of higher education offerings.
Step-by-step explanation:
For recent veterans, military service has multiple impacts on their lives, including increasing self-confidence and leadership skills, broadening them intellectually, contributing to alcohol abuse, and influencing future career choices. Soldiers often gain discipline and a capacity for hard work during their service, setting aside personal goals to achieve a mission and taking pride in their team's accomplishments. These skills can lead to excellent careers. However, the transition to civilian life can be challenging, leading to uncertainty about career paths and contributing to resocialization difficulties. Studies have shown that formal efforts to reintegrate veterans are beneficial and can empower young adults, providing valuable skills for prospective careers.
Additionally, veterans may suffer from physical and mental health issues upon returning from service, including PTSD, flashbacks, and other effects. These can lead to a higher likelihood of alcohol abuse and other health-related issues which can negatively affect their personal and professional lives. It has been observed that veterans of any conflict have higher suic'de rates compared to nonveterans, indicating the gravity of these challenges.
On the positive side, many veterans take advantage of educational benefits post-service, which in the past has seen significant increases in college attendance among former soldiers. This has historically led to shifts in higher education, from liberal arts to more career-oriented programs, reflecting the needs and goals of veterans aiming to become more competitive in the job market.