Veterans and Internet Use: Implications for Career Preparation and Development Support

摘要

This research compares internet usage by veterans of the U.S. armed forces with internet usage by two reference groups - an educational-elite group and an educational-non-elite group. In terms of overall use, veterans are found to use the internet significantly less than members of the educational-elite reference group. This is cause for concern. Somewhat reassuringly, veterans are found to use the internet significantly more than members of the non-elite reference group. Effective and efficient use of the internet can potentially be enormously helpful to veterans in their transition out of armed forces life; and can help them adjust to, and get ahead in, civilian life and careers. This research suggests that agencies that look after veterans' interests, and provide counseling and training services to them, may find it rewarding to focus some of their attention towards increasing veterans' use of the internet. Thus this research has implications for issues related to career preparation and development support for veterans.