Veteran

A person who has substantial experience (and is often skilled and regarded) as well as knowledge in a certain profession or area is referred to as a veteran. A person who has previously served in the armed forces but is no longer doing so is considered a veteran.

A veteran of the armed forces who has seen active duty in the line of duty during a time of war is referred to as a war veteran.

Veterans of the armed forces are a distinct population because the nature of their personal experiences is so intricately intertwined with the conduct of warfare in general and the use of professional violence in particular. Therefore, there is a significant body of knowledge that has been generated over centuries of academic study that seeks to describe, interpret, and explain their lived experience both during and after their time in the service. Together with his colleagues, Griffith provides an overview of this research field, which addresses veterans' general health, the transition from military service to civilian life, veteran homelessness, veteran employment, veteran civic engagement, and veteran identity as recurrent investigative topics in the field.