Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Research Brief: "Military Service Absences And Family Members’ Mental Health: A Timeline Followback Assessment", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief examines mental health correlating with a parent's absence during a military deployment. The findings show that adolescents were affected by a military parent being absent from significant events, and that they would benefit from programs that offer pre and post-deployment briefings. In the future, research should investigate how contact during military deployment affects the service member and their family.

Research Brief: "Economic Well-Being Among Older-Adult Households: Variation By Veteran And Disability Status", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the impact of veteran and disability statuses on poverty and material hardship among elderly veterans. In policy and practice, veterans should use support services, such as the VA and local veterans groups, and social workers should take into account veteran and disability statuses when determining needs; the VA could change their income support programs to help disabled veterans. Suggestions for future research include accounting for individual differences among households and looking at how elderly veteran poverty affects family members.

University College Connection Fall 2015, Dennis K. George, Dean, Wendi Kelley, University College

UC Publications

No abstract provided.

Slavery And The Civil War: The Reflections Of A Yankee Intern In Appomattox, Jonathan G. Danchik

Student Publications

An overview of the "Lost Cause" and the resultant challenges faced by interpreters in Civil War parks.

The Environment And Civil War: Exploring The Relationship Between The Environmental Performance Index And Incidence Of Internal Armed Conflict, Katerina N. Krohn

Student Publications

The state of the environment is receiving increasing attention. Environmental quality’s possible relationship to violent conflict attracts both popular and academic interest. Prior research has found support for the idea that environmental scarcity is related to higher occurrences of civil war. There have been few comprehensive quantitative studies regarding this relationship. This study tests a more general argument that higher environmental quality can lead to fewer occurrences of internal armed conflict. The study utilizes an environmental performance index found in the Quality of Government Standard Dataset to test its hypothesis. The study finds that the higher the environmental performance index …

Honor, Courage, Commitment: Understanding Sexual Assault In The United States Navy, Caitlin Veronica Muldoon

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Recently, sexual assault within the military community has been drawing the attention of the media, military leaders, politicians and every day citizens. Criminologists however have traditionally not addressed this crime, and have specifically not addressed sexual assault within the US Navy. This dissertation seeks to address the current gap in literature by examining the sociocultural workplace climate of the US military and its possible contribution to the occurrence of sexual assaults. Utilizing original data obtained by NCIS, regression models were ran to evaluate sexual assault victim and offender demographics. The surprising findings were then discussed within the context of possible …

Remnants Of The American War: An Interactive Documentary, Jacob Sussman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Remnants of the American War is an interactive documentary exploring the legacy of the American War in Vietnam. The project tells the stories of individuals who were affected by or are involved with the conflict’s legacy within an interactive web interface. Envisioned as the counter-narrative to existing American portrayals of the conflict, the project seeks to illuminate Vietnamese perspectives that are often unheard within Western culture.

Featuring interviews with veterans, social workers, and artists whom I encountered during a month long journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the project highlights ongoing issues such as Agent Orange and Vietnam’s …

Mutually Assured Survival: An Analysis Of Globalization’S Influence On Nuclear Disarmament, Ryan Zehner

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Nuclear arms have revolutionized the ways by which human beings are able to harm one another. Omnipresent in the status quo is a nuclear tension, and whether subtly or more overtly, this tension underlies a great many international relationships. While Westphalian paranoia and neorealist power perceptions encourage populations to continue placing their faith in nuclear umbrellas and deterrence strategies, scholars and activists increasingly claim that without the realization of universal disarmament, humanity concedes to the inevitability of future nuclear detonation.

New disarmament initiatives concentrate heavily on the implications of nuclear weaponry in a sense that supersedes the security of only …

Research Brief: "Prevalence Of Suicidality Among Hispanic And African American Veterans Following Surgery", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the likelihood of suicidal behavior and ideation among African Americans and Hispanic Americans after surgery. In policy and practice, pain medications should be prescribed after major surgery, health professionals should evaluate for both physical and psychological suffering several months after surgery, and also provide more services to the patient if necessary; the VHA should expand its suicide prevention program and tailor interventions toward cultural subgroups. Suggestions for future research include looking at prescriber and patient characteristics when prescribing pain medication, looking at the differences in post-surgery coping by race, and relying on data from veterans about …

Child Maltreatment And Military-Connected Youth: Developing Protective School Communities: School Responses Of Referral And Clinical Interventions Do Not Address Needs Of Military Families, Kris T. De Pedro

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"Since the beginning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, more than 2 million school-aged youth in the United States have had a parent enlist in the military. About 1.2 million of these youth have experienced the deployment of a parent. Multiple and prolonged deployments and exposure to veteran trauma disrupt family relationships and financial stability. The deployment cycle also effects the mental health and well-being of service members and left-behind caregivers and children. Indeed, the caregivers in particular must cope with emotional stress and may have feelings of social isolation. Even when seeking help, left-behind caregivers may have difficulty locating …

Research Brief: ""This Is The Story Of Why My Military Career Ended Before It Should Have": Premature Separation From Military Service Among U.S. Women Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

The study offers an analysis of the trajectory of women in service compared to that of men, and the factors which contribute to these differences. In analyzing this study, the IVMF suggests the continuation of expanding this field of study and the importance of policy and practice of ensuring the data of such a study necessitating timeliness.

Research Brief: "Bringing The State Back In To Civic Engagement: Policy Feedback Effects Of The G.I. Bill For World War Ii Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study examines World War II veterans, as the implications for civic engagement and the theoretical framework are still applicable to post 9/11 veterans, and found that fifty-one percent of all World War II returning veterans took advantage of the G.I. Bill of 1944. In practice, public service programs for veterans should continue encouraging their veterans to be civically engaged, and student veterans should continue frequenting campus veteran’s centers and services. In policy, the VA and legislatures have made significant improvements to reduce the paperwork involved with accessing one’s G.I. Bill benefits. Suggestions for future study include continuing to study …

Research Brief: "Military And Mental Health Correlates Of Unemployment In A National Sample Of Women Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study found that unemployment among female veterans was independently associated with screening positive for depression, as well as several other factors related to military service and veteran status. In practice, caring for the mental health of female veterans might improve their employment prospects, and in addition, many unemployed female veterans expressed that civilian coworkers did not understand their military experience. In policy, the VA and other federal agencies might model programs to support unemployed female veterans after the Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) program. Suggestions for future study include incorporating …

Research Brief: "The Impact Of Multiple Deployments And Social Support On Stress Levels Of Women Married To Active Duty Servicemen", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief summarizes an examination of the relationship between number of deployments experienced by female spouses' perceived stress.

University College Connection Summer 2015, Dennis K. George, Dean, Wendi Kelley, Univeristy College

UC Publications

No abstract provided.

The Topper (July2015), Veterans Upward Bound Program, Western Kentucky University

Veterans Upward Bound Publications

VUB Awards Banquet; Glasgow Veteran Resource Center Grand Opening; Operation Stand Down; The Director's Desk; Important Numbers & Dates

Research Brief: "Strong, Safe, And Secure; Negotiating Early Fathering And Military Service Across The Deployment Cycle", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief summarizes an analysis on how military fathers of young children often endure repeated separations from their children and how these may disrupt the early parent-child relationship.

Research Brief: "Coping, Family Social Support, And Psychological Symptoms Among Student Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study is about coping styles among student veterans and what is related to various coping styles. For policy and practice, universities should understand veterans' stigmatization of mental health services and should improve cultural competence; the Department of Veterans Affairs should work with universities to ensure student veteran success. Suggestions for future research include using a larger, more representative sample and looking at the effects of actual versus perceived social support.

University College Connection Spring 2015, Dennis K. George, Dean, Wendi Kelley, University College, Western Kentucky University

UC Publications

No abstract provided.

Research Brief: "Civic Engagement And Sense Of Community In The Military", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This 1999 study focused on the Air Force service communities regarding civic engagement and a sense of community. The purpose was to identify if an increase in civic engagement/sense of community would help military families feel less overwhelmed and make better connections. Suggestions for future research include expanding this type of study to all military branches, as well as establishing and exploring other external factors which might impact families in these communities psychologically.

Research Brief: "Post-Sexual Assault Health Care Utilization Among Oef/Oif Servicewomen", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the use of medical and mental health services by servicewomen after sexual assault that occurred while in the military. In policy and practice, servicewomen who have been sexually assaulted should seek medical and mental healthcare in a timely manner, even if they don't believe it is necessary, to prevent HIV infection and pregnancy; the DoD should continue its use of the DoJ's gold standard of care while ensuring that servicewomen feel that they can reach out for post-assault healthcare. Suggestions for future research include sampling more servicewomen who utilize care, expanding the geographic spread of the …

Research Brief: "Sexual Assault Training In The Military: Evaluating Efforts To End The “Invisible War”", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study assesses whether prevention and education by the Department of Defense (DoD) fostered accurate knowledge about sexual assault resources and protocols among active duty personnel, and also how service members perceive the effectiveness of these efforts. Medical professionals and counselors serving sexual assault survivors should offer comprehensive and inclusive treatment, and would benefit from policies that enforce sexual assault prevention and response training which ensures that all service members are provided with the essential training needed to reduce sexual assault. Future research should collect data on the length of military service, which could provide useful information on the breadth …

A Dysfunctional Triangle An Analysis Of America’S Relations With Israel And Their Impact On The Current Nuclear Accord With Iran, Andrew Falacci

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper aims to analyze the current conflict over Iran’s nuclear program from a series of unique apertures pertaining to the relationship between the United States and Israel. An initial historical analysis is offered to examine the lead up to a conflict a half century in the making. The analysis looks at the historical relationships between the United States and Israel and the United States and Iran. Bringing both timelines together at the culmination of the nuclear conflict in the early part of this century illustrates how the relationship between the United States and both countries has created a fog; …

The Knights Of The Front: Medieval History’S Influence On Great War Propaganda, Haley E. Claxton

Crossing Borders: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Spanning a number of academic areas, “Knights of the Front: Medieval History’s Influence on Great War Propaganda” focuses on the emergence of medieval imagery in the First World War propaganda. Examining several specific uses of medieval symbolism in propaganda posters from both Central and Allied powers, the article provides insight into the narrative of war, both politically and culturally constructed. The paper begins with an overview of the psychology behind visual persuasion and the history behind Europe’s cultural affinity for “chivalry,” then continues into specific case studies of period propaganda posters that hold not only themes of military glory and …

The Topper (March 2015), Veterans Upward Bound Program, Western Kentucky University

Veterans Upward Bound Publications

Scholarship Opportunity; Vet-to-Vet Tutoring; Coming Home to Damaging Stereotypes; Have You Completed the FAFSA?; Coming Soon!; Notes & News; The Director's Desk; Important Numbers & Dates

Research Brief: "Disparities In The Consequences Of Sarcopenia: Implications For African American Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief shows why more research should be done on African American veterans who have sarcopenia. In policy and practice, African American veterans should tell their healthcare providers about their geriatric medical needs, and health professionals should inform their veteran patients about how to avoid muscle wasting that can lead to sarcopenia; the VA should provide criteria for diagnosing sarcopenia among aging veterans. Suggestions for future research include analysis of the relation between myosteatosis and diabetes, as well as focusing on understanding the effects of sarcopenia on African American veterans.

Research Brief: "The Effects Of Race And Other Socioeconomic Factors On Health Service Use Among American Military Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the existence of racial disparities in service utilization among VA and non-VA health care systems. In policy and practice, rural healthcare practitioners should perform outreach to rural veterans, such as hosting clinics, and social service workers should determine the needs of their local veteran population by working with VA and non-VA healthcare providers and veteran service organizations; the VA can remove barriers to care for all veterans and coordinate with rural healthcare providers to ensure veterans can access affordable healthcare. Suggestions for future research include using more current survey data and analyzing the healthcare access experiences …

Research Brief: "Empty Promise: Black American Veterans And The New Gi Bill", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This study found that despite the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 expanding educational benefits for military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001, African American veterans are utilizing GI benefits less than other ethnic groups. In practice, institutions of higher education (IHE) must recognize that veterans have acquired life skills that can be assessed and worthy of academic credit, and employers should seriously consider African American veterans as potential employees, regardless of whether they have competed a college degree. In policy, the DoD and the VA might partner together to better ensure that African American service members …

University College Connection Winter 2015, Dennis K. George, Dean, Wendi Kelley, University College

UC Publications

No abstract provided.

Between Warrior And Helplessness In The Valley Of Azawa - The Struggle Of The Kel Tamashek In The War Of The Sahel, Patrick James Christian

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an Investigation into the Tuareg involvement in violent conflict in the Sahara and the Sahel of North Africa from a sociological psychological perspective of unmet human needs. The research begins by establishing the structure and texture of the sociological, psychological, and emotional life patterns of their existence when not involved in violent conflict. This is followed by an examination of the pathology of Tuareg social structures that are engaged in intra and inter communal violence as perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. The first part of the research establishes normal conditions of the sociological life cycle and highlights natural …