At ease! Letting go of the rank, responsibility, and regalia : a case study of U.S. Marines and their tenuous transition to civilian life.

Marines face a difficult decision to separate from the Marine Corps or to continue in their career when they reach the end of their first contract. The decision for U.S. Marines to continue their career means enduring the demanding schedules, stressful training regimens, and time away from family. Leaving the Marine Corps means starting a whole new career while trying to match the compensation level of military service. Career transition is a crossroad every Marine faces, but many find themselves remorseful of their decision to leave. Therefore, it is critical to explore the issues and decisions made by U.S. Marines during their transitional time and discover the reasons that guided them back to military service.

This single case study explored the stories of six U.S. Marines after they decided to rejoin military service after leaving active duty. Their stories are unique, and their reasons for returning to the military vary. Every participant shared their story through a series of questionnaires and a video conference call. The participants’ stories are essential to study so future Marines can contextualize their options as they will one day have to separate from the Marine Corps. This study used Schlossberg’s 4S model theory of adults in transition as a theoretical framework to explore the insights and perspectives of the six participants. 

Participants held several roles in the Marine Corps and varied in their backgrounds as well as their current family situations. Most participants indicated they experienced financial hardships in supporting their families, and the overwhelming cost of health insurance exacerbated the struggle. Other participants found their loss of the military culture too much and chose to return to military service. The study found that military service members would benefit from more extended coverage in health insurance after their service time ends. This study also showed that the military separation courses would be more effective by expanding to include a more significant number of challenges the military servicemembers will face upon separating from the military.