As veterans of the Iraq War return to their families, researchers are showing renewed interest in understanding the life course effects of military service. Past research, however, does not provide clear insight into the life course opportunities of returning soldiers. As public policy and economic opportunities change, the experiences of veterans will also change. Though some studies have measured the benefits and risks of military service, there are few studies that have followed veterans later in life. Studies of the costs and benefits of military service in later life may help to inform current policy debates about the care and treatment of returning soldiers and help researchers understand the ability of public policy to shape outcomes related to retirement.This project attempts to answer some of these concerns by examining multiple cohorts of military veterans. -- from the abstract, page vii.

Regular print reproduction. A dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Florida State University College of Social Sciences.