Abstract:This quantitative comparative study examined whether combat experience significantly influences grit and psychological well-being among U.S. military veterans. Grounded in Duckworth et al.’s conceptualization of grit as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, Daci and Ryan’s model of well-being to maximize positive emotions, this research assessed differences between veterans with and without combat exposure. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods and classified according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ definitions of combat service. Grit was measured using the 12-item Original Grit Scale (Grit-O), and psychological well-being was assessed using the PERMA Profiler, a validated instrument based on Seligman’s multidimensional model of flourishing. Based on the results of that Welch’s t-test there was no statistically significant mean difference in the grit scores between combat and non-combat veterans [t(68.82) = 0.40, p = .687]. An independent t-test was used to determine that there was also no statistically significant mean difference in the well-being between combat and non-combat veterans [t(106) = 0.87, p = .388]. These findings challenge prevailing assumptions that combat exposure uniquely shapes psychological resilience and suggest that other elements of military life—such as leadership, training, and social support—may exert greater influence. This study contributes to the literature on military psychology by reinforcing grit’s stability and promoting holistic approaches to understanding and supporting veterans’ well-being.