An Emic Conceptualization of Veteran, “You're Either One Of Two Things; You're Captain America Or You're Broken”

Abstract

This study explored the insider perspective of former military members discussing the concept veteran. Using a symbolic interactionist framework, semistructured interviews (N = 16) were utilized to ask former military members about veteran as symbol, veteran as self, and where these two veterans diverge or overlap. Six themes emerged: 1) The public describes veteran in absolutes/ tropes (object); 2) Service is the key to veteran status (object); 3) Participants are more critical of their own service (self); 4) Conceptions of veteran are coupled with war (object/self); 5) Public displays of veteran (object/self); 6) Deeper engagement between public and former military members (object/self).