"Coming Home Is the Hardest Part": An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Sense Making in Military Postdeployment Reintegration.

The purpose of the present interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to understand how military service members and veterans (MSMVs) make sense of their reintegration experiences following deployment. IPA provides the ability to gain a deeper understanding of a shared experience, or phenomenon, such as reintegration following deployment. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Participants included seven men and three women who met eligibility criteria. The present study provides important insights into how MSMVs make sense of their reintegration experiences following deployment through exploration of transitional challenges, transitional support aspects, and growth through deployment experiences, as well as the urgent need for comprehensive community-based, growth-focused initiatives to support their reintegration following deployment.