The Veterans Administration is conducting a 5-year research study entitled “Survey of Returning Veterans” (S.E.R.V) that will help returning male and female veterans. The VA is actively recruiting participants for this compensated 5-telephone call interview with veterans who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq within the past 12 months.

The SERV study will look at whether there are gender differences in how male and female military combat vets readjust to civilian life. This research study is the first major project to study this phenomenon. The S.E.R.V. Study (Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans), is a 5-year research project to determine whether there are gender differences in how male and female military combat veterans readjust to civilian life.

If you are a Veteran who has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or surrounding waters AND are separated from military service, you may qualify for this study whether or not you have PTSD. You should know that this is NOT a treatment study; rather, it is an observational study. This means that the information you provide will not benefit you directly, but may someday help other Veterans with similar experiences. It is entirely voluntary and consists of five telephone interviews over the course of one year. Participants are compensated for their time.

The study itself has begun and veterans have begun to be recruited to participate. If you would like to sign up for the SERV Study, please contact Project Coordinator Elizabeth Dombrowski at elizabeth.dombrowski@va.gov.