Lived experiences of Veterans navigating the path to entrepreneurship

Abstract: Over 200,000 service members transition into the civilian sector every year. This transition initiates a unique process that is different for every veteran based on personal goals and needs. This process also invokes an emotional transition from one major identity to another. While there are resources available to assist veterans with this major life-altering event, many reported difficulties understanding which resources to use. The problem addressed by this study was the perceived challenges that contribute to retired veterans’ low utilization of government-provided entrepreneurial-based resources. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore veterans’ challenges seeking entrepreneurial resources that possibly contribute to the low utilization of provided resources. The accounts of the lived experiences described by the veterans navigating the transition process implicated a lack of a standardized process and support system to guide them through a pivotal juncture in their adult lives. Schlossberg’s theory of adult transition, the 4S model, and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory provided the framework to examine this phenomenon from the perspectives of four separated veterans. The researcher was the primary instrument and utilized Zoom to conduct one-on-one, semi-structured virtual interviews with four veteran volunteer participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected. In general, results indicated that all participants had different perceptions about the transition process and the utility of government-provided resources. Additionally, half of the participants encountered perceived challenges with chain-of-command support systems before the transition process. Most participants reported a lack of knowledge about the existence of entrepreneurial-based resources. Moreover, most participants reported that their main reason for choosing to retire was a need to prioritize their family support systems. Finally, all participants reported that their main source of information about government-provided resources was workshops and word of mouth. The results of this research contribute to the field of study by addressing the gaps in extant literature focused on veterans’ perceptions of the utility of government-provided resources as a tool to assist with the transition process, specifically in the pursuit of entrepreneurship.