Returning troops and the military/civilian divide

Hour 1

When roughly 45,000 American troops serving in Iraq return home later this month, they will be greeted by flag-waving and ceremony in appreciation of their service to our country.  What also awaits them is a public who understands very little about military culture and what our troops have experienced in war. The volunteer soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines returning from war will also have to convince employers how the skills they acquired while in uniform can translate to a difficult job market.  Time writer MARK THOMPSON is the author of a November 21st cover story called An Army Apart which details the cultural divide between those serving in the military and the civilian world and how that divide will challenge all of us, most importantly our returning troops.  He calls them “the other 1%.”  We’ll also hear from TOM TARANTINO, an Iraq war veteran who is the senior legislative associate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

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[audio: 120711_100630.mp3]