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Identity

Leaving the military is a significant life change that disrupts multiple social dimensions of existence. Building awareness about the identity disruption that arises during reintegration is key to successfully integrating as a civilian. Often times, this happens once you’re completely out of the service. We’re here to help you make sense of who you are.

Honor who you are
in service of
who you will become

Beneath the Service is committed to building upon the exceptional qualities of military veterans and their families, enabling them to reintegrate socially and become influential leaders in their communities and workplaces.

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Purpose

Serving in the military provides you with a sense of purpose, or feeling that you were part of something bigger. Upon reintegration into civilian life, it can feel that you’re no longer contributing to something as important. We support you in mapping the direction you’re going in life so that you live your purpose.

Connection

The loss of culture and community after hanging up the uniform can be abrupt. Developing new group memberships and connections is key to reduce any negative consequences of this loss and provide a basis for self-redefinition. Join a new community & expand your connections.

We understand that there is more beyond the initial transition. Civilian reintegration is a continuum of subjective experiences after military service without a designated timeline or end point.

The Compass

Navigating the vastness of resources can be disorienting.

Our compass tool is here to help organize these resources based on your area of need or interest. One of the calls to action from of our programs is to explore the opportunities provided by great organizations.

Part of our mission is to be complementary to other nonprofit organizations that support the veteran community. We see ourselves as a recommendation engine to find candidates that are ready to take advantage of the benefits they offer.

Bob Woodruff Foundation

To ensure that our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families - those who stood for us - have stable and successful futures.

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Gary Sinise Foundation

To honor our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.

Visit

Military One Source

To provide resources and support to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve service members and their families anywhere in the world.

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We embrace identity, ignite purpose, and strengthen connections.

Identity

Leaving the military is a significant life change that disrupts multiple social dimensions of existence. Building awareness about the identity disruption that arises during reintegration is key to successfully integrating as a civilian. Often times, this happens once you’re completely out of the service. We’re here to help you make sense of who you are.

The Compass

Navigating the vastness of resources can be disorienting.

Purpose

Serving in the military provides you with a sense of purpose, or feeling that you were part of something bigger. Upon reintegration into civilian life, it can feel that you’re no longer contributing to something as important. We support you in mapping the direction you’re going in life so that you live your purpose.

domains of military adjustment and reintegration struggles

of loss of their military culture and community
Overall, military culture was described as a collectivist social institution that emphasizes hierarchy, structure, conformity and comaradery
the military was described as an organization that cares for its member, providing them with ‘safety’ and ‘comfort’.
‘bridging these two worlds’ where veterans must learn to navigate ‘different psychological and social rules’.
where participants were ‘unprepared’ to handle requirements of civilian life.
Participants frequently commented that civilians cannot truly understand their military experience or the consequences of their service

Connection

During their service, participants felt they were part of something bigger than themselves.They held ‘responsibility’,and felt accomplished, successful, and empowered, and by serving, participants had ‘made a meaningful contribution to a worthy and noble cause
It became apparent that after discharge, many felt that they were no longer contributing to something as important as the collective effort of military service

Purpose

‘fractured sense of self’ where during the reintegration process, they had ‘lost everything that epitomized and reinforced this identity’
participants appeared to face the dynamic process of reconstructing their civilian identity following discharge: ‘In the civilian world, it’s like, who am I? What do I dress like? How do I talk? Where do I go? What do I do?’
Others reported difficulty letting go of their military identity: ‘No longer being able to say that … that’s who I was, was probably the hardest part.

Identity

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Attend

One year out or 10 years out, we’re here for when you’re ready to invest in yourself.

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Leave a lasting impact and advance your philanthropic or corporate responsibility goals with our sponsorship opportunities

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Whether your company products or services, we’d love to work with you to develop a mutually beneficial collaboration that has a lasting impact.

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