Vietnam’s most COMMON JOBS After War for US Veterans! 

Vietnam’s most COMMON JOBS After War for US Veterans! 

Over 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam between 1965 and 1973. When they came home, they faced a job market that wasn’t prepared for them, a society that didn’t want to hear about the war and employment discrimination that made transitioning to civilian work far harder than it should have been. The jobs Vietnam veterans ended up in weren’t always what they’d trained for or hoped for.

 They were what was available to men trying to rebuild lives after a war that America wanted to forget. This breakdown covers where Vietnam veterans actually ended up working after the war based on Department of Labor Statistics, Veterans Administration employment records, census data from the 1970s and 1980s, and sociological studies that tracked veteran employment patterns.

 The second part examines the treatment veterans received upon return and how it affected their ability to find and keep employment. Law enforcement became one of the largest employment sectors for Vietnam veterans. Approximately 25 to 30% of police officers hired during the 1970s and early 1980s were Vietnam veterans. According to Department of Justice employment studies, the transition from military to police work was natural in some ways.

 Both involved hierarchy, discipline, weapons training, and working in dangerous situations. Police departments actively recruited Vietnam veterans during this period. Veterans had weapons proficiency, understood chain of command, and were accustomed to stress. Many departments offered veterans preference in hiring, giving them points on civil service exams or priority consideration when qualifications were equal between candidates.

 Some departments specifically marketed to veterans as a way to fill positions. The skills veterans brought from military service translated directly to police work. In many cases, infantry soldiers understood tactical movement, threat assessment, and use of force. Military police had direct experience in law enforcement. Combat veterans had operated under stress and made life decisions.

 These weren’t just transferable skills. They were exactly what police departments wanted. But the transition wasn’t always smooth. Combat experience in Vietnam didn’t necessarily prepare veterans for civilian law enforcement. The rules of engagement were different. The threat environment was different.

 What worked in Vietnam could create problems in American policing. Some veterans struggled with the differences between combat and policing, leading to excessive force incidents or inability to deescalate confrontations. The psychological impact of combat affected some veterans performance as police officers.

 PTSD wasn’t well understood in the 1970s and screening for it was minimal or non-existent. Veterans with undiagnosed or untreated PTSD entered police work and some experienced problems when situations triggered combat responses. Flashbacks, hypervigilance, and aggressive reactions to perceived threats created issues for some veteran officers.

 Despite these challenges, many Vietnam veterans had successful long-term careers in law enforcement. Some rose through ranks to become chiefs and commanders. The discipline and leadership skills from military service served them well in police administration. The percentage of Vietnam veterans in police work remained high through the 1980s and 1990s as those who’d been hired in the 1970s built careers.

 Manufacturing jobs absorbed large numbers of Vietnam veterans during the 1970s. The American manufacturing sector was still strong in this period with automotive, steel, aerospace, and other industries employing millions of workers. Veterans found work in factories, assembly plants, and industrial facilities that needed the kind of reliable, disciplined workers that military service produced.

The GI Bill provided education benefits, but not all veterans used them immediately or at all. Many needed income right away and couldn’t afford to spend years in college before earning. Manufacturing offered decent wages with benefits without requiring college degrees. Union jobs in manufacturing provided middle class incomes, health insurance, and pensions.

 Everything veterans needed to build stable lives. The automotive industry particularly employed Vietnam veterans. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and their suppliers hired thousands of veterans in the 1970s. Assembly line work didn’t require extensive training and provided steady employment. The UAW Union protected workers and negotiated strong wage and benefit packages that made automotive work attractive to veterans seeking stability.

Steel mills, shipyards, and heavy industrial facilities also employed significant numbers of veterans. These jobs were physically demanding, but paid well. Veterans accustomed to physical hardship from military service adapted well to industrial work that required strength and endurance. The camaraderie in industrial workplaces sometimes resembled military units, making the transition easier for some veterans.

The problem was that manufacturing began declining just as Vietnam veterans were establishing careers. The 1980s saw massive job losses in American manufacturing as plants closed, relocated overseas or automated. Veterans who’d built careers in manufacturing found themselves laid off in their 30s and 40s with skills that weren’t transferable to the emerging service economy.

Construction became another major employment sector for Vietnam veterans. The building trades, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, heavy equipment operation didn’t require college degrees, but provided good incomes for skilled workers. Many veterans entered construction during the 1970s building boom and stayed in the industry for entire careers.

Veterans Administration construction training programs helped some veterans learn trades. These programs provided classroom instruction and apprenticeships that led to certifications in various trades. The programs weren’t large enough to serve all veterans who wanted training, but thousands went through them and entered construction careers.

Heavy equipment operation particularly attracted veterans who’d operated military vehicles and machinery. operating cranes, bulldozers, excavators, and other construction equipment paid well and used skills veterans had developed in service. Some military occupational specialties translated directly to civilian construction equipment operation.

Carpentry, electrical, and plumbing trades required apprentichips that could take years to complete. Veterans entering these trades typically started as laborers while completing apprenticeships. The path from laborer to journeyman tradesman took dedication and time but provided solid middle class income and job security once achieved.

 The construction industry’s boom and bust cycle affected veteran employment. Good years provided steady work and high wages. Recessions meant layoffs and unemployment. Veterans working construction had to manage periods of unemployment between jobs or during economic downturns. The instability was difficult for veterans trying to establish financial security.

Truck driving employed substantial numbers of Vietnam veterans. Longhaul trucking, local delivery, and specialized hauling all needed drivers. Veterans with military truck driving experience could obtain commercial driver’s licenses relatively easily. The work offered independence, decent pay, and didn’t require college education.

Interstate trucking companies recruited veterans actively during the 1970s. The industry was growing rapidly as the interstate highway system expanded commerce. Companies needed reliable drivers and veterans fit the profile. disciplined, able to work independently, comfortable with long hours and irregular schedules.

 The lifestyle of longhaul trucking appealed to some veterans and was difficult for others. Being on the road for weeks at a time suited veterans who’d spent extended periods deployed, but created problems for those trying to rebuild family relationships after years away in Vietnam. The isolation of truck driving could be either peaceful or lonely depending on the veteran’s psychological state.

 The deregulation of trucking in 1980 changed the industry dramatically. Wages decreased, working conditions deteriorated, and job security diminished. Veterans who’d entered trucking in the 1970s saw their earnings decline through the 1980s as competition increased and rates dropped. What had been a solid middlecl class job became increasingly difficult to sustain a family on civil service jobs.

 Federal, state, and local government employment attracted Vietnam veterans through veterans preference policies. These policies gave veterans points on civil service exams and priority consideration for government jobs. The preference was most effective at federal level where it was enforced strictly, less so at state and local levels where enforcement varied.

 Postal service employment absorbed thousands of Vietnam veterans. Mail carriers, postal clerks, and sorting facility workers had veterans preference in hiring. The postal service was expanding in the 1970s and needed workers. The combination of veterans preference and growing employment made postal work a common destination for veterans.

 Veterans administration employment naturally included many Vietnam veterans. The VA hospitals, clinics, and administrative offices hired veterans for various positions. Working for the VA meant being around people who understood military service. Some veterans found this comfortable, while others preferred work environments where everyone wasn’t connected to military service.

 Other federal agencies also employed significant numbers of veterans. The Forest Service, National Park Service, Customs and Border Agencies, and numerous other federal departments hired veterans. Security guard and private security work employed veterans who didn’t qualify for police work or preferred less demanding security roles.

 The work required similar skills to military service. Vigilance, understanding of security protocols, ability to work night shifts. The pay was generally poor and benefits minimal, making it less attractive than law enforcement, but accessible to veterans who couldn’t obtain better employment. The private security industry grew substantially during the 1970s and 1980s.

 Shopping malls, office buildings, industrial facilities, and residential complexes all needed security guards. The work was often boring, but required presence and alertness. Veterans accustomed to standing watch during military service adapted to security guard work easily. Some veterans used security work as temporary employment while seeking better positions.

 Others stayed in security for entire careers, particularly if PTSD or other service connected disabilities limited their employment options. The work was less demanding than many jobs, which made it suitable for veterans dealing with physical or psychological challenges. Maintenance and custodial work became fallback employment for many veterans.

Schools, hospitals, office buildings, and industrial facilities needed janitors, groundskeepers, and maintenance workers. The work didn’t pay particularly well, but was generally available and didn’t require extensive qualifications. Veterans who struggled with substance abuse, PTSD, or other challenges that made stable employment difficult often ended up in custodial and maintenance work.

 The jobs were tolerant of people with problems as long as the work got done. Combat veterans who’d served honorably sometimes found themselves mopping floors or cleaning toilets for minimum wage, creating feelings of failure and resentment. The disconnect between military service and menial civilian work affected self-esteem and mental health.

 Small business ownership appealed to veterans who wanted independence and control over their work lives. using skills learned in service, leadership, logistics, maintenance, technical abilities. Some veterans started their own businesses. Success rates varied widely with many businesses failing within the first few years, but some veterans building successful enterprises.

 Gas stations, auto repair shops, and similar mechanical businesses attracted veterans with mechanical skills for military service. These businesses required relatively small initial investments and used skills many veterans had. The work was familiar and the independence appealing. Some veterans thrived as small business owners while others struggled with the business management aspects.

 The franchise boom of the 1970s and 1980s provided opportunities for veterans with access to capital. Fast food franchises, convenience stores, and service businesses offered established business models that reduced some of the risks of independent business ownership. Veterans who’d saved money or had family support sometimes invested in franchises.

Agriculture and farming employed some veterans who’d grown up on farms and returned to agricultural work after service. The shift from military life to farming was dramatic, but appealed to veterans seeking quiet, independent lives away from people and stress. Some veterans used VA farm loans to purchase land and equipment.

 The reality was that farming was declining as a proportion of American employment during this period. Young veterans returning to family farms often found the farms struggling economically. The shift from small family farms to large agricultural businesses meant fewer opportunities in farming. Veterans who wanted agricultural lives increasingly had to settle for farm worker positions rather than farm ownership.

 The transition from military technical specialties to civilian trades wasn’t always direct. Military training in electronics, for example, didn’t necessarily qualify someone for civilian electronics work without additional certification. Veterans often needed retraining or additional credentials beyond their military experience to work in civilian versions of their military specialties.

Whitecollar professional careers were less common for Vietnam veterans compared to later veteran cohorts, partly because fewer Vietnam era veterans used the GI Bill for college degrees. Statistics show only about 40% of Vietnam veterans used their education benefits compared to over 75% of World War II veterans.

 Various factors contributed to this. the unpopularity of the war, inadequate benefits compared to World War II GI Bill, need for immediate income, and psychological challenges from combat trauma. Veterans who did complete college degrees entered fields like teaching, business, health care, and engineering. These veterans generally had better long-term economic outcomes than those who didn’t use education benefits.

 The correlation between education and employment success was as strong for veterans as for non-veterans. College degrees led to better jobs and higher lifetime earnings. The employment challenges Vietnam veterans faced reflected broader problems with how America treated its Vietnam veterans. Unlike World War II veterans who returned to parades and grateful celebration, Vietnam veterans came home to a divided country that ranged from indifferent to openly hostile toward them.

 The myth of spitting on returning veterans requires careful handling. While stories of veterans being spat upon became part of veteran lore, documented cases are extremely rare. Historian Jerry Lempky’s research found almost no contemporary documentation of spitting incidents despite extensive searching of newspapers, police reports, and other records.

 This doesn’t mean it never happened, but it was likely far less common than popular memory suggests. What is well documented is the general cold reception and sometimes hostile treatment. Veterans were advised not to wear uniforms in public to avoid confrontations. Anti-war sentiment extended to the soldiers who fought with protesters sometimes failing to distinguish between opposition to the war and respect for those who served.

 The phrase baby killers was used against veterans by some anti-war activists, creating lasting anger and pain. The lack of welcome home parades or public recognition was striking compared to previous wars. World War II veterans returned to ticker tape parades and universal acclaim. Vietnam veterans typically received no organized welcome, no public acknowledgement of their service, and often felt they had to hide their veteran status to avoid negative reactions.

 This absence of recognition created psychological wounds that for some veterans were as painful as combat trauma. Employment discrimination against Vietnam veterans was real and documented. Some employers explicitly stated they wouldn’t hire Vietnam veterans. The reasons varied concerns about drug use, PTSD, discipline problems, or simply association with an unpopular war.

 Veterans found themselves facing questions in job interviews about combat experiences, drug use, and mental health that wouldn’t have been asked of non-veterans. The crazy Vietnam vet stereotype developed in media and popular culture during the 1970s. Movies and television shows portrayed Vietnam veterans as unstable, violent, drugaddicted, and unable to adjust to civilian life.

 Films like Taxi Driver created an image of the disturbed Vietnam veteran that made employers reluctant to hire them. While some veterans did struggle with these issues, the stereotype applied problems of a minority to all Vietnam veterans unfairly. Studies from the Department of Labor documented higher unemployment among Vietnam veterans compared to non-veterans of the same age throughout the 1970s.

 The gap was particularly large for black veterans who faced both veteran discrimination and racial discrimination. Young black Vietnam veterans in urban areas experienced unemployment rates over 20% during the mid 1970s, more than double the rate for white nonveterans. The transition assistance provided to Vietnam veterans was minimal compared to what World War II veterans received.

 The GI Bill benefits were less generous. There was no equivalent to the massive housing programs that helped World War II veterans buy homes. Job training programs were underfunded and reached only a small percentage of veterans who needed them. VA hospitals and services were overwhelmed and underfunded during the 1970s.

 Veterans seeking treatment for service connected disabilities or mental health issues faced long waits and often inadequate care. The VA’s failure to recognize or effectively treat PTSD meant that thousands of veterans suffering from combat trauma couldn’t get the help they needed to function in civilian employment. Substance abuse among Vietnam veterans was higher than the general population, though not as universal as media stereotypes suggested.

 Heroin use in Vietnam was well documented. Some estimates suggest 10 to 15% of soldiers used heroin in country. Most users stopped upon returning home, but a significant minority continued using or switched to other substances. Alcoholism affected perhaps 20 to 25% of Vietnam veterans at some point after service. The connection between substance abuse and employment problems was direct.

Veterans struggling with addiction had difficulty finding and keeping jobs. Employers discovering substance abuse would terminate employment. The cycle of addiction, unemployment, homelessness, and further addiction trapped some veterans in downward spirals that were difficult to escape. PTSD was poorly understood and often undiagnosed in the decade following the war.

 The diagnosis didn’t exist officially until 1980 when it was added to the DSM3. Before that, veterans suffering from combat trauma were diagnosed with various anxiety disorders, depression, or character disorders that stigmatized them and didn’t lead to appropriate treatment. The symptoms, hypervigilance, flashbacks, difficulty with authority, anger issues, made employment difficult.

Homelessness among Vietnam veterans became visible during the 1980s. Estimates vary, but by the mid 1980s, Vietnam veterans made up perhaps 25 to 30% of the homeless population despite being only about 8% of the adult male population. The pathway to homelessness typically involved PTSD, substance abuse, difficulty maintaining employment, loss of family support, and finally, loss of housing.

 The homeless veteran became a symbol of how poorly America had treated those who served in Vietnam. Seeing combat veterans living on streets created cognitive dissonance for a society that claimed to honor military service. The visibility of homeless veterans contributed to gradually shifting public attitudes toward more sympathetic understanding of veteran struggles.

Family relationship problems affected employment indirectly. Veterans returning from Vietnam often found marriages strained or destroyed. Children who were infants when fathers deployed didn’t know them. The readjustment to family life was difficult and many marriages ended in divorce.

 The loss of family support networks made employment challenges harder to overcome. Some veterans isolated themselves from families and former friends, unable to relate to people who hadn’t experienced combat. The isolation made employment networking difficult and eliminated support systems that might have helped with job searches or surviving unemployment periods.

Veterans who cut themselves off from civilian connections found rebuilding lives much harder. The gradual shift in public attitudes during the 1980s began improving conditions for Vietnam veterans. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1982, created a focal point for acknowledging veterans service and sacrifice.

 The moving nature of the memorial, 58,000 plus names of the dead, helped Americans separate their feelings about the war from their feelings about those who fought. Corporate America began recognizing veterans as assets rather than liabilities during the 1980s. Some companies developed veteran hiring initiatives.

 The skills that had been viewed as problematic, discipline, leadership, ability to work under pressure were reframed as positives. The shift wasn’t universal or immediate, but employment prospects for veterans gradually improved. Legislative changes improved benefits and services. The post 1980 recognition of PTSD led to better VA mental health services, though implementation took years.

 Education benefits improved. Job training programs received more funding. Veterans preference in federal hiring was enforced more strictly. These changes came too late for many veterans, but helped those still struggling with employment in the 1980s and beyond. The long-term employment outcomes for Vietnam veterans eventually caught up to non-veterans by the 1990s.

 Studies tracking employment and income over decades found that Vietnam veterans who survived the difficult 1970s transition generally had careers and incomes comparable to non-veterans by the time they reached their 40s and 50s. The damage wasn’t permanent for most, though the lost years and delayed career development created lasting financial impacts.

 The differences in outcomes between veterans who used education benefits and those who didn’t persisted throughout their lives. Veterans with college degrees had career trajectories similar to non-veteran college graduates. Veterans without degrees who went directly into workingclass jobs had outcomes comparable to non-veterans in similar situations.

 The GI Bill usage or lack thereof largely determined long-term economic outcomes. Race significantly affected veteran employment outcomes. Black Vietnam veterans faced discrimination both as veterans and as black men. Hispanic veterans similarly dealt with dual discrimination. The combination meant minority veterans had more difficulty finding good employment and took longer to achieve economic stability than white veterans.

 Women Vietnam veterans, primarily nurses, had different employment experiences than male veterans. Many continued careers in nursing or health care. The relatively small number of women who served meant they were less visible and faced different stereotypes than male veterans. The lessons from Vietnam veteran employment experiences influenced how later veteran cohorts were treated.

 Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans benefited from improved transition assistance, better education benefits, and more employer recognition of veteran value. The mistakes made with Vietnam veterans led to better programs for later generations. If you found this informative, hit that like button.