A Wellness Approach to Investigating Student Veterans’ Career Goals

A qualitative methodology was utilized to assess the wellness factors student Veterans (N = 10) perceived as influential to their decision to separate from the military and choice of intended career path. Participants included prior enlisted student Veterans pursuing undergraduate degrees at a mid-sized Midwestern university. Interview transcripts were coded according to the Indivisible Self Model of Wellness (IS-Wel; Myers & Sweeney, 2004) and analyzed phenomenologically. Participants referenced Control and Self-Worth as motivators for separation from military service; Work and Thinking were the main themes regarding choice of future profession. Additional themes emerged in reference to how Veterans’ priorities changed during their time in service. The IS-Wel serves as an innovative approach for facilitating student Veteran career development