Stability Through Support: How Coaching Transforms Veterans Lives

Jonathan Smith

Have you ever seen a homeless veteran and wondered how those that should be the most honored in our society are too often those that must resort to living on the streets?

For many veterans, transitioning from military service to civilian life is quite the challenge, as they are often confronted with the tough obstacle of finding meaningful employment that matches their skills and experience For some, the lack of guidance, coaching, or resources can lead to underemployment or even instability in housing. 

A 2022 study, A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Employment Program for Veterans Transitioning from the Military, shows that structured employment support through counseling and coaching can make a measurable difference

Researchers examined the National Career Coach Program (NCCP), which focuses on in-person training, personalized coaching, financial incentives, and job-search resources.

Researchers studied 208 transitioning service members, many with service-connected disabilities, comparing two approaches:

• Local Community Resources (LCR): The standard support veterans might typically access, such as state and federal vocational programs.
  
  

• National Career Coach Program (NCCP): A structured program combining in-person training, personalized coaching, financial incentives, and job-search resources.

The goal was simple: see which approach helped veterans find and sustain paid employment while improving overall health and well-being over a two-year period.

The findings were clear: veterans who received intensive coaching through NCCP not only found jobs more quickly but also sustained them longer and earned significantly more.

• Employment: 95% of NCCP participants found paid work, compared to 83% in the standard support group.
  
  

• Income: NCCP participants earned an average of $2,568 per month versus $1,865 for the standard group—roughly $17,000 more over two years. 

These results demonstrate that once veterans have access to personalized support that translates their military experience into civilian skills, they can thrive both financially and personally.

The path from service to stability shouldn’t be one veterans walk alone. Programs like NCCP prove that with the right support, every veteran can thrive. It’s up to us to make sure those opportunities exist.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Employment Program for Veterans Transitioning from the Military: Two-Year Outcomes - PMC