VETERAN SUPPORT
is essential to civilian employment
retention and success

Veteran Support Training is an evidence-based program that teaches leaders how to support veterans as they transition to civilian employment. The training is based on the Study for Employment Retention of Veterans (SERVe) funded by the Department of Defense.
This training focuses on the inherent strengths that employees with military experience possess, as well as the unique challenges that veterans and service members face when transitioning to the civilian sector.
When taking a look at the difficulties that some Veterans and service members face when returning to the civilian workplace, often it was the workplace itself that posed challenges.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Helping supervisors support veterans as they transition to civilian employment.
The Veteran Support Training program is the result of the Study for the Employment Retention of Veterans funded by the Department of Defense. Click here to learn more about the study.
The training is made up of two parts:
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A one to two hour, self-paced online component suitable for any level of leadership.
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A 10-day behavior tracking exercise (2-3 minutes per day).
The documents in the links below are available to download and share with your employer or interested organizations.

Steps in the program
There are two steps in the Veteran Support Training. Each step provides a link for easy access.
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1. Get StartedThe Safety & Health Improvement Program begins with a Start Guide. This guide helps introduce the program to your organization and provides step-by-step instructions on implementation. DOWNLOAD THE START GUIDE
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2. Online Supervisor TrainingThe next step is the online supervisor training, an essential aspect of the program. ACCESS ONLINE TRAINING (60 min)
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3. Supervisor Behavior TrackingOnce the online supervisor training is completed, the supervisor behavior tracking is designed to help reinforce learned behaviors. Behavior tracking takes a few minutes a day and lasts for two weeks. Not only does this reinforce what is learned in the online training, it also helps track supportive supervisor patterns towards employees. The Behavior Tracking Guide provides instructions and examples for tracking behaviors. Tracking can be done using the format found in the tracking guide. Alternatively, notecards, logs, journaling, or a behavior training phone app can be used for tracking. It is up to you and your organization to choose the method that works best for you. DOWNLOAD BEHAVIOR TRACKING GUIDE
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4. Follow UpThe final step is a group discussion where supervisors and their teams meet to brainstorm solutions to improve work practices, communication, and the work environment. This is an essential aspect of the program to ensure practices are embedded into everyday work. DOWNLOAD THE FOLLOW UP GUIDE
PUBLICATIONS
The Evidence Behind the Training
CAN SUPERVISOR SUPPORT IMPROVE DAILY EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING? EVIDENCE OF SUPERVISOR TRAINING EFFECTIVENESS IN A STUDY OF VETERAN EMPLOYEE MOODS
Mohr, C.D., Hammer, L.B., Brady, J., Perry, M. & Bodner, T. (2021). Can Supervisor Support Improve Daily Employee Well-being? Evidence of Supervisor Training Effectiveness in a Study of Veteran Employee Moods. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 94, 400-426. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joop.12342
SUPPORTIVE SUPERVISOR TRAINING IMPROVES MARITAL RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AMONG EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE DYADS
Brady, J.M., Hammer, L.B., Mohr, C.D., & Bodner, T. (2021). Supportive Supervisor Training Improves Marital Relationship Quality among Employee and Spouse Dyads. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 26, 31-48. doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000264
PERCEIVED PARTNER RESPONSIVENESS, PAIN, AND SLEEP: A DYADIC STUDY OF MILITARY-CONNECTED COUPLES
O'Neill, A. S., Mohr, C. D., Bodner, T. E., & Hammer, L. B. (2020). Perceived Partner Responsiveness, Pain, and Sleep: A Dyadic Study of Military-Connected Couples. Health Psychology, 39, 1089–1099. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hea0001035
MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA AMONG WOMEN VETERANS: THE BUGGERING EFFECT OF COWORKER SUPPORT
Smith, N. A., Brady, J. M., Hammer, L., Carlson, K., & Mohr, C. (2020). Military sexual trauma among women veterans: The buffering effect of coworker support. Military Psychology, 32, 441-449. doi.org/10.1080/08995605.2020.1806635
A DYADIC EXAMINATION OF DRINKING BEHAVIORS WITHIN MILITARY-CONNECTED COUPLES
Lee, J. D., O'Neill, A. S., Denning, E. C., Mohr, C. D., Hammer, L. B. (2020). A Dyadic Examination of Drinking Behaviors within Military-Connected Couples. Military Behavioral Health. Doi:10.1080/21635781.2020.1825241
TRAINING SUPERVISORS TO SUPPORT VETERANS AT WORK: EFFECTS ON SUPERVISOR ATTITUDES AND EMPLOYEE SLEEP AND STRESS
Reference: Hammer, L. B., Brady, J. M., & Perry, M. L. (2020). Training supervisors to support veterans at work: Effects on supervisor attitudes and employee sleep and stress. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 93(2), 273-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12299
SUPERVISOR SUPPORT TRAINING EFFECTS ON VETERANS IN THE WORKPLACE: EFFECTS ON HEALTH AND WORK OUTCOMES
Reference: Hammer, L. B., Wan, W. H., Brockwood, K., Bodner, T., & Mohr, C. D. (2019). Supervisor support training effects on veterans in the workplace: Effects on health and work outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 104, 52-69. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000354
SUPERVISOR SUPPORT TRAINING EFFECTS ON VETERANS IN THE WORKPLACE: EFFECTS ON HEALTH AND WORK OUTCOMES
Hammer, L. B., Wan, W. H., Brockwood, K., Bodner, T., & Mohr, C. D. (2019). Supervisor support training effects on veterans in the workplace: Effects on health and work outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 104, 52-69. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/apl0000354
PTSD SYMPTOMOLOGY AND MOTIVATED ALCOHOL USE AMONG MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS: TESTING A CONDITIONAL INDIRECT EFFECT MODEL OF SOCIAL SUPPORT, SUBSTANCE USE & MISUSE
McCabe, C.T., Mohr, C.D., Hammer, L.B., & Carlson, K.F. (2019). PTSD Symptomology and Motivated Alcohol Use Among Military Service Members: Testing a Conditional Indirect Effect Model of Social Support, Substance Use & Misuse, 54:2, 257-270. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1517176
A WELL SPENT DAY BRINGS HAPPY SLEEP: FINDINGS FROM A DYADIC STUDY OF CAPITALIZATION SUPPORT, LONELINESS, AND SLEEP OUTCOMES
Arpin, S. N., Starkey, A., Mohr, C. D., Greenhalgh, A., & Hammer, L. (2018). A well spent day brings happy sleep: Findings from a dyadic study of capitalization support, loneliness, and sleep outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 32, 975–985. doi.org/10.1037/fam0000469
DRINKING MOTIVES AND ALCOHOL USE: THE SERVE STUDY OF U.S. CURRENT AND FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS
Mohr, C.D., McCabe, C.T., Haverly, S.N., Hammer, L.B., & Carlson, K.F. (2018). Drinking motives and alcohol use: The SERVe study of U.S. current and former service members. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 79, 79-87.
MILITARY, WORK, AND HEALTH CHARACTERISTICS OF VETERANS AND RESERVISTS FROM THE STUDY FOR EMPLOYMENT RETENTION OF VETERANS (SERVE)
Hammer, L. B., Wan, W. H., Brockwood, K. J., Mohr, C. D., & Carlson, K. F. (2017). Military, work, and health characteristics of veterans and reservists from the Study for Employment Retention of Veterans (SERVe). Military Psychology, 29, 491-512. doi.org/10.1037/mil0000196