Abstract:The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of National Guard soldiers as they describe and perceive their use of emotional intelligence skills in reintegrating into their communities after deployment. The theoretical foundation for this study was Mayer and Salovey's four-branch ability model of emotional intelligence. The following research questions guided this study: RQ1. How do National Guard soldiers describe their lived experiences and emotional responses during reintegration into their communities post-deployment? RQ2. What is it like for National Guard soldiers to utilize their emotional intelligence skills when reintegrating into the community following deployment? RQ3. In what ways do National Guard soldiers perceive their emotional intelligence skills during the reintegration process into their communities following deployment? A purposive sampling technique was used to identify ten previously deployed soldiers recruited from the West Virginia Army National Guard. The primary data collection method was unstructured virtual interviews. By applying Amedeo Giorgi's five-step phenomenological analysis, the following ten constituents emerged from the participants' lived experiences: 1) Transition from Structure to Fluidity, 2) Emotional Disconnect and Reconnection, 3) Family Role Adjustments, 4) Leaning on Shared Bonds, 5) Navigating Emotions, 6) Struggles with Community Reintegration, 7) Communication as a Bridge, 8) Managing Emotional Overload, 9) Institutional Support and Gaps, and 10) Struggling to Ask for Help.