The Role of Peer Support in Veteran Reintegration

BY JASON MATTHEWS

For veterans returning to civilian life, the road to stability is sometimes isolating. The loss of military structure and shared camaraderie leaves some without the support systems they once relied on. Peer support—structured, intentional connection among those with shared lived experiences—helps bridge this gap. In veteran reintegration, it builds trust and mutual understanding that traditional services alone often struggle to provide.

Veterans are especially responsive to peer-based systems. A shared military background can create instant connection, encouraging openness and engagement. Veterans are more likely to seek help and follow through when supported by someone who “gets it.” Peer support reduces isolation, improves mental health, and builds momentum in employment, housing, and education, especially when woven into case management strategies.

Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, programs like the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) and the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP)are ideally suited to integrate peer models. Whether facilitated by Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists, Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) staff, Consolidated DVOP/LVER (CODL) staff, or embedded in case plans, peer support strengthens outcomes and fosters a sense of belonging. This article explores why it works—and how providers can apply it effectively.

Importance of Peer Support

For grant recipients and veteran service providers, peer support represents an opportunity to add depth and cohesion to their veteran services. It humanizes the system and reminds veterans they’re not walking the path alone.

Peer support meets veterans where they are—emotionally, socially, and practically. Research has shown that veterans involved in peer-based programs report lower levels of isolation and greater willingness to seek help. These connections can serve as protective factors against mental health decline, particularly for veterans navigating post-traumatic stress (PTS), substance use recovery, or housing instability. [1]

Beyond mental health benefits, peer support reinforces traditional employment services such as JVSG and HVRP in a powerful, practical way. Veterans leading peer groups not only motivate attendance, they do much more. They translate plans into action and can encourage consistent attendance at appointments, motivate peers to apply for jobs, share tips about navigating civilian workplace culture, and offer reassurance during setbacks. In short, they help turn plans into action. They share firsthand insight into civilian workplace expectations, encourage follow-through, and offer support during setbacks. Research shows peer support among veterans is tied to measurable improvements, including increased social support, reduced clinical symptoms, and improved self-efficacy—factors that boost program engagement and job readiness. The camaraderie rooted in shared military experience amplifies this effect, helping veterans adjust quickly and sustain positive outcomes. [2]

Challenges and Best Practices

Despite its proven benefits, integrating peer support into workforce programs presents real-world challenges. Many JVSG and HVRP grantees operate under tight budgets, limited staffing, and competing priorities, making it difficult to launch or sustain peer-driven initiatives.

Participation is another key hurdle. While many veterans value peer connection, consistent engagement doesn’t happen by accident, it requires structure, trust, and intentional design. Without clear roles, regular meeting cadence, or integration into case management plans, even promising efforts can stall.

Programs that succeed do so by embedding peer support into existing workflows rather than layering on new obligations. For example, cross-training DVOPs, LVERs, CODLs, and HVRP staff in peer facilitation techniques—drawing from trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing—can build staff confidence in guiding small groups or cohorts.

Without targeted training, providers can unintentionally overlook critical issues or misunderstand veteran behavior, leading to missed opportunities to offer effective support. Investing in veteran-specific awareness training boosts empathy and provider effectiveness, significantly improving employment outcomes and long-term veteran resilience.

Case management activities also offer practical entry points: 1) Group transportation to job fairs; 2) Grouped training sessions foster connection through shared experience; 3) Grouped workshops such as resume and mock interviews become more effective when conducted in peer cohorts, helping veterans build confidence and reduce stress through feedback from those who understand their journey and lastly 4) Grouped documentation.  Even routine documentation can reflect the power of peer engagement. Tracking group participation, peer-driven progress, and collaborative problem-solving in case notes offers valuable insight into a veteran’s path forward. Encouraging peer check-ins between appointments boosts accountability and reinforces a sense of community.

The key is to treat peer support not as an optional enhancement but as a core strategy. When thoughtfully embedded into daily practice, peer models amplify service impact by turning individual progress into collective momentum.

Real‑World Peer Support in Action

  • Houston VA – Peer Specialists: – Veterans like Vince Bryant serve on care teams, using lived experience to support recovery and employment.[3]
  • Texas VA peer support specialists: share their stories to help others [4]
  • Rural California VA – Group Peer Support (GPS) [5]
  • VA community clinics show GPS sessions: reduce isolation, promote growth, and connect veterans to care.
  • Vets & Friends (V&F): Uses shared trauma healing to foster reintegration and community. [6]
  • Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) Program: Weekly group events and mentoring reduce isolation and strengthen connection. [7]
  • WoVeN: Peer networks for women veterans—both in-person and virtual. [8].

Importantly, providers don’t need to start from scratch. Many communities already host Vet Centers, or other grassroots peer initiatives. Tapping into these networks—through co-location, joint events, or warm referrals—can expand capacity, deepen trust, and help veteran-serving organizations do more with the resources they have.

Get Started

Peer support is not just a helpful addition to veteran reintegration efforts, it’s a proven, scalable strategy that strengthens outcomes in employment, mental health, and community connection. For JVSG, HVRP, and similar workforce programs, integrating peer-based models transforms traditional services into resilient ecosystems—where veterans are supported not only by providers, but by one another.

NVTI offers a range of resources to help providers integrate peer support into their strategies:

Together, these tools offer practical starting points and real-world inspiration. The result is not just better support for individual veterans, but stronger, more connected communities and a workforce system grounded in trust, empathy, and lived experience.

Sources

[1] Findings from a Peer-Facilitated, Social Isolation Intervention in the Veterans Health Administration Healthcare System: A Mixed-Methods, Pilot Feasibility Study, Journal of General Internal Medicine, December 2023.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10713941/

[2] Drebing et al. (2018). Using Peer Support Groups to Enhance Community Integration of Veterans in Transition, Psychological Services.
 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29723015/

[3] Roy, Jennifer. (2021, October 11). Houston VA Peer Support Specialist Shares His Recovery Story to Help Other Veterans, VA News.
https://news.va.gov/95597/peer-support-specialist-shares-his-recovery-story-to-help-other-veterans/

[4] Goetsch, Steven. (2021, December 10). Texas VA Peer Support Specialists Share Their Stories to Help Others, VA News.
https://news.va.gov/98069/texas-va-peer-support-specialists-share-their-stories-to-help-others/

[5] Azevedo, Kathryn J. (2021). Ways Rural Group Peer Support Experiences Support PTSD Care, Journal of Veterans Studies.
https://journal-veterans-studies.org/articles/10.21061/jvs.v10i1.498

[6] Vets and Friends (V&F) Program Evaluation, National Library of Medicine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33506966/

[7] Peer Mentoring, Camaraderie, and Support (PMCS) Program, VA Marketplace.
https://marketplace.va.gov/innovations/peer-mentoring-camaraderie-and-support-program

[8] WoVeN (Women Veterans Network) – National Peer Support Network for Women Veterans.
https://www.wovenwomenvets.org/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9427174/

NVTI Sources

[NVTI-1] NVTI – Class Descriptions (Accessed 2025): https://www.nvti.org/training/class-descriptions/

[NVTI-2] NVTI Podcast – Continuing Conversations: Serving Women Veterans (Accessed 2025): https://www.nvti.org/on-demand-learning/podcasts/

[NVTI-3] NVTI Article – Mental Health Awareness (Accessed 2025): https://www.nvti.org/2023/08/31/mental-health-awareness/

[NVTI-4] NVTI Article – Stand Down Grants Empowering Veterans (Accessed 2025): https://www.nvti.org/2024/09/09/a-brief-respite-stand-down-grants-empowering-veterans-experiencing-homelessness/

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