Introduction to Violence in the Military

Abstract

The global war on terrorism resulted in a continual involvement of the United States military and allied nations from 2001 to 2021. While the training and experiences of service members are essential to national security, 20 years of conflict and ongoing military operations greatly impacted service members, families, and veterans. This impact is not unique to the US military but also extends to many of our close allies including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. This comprehensive review addresses the impact of the training and deployment experiences on service members’ mental health, behavior, and propensity toward non-combat-related violence. Non-combat-related violence manifests in a variety of ways, including suicidality and self-harm, sexual violence, intimate partner and domestic violence, and other violent criminal behaviors. Thus, identifying and addressing violent behavior and the factors enabling or exacerbating it is crucial for the long-term health and safety of service members, their families, and the communities in which they live.