cultural competence.This guide has sections on military structure, culture and families, demographics, work, money, deployment and discharge, politics and resources for more study.The guide is written for those who want quick answers to the basic, everyday questions that people ask about veterans. The guide is intended for people in business, schools, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism who need a basic grounding.?Questions include:* Who has veteran status?* How many U.S. veterans are there?* Which conflict involved the most U.S. service personnel?* How many U.S. military deaths have there been in various wars?* In which conflict were the most American lives lost?* What percentage of veterans are women, and how is that changing?* Are WACS and WAVES veterans?* What are the racial and ethnic demographics of veterans?* What was the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy?* How did ending the draft in 1973 change the military?* Why do people go into the military?* What percentage of service personnel serve in combat?* Do women serve in combat?* What do we call members of the different branches?* How are commissioned and noncommissioned officers different?* Who commands the military?* What is military court?* What are the highest medals in the different branches?* Is it illegal to wear medals one has not earned?* Does everyone in the military carry a weapon?* Are there military rivalries?* How do job responsibilities vary among branches?* What are some examples of military jargon?* Why is military appearance so precise?* Do service members have a sense of camaraderie?* Are veterans who served in the same branch at different times close?* What is the goal of basic training, or boot camp?* How does being in the military change a person?* What are the origins of "Reveille" and "Taps"?* How long does enlistment last?* What determines deployment lengths?* Are bonuses offered to induce people to stay in the service?* How does pay vary?* What are base pay and additional pay?* What is the Individual Ready Reserve?* Can veterans re-enlist once discharged?* What are the types of discharge?* What is a DD214?* Is retiring the same as being discharged?* What percentage of military personnel were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan?* Has everyone deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan been in combat?* What is the role of Veterans Affairs?* What are veteran benefits?* What is the GI Bill?* Are veterans paid after their service ends?* How does the type of discharge affect benefits?* Are there special benefits for wounded or injured veterans?* Are there special benefits for female veterans?* Are there benefits for families of those killed on active duty?* Are there death benefits?* What training comes after basic training?* Can veterans receive college credit for what they learned in the service?* Are there scholarships or educational aid for veterans?* How many veterans attend college after serving?* What are employment statistics for veterans?* What advantages do veterans bring to the civilian job market?* What challenges do veterans face in the job market?* In what private-sector fields or functions do veterans often find work?* What other industries are veteran friendly?* How do civilian employers support veteran employees?* Could veterans have had more than one specialty or job in the military?* Do veterans make good leaders and managers?* Do veterans start their own businesses?* How much money do veterans make?* Do military couples marry young?* Is divorce higher among military couples?* Do military families move frequently?* What effect do deployments have on children?

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