Abstract: This applied dissertation was designed to fill the gaps on the transitional American veterans’ lived experience using their own voice. The reconstruction of an American Veteran’s identity after transitioning back into civilian life is a process with many challenges. Transitional practices often fail to help veterans to acculturate back into the civilian world. This includes the formulation of identities and associations. There is a lack of consistency in military transitional practices leading to identity loss and the formulation of mental and behavioral disorders. The aim of this study is to examine the lived experiences of veterans who have transitioned back into civilian life. The researcher developed two qualitative instruments, a survey to gather baseline data on the participants in this study and a semi-structured interview. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analytical (IPA) approach involving a structured interview and a demographic background questionnaire with sample of 11 combat veterans. Findings from this study shed light on serious social issues and challenges veterans face when transitioning back into civilian life in order to promote social change within the Department of Defense, legislators, and the community. An analysis of the data collected in this study illustrated that most veterans faced similar challenges in the transition process, including financial instability, difficulty assessing benefits and resources, difficulty finding meaningful relationships, and health problems. In response to the transition, participants described the process of learning new routines, roles, and social positions, managing loneliness and mental health problems, and transferring from a “culture of toughness” to one of a disabled veteran. There were several overarching themes that are worthy of their own studies.