Veterans Are Not Just Another Underserved Group—Here’s Why That Matters

By Dr. Ali R. Tayyeb, PhD, RN, NPD-BC, PHN, FAAN

In today’s well-intentioned efforts to address inequality and uplift underrepresented communities, veterans are often grouped into a broad category of “underserved populations.” On the surface, this makes sense—veterans experience homelessness, unemployment, mental health issues, and systemic barriers just like other marginalized groups. But equating the veteran experience to that of any other underrepresented population overlooks the profound, unique challenges that stem from military service and the often invisible weight veterans carry long after they remove the uniform.

Veterans are not a monolith, but a culture and system shape their experiences unlike any other. Military service imposes physical, emotional, and psychological demands that are not comparable to civilian life. From combat trauma and traumatic brain injuries to moral injury and the lasting impacts of military sexual trauma, the scope of challenges veterans face is deeply distinct.

Transitioning from military to civilian life is not a simple change in employment status—it is a full identity shift. Veterans must navigate systems—healthcare, employment, education, housing—that were not designed with them in mind. Even with the existence of the Department of Veterans Affairs, gaps persist. Many veterans struggle to access timely care, face stigma for seeking mental health services, or find themselves lost in bureaucratic red tape that can feel more like a second battle than a support system.

Moreover, veterans carry a dual burden: their identity as former service members and their intersectionality with other underrepresented statuses. A Black veteran, a woman veteran, or an LGBTQ+ veteran may face compounded barriers rooted in both their veteran status and their broader social identity. Yet, society often fails to see this nuance, lumping veterans into a one-size-fits-all narrative.

Veterans don’t ask to be seen as better than others but deserve to be seen differently. Their needs are specialized, their sacrifices are unique, and their value to society extends far beyond their time in uniform. Recognizing this isn’t about exceptionalism; it’s about equity. Equity means meeting people where they are, with policies, resources, and support systems tailored to their lived experience. That includes veterans.

When we reduce the veteran identity to just another checkbox in diversity initiatives, we not only minimize their lived realities—we risk designing solutions that don’t work for them at all. If we’re serious about addressing systemic inequities, we must be serious about understanding and supporting our veterans in the ways they actually need—not just in the ways we assume they do.