I should add that adjusting to civilian life is obviously not just a problem for the US military. There’s a reason why suicide rates are so high amongst veterans - some of them find it incredibly hard to get used to the change, particularly for those who serve their whole working lives and see the military as their “family”.
They are very hot on it in the UK, when DH left the RAF this time last year (after 20 years), he had a long lead in time (effectively handed in his notice a year before he left) where he had courses to attend (come compulsory, some voluntary) to talk through the adjustment to civilian life, how to look for a new job, CV writing, etc, as well as access to a grant of up to £2,000 to attend outside training courses to gain new skills.
My point is that I don’t know what kind of support US veterans get (I’m guessing very little from the state), and lack of support means that vulnerable people will fall through the gaps.
I know, coincidently through my West Wing obsession, that Melissa Fitzgerald (who played CJ’s assistant Carol) now heads up a not-for-profit called Justice For Vets which helps support veterans who have fallen on hard times.