From services to civilian: the geographies of veterans’ post-military lives

Herman, A. and Yarwood, R. (2014) From services to civilian: the geographies of veterans’ post-military lives. Geoforum, 53. pp. 41-50. ISSN 0016-7185 doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2014.02.001

Abstract/Summary

This paper explores the spatiality of (post)military identities, demonstrating the continuing impact of having been part of the military community despite the passage of time. Our tri-service respondents highlighted the challenges faced even by those deemed to have ‘successfully’ transitioned to ‘Civvy Street’, articulating discourses of loss and separation. While some had achieved closure with their past military selves, others struggled and became stuck in a liminal space between civilian and military lives that perpetuated feelings of isolation. Our work contributes to understandings of military geographies and highlights the importance of conceptualising post-institutional transitions as a process in order to understand how individuals negotiate their identities in changing spatial circumstances.