“Thank You For Your Service?” It’s is a common sentiment civilians use in recognition of veterans’ service to our country. In fact, three-fourths of Americans (77%) say they thank veterans for their service in public. Yet, over half of veterans (58%) say they feel uncomfortable being thanked for their service.
That’s according to the CVN Veterans Day Survey 2021, which explored the civilian-military divide and also revealed what veterans think is important for civilians to understand about veterans and military service. Here are the top five insights that can help bridge the gap and foster a deeper connection with those who have served.
This Veterans Day, here’s what veterans want you to know:
1. Veterans are a diverse group.
Eighty percent of veterans think the most important thing for civilians to understand about veterans and service members is that they come from all walks of life.
- More than 1 in 10 veterans are women
- 43% of service members are racial or ethnic minorities
- An estimated 1 million veterans are members of the LGBTQ+ community
2. All service is significant.
Nearly three-fourths (70%) of veterans think it is important to know that some service members do not deploy or see combat, but their service is just as significant.
- In fact, not all veterans or military members deploy, go to war, or ever see combat. Although some occupations are specific to the military, there are hundreds of different kinds of jobs, including occupations that exist in the civilian workplace like nurses, doctors, lawyers.
For every military member in combat role there are many more that support them keeping them safe and healthy, transporting them and making sure they are fed, and paid, and resourced for their missions.
– David, Air Force Veteran
3. Remember their families.
Two-thirds of veterans (67%) think it is important to understand that military families serve, too.
- There are over 1.6 million military children, and they face numerous challenges and unique experiences stemming from their parents’ service.
- Military families move about every 2-3 years (which is about 3x the national average).
- Between Kindergarten and high school graduation, military children change schools an average of 6-9 times!
“The night before my husband deployed again, my son was very sad. He said to his dad, ‘I was used to you being gone, and then I was used to you being home. Now, I have to get used to you being gone again.’ He is just 10 years old, and his dad has been gone on and off for seven of those years. I like to tell people my son is on his 9th deployment. He has served every second of those deployments, just in a different capacity.”
– Liz, Military Spouse and Army Veteran
4. Not all veterans suffer from PTSD.
Three-in-five veterans (62%) believe it is important to understand that not all veterans experience PTSD.
- While mental health challenges, including PTSD, affect some veterans, it’s important to recognize that only about 7% of veterans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. Furthermore, this figure is only slightly higher than the 6% of non-veterans who experience PTSD.
5. Service is not what you see on screen.
Over half (57%) of veterans think it is important to know that being in the military is not how it’s portrayed in the movies.
“A lot of us don’t fit the stereotype of the ‘typical solider.’ There are so many types of jobs and people who serve in the military. There isn’t just one story that captures ‘the typical veteran experience.’
– Anneke, Army Veteran
Deepening our understanding of veterans is more than just a gesture of appreciation—it’s a step towards meaningful support. This Veterans Day, challenge your assumptions and go #BeyondTheThankYou. Learn more about how to honor veterans. Together, we can honor and appreciate those who have served.
About the Survey
CVN Veterans Day Survey 2021 was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Cohen Veterans Network and included 2,035 American adults aged 18 or older who participated in an online survey between October 26 – 28, 2021. Results were weighted to Census targets for education, age/gender, race/ethnicity, region, household income, and propensity to be online were adjusted where necessary to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.