The Soldier Citizen: Understanding the Impact of War on Soldiers and Their Families: The journey of soldiers from the battlefield back to civilian life is a complex and often painful transition. Dr. Jonathan Drane’s research project, “The Soldier Citizen,” delves into this intricate journey by examining the effects of war on soldiers and their families, particularly focusing on mental health outcomes, suicidality, and domestic violence. This research is crucial given the insights from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which highlights the urgent need for systemic reform in supporting veterans and their families during reintegration.
Focus: Soldier Journey- A cultural framework
The research seeks to provide a cultural understanding of the soldier’s journey back into citizen society by charting their pathway through original citizenship, recruitment, military training, combat experience/interface and then integration back into citizen society and family.
Case Studies
To enrich this understanding, Dr. Drane’s research draws on narratives from literature, with Ruth Clare’s “Enemy,” which offers a daughter’s familial account of soldier transition, while Douglas Long’s “Mah Rhung” presents a fictional soldier’s journey through the jungles of the Vietnam war as a special operative.
“Enemy” by Ruth Clare
“Enemy” tells the poignant story of a daughter navigating her father’s return from war. Clare captures the emotional turmoil and identity crisis faced by both the soldier and his family, providing insight into the long-lasting impacts of combat on familial relationships. This narrative emphasizes the often-silent struggles of veterans, aligning closely with The Soldier Citizen’s focus on the domestic repercussions of military service.
Ruth Clare comments on the Soldier Citizen Research Project: ‘Transitioning out of the military is a complex, high stress process. It can take many years to forge a new identity and life, and veterans often undertake this process while dealing with psychological scars from their service. Many report feeling discarded by the country they served and like there is no place for them in society. This volatile mix of stressors can have a detrimental impact on veteran relationships, especially with their children and partners. A recent study has shown families of transitioned veterans experience domestic violence rates of 45%. Research approaches such as the Soldier Research Project, which explore the unique challenges of post-military life, can help ensure veterans and their families receive the support they need.’
“Ma Rhung” by Douglas Long
In “Ma Rhung,”a fictional narrative provides a vivid glimpse into gathering intelligence related to the Vietnam war. Did the New Zealand Army really send a small team to Vietnam and Cambodia in 1966 and 1967 in order to gather intelligence that would help minimise New Zealand military casualties in their growing involvement in the Vietnam War? That is the question the reader should be pondering throughout this book.
The book discusses the sometimes-harrowing experiences of staying invisible in the hostile environment of the jungles of Vietnam.
Doug Long comments on the Soldier Research Project: ‘There is a very real sense by which, once one’s service is over, it is easy to feel forgotten. This is partly because of issues within DVA, but it is also because the sense of camaraderie and unity of purpose becomes dissipated in the rigours of the new civilian life. Research into improvement of mentoring and provision of support is vital and your work is so very important not only for ex-military persons but also for their families, friends and society. There is also the issue of bias arising from those who fail to recognise the diversity of skills and experience that ex-service personnel can bring to every endeavour’.
Foundation Data from the Royal Commission and Australian War Memorial
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has revealed critical gaps in data related to mental health and military service, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in how this information is collected and utilized. The Australian War Memorial serves as a vital resource, documenting the experiences of Australian soldiers and their families throughout history. Both institutions provide a foundation for understanding the cultural and psychological impacts of war, further informing Dr. Drane’s research.
Learn More About The Soldier Citizen Project: Visit our Research Home Page
The Soldier Citizen- a not for profit research project about soldier transition into civilian life. The Soldier Citizen research project by Dr Jonathan Drane focuses on understanding the effect of war on soldiers and their families, with an emphasis on related mental health, suicidality and domestic violence.
The research is founded by Dr Jon Drane and is created through Optimum Search (est 1993) which is on a not for profit, benevolent basis. Optimum Search seeks collaborative partners to support the research. For more information please contact Jon through the contact form below.
The Soldier Citizen Study- Discover The Impact of War on Soldiers & their Families
Seeking Help if this topic causes distress
Our research project does not seek to provide advice related to mental or physical health and we refer you to such providers like Lifeline, 1800 Respect, Beyond Blue and other similar providers.
The Soldier Citizen is copyright Jonathan Drane © 2025 all rights reserved.
