Review of foreign experience of professional adaptation of war veterans
Authors: Mamaiev Illia 
Published: October 2024

Problem setting. After the end of the war, most of the veterans will be an economically active stratum of the population, who will need active support from the state when reintegrating into civilian life, but in return will be able to benefit the country by remaining active subjects of the national economy. The preservation and development of this potential is critically important both for the post-war recovery of Ukraine and for the establishment of social justice in relation to defenders. The study of foreign experiences is an important step in order to learn effective practices that can be adapted and applied to the Ukrainian context. Despite the fact that the experience of other countries does not always fully correspond to Ukrainian realities, it contains useful lessons and methods that can be modified to solve the specific challenges that Ukraine faces. Analysis of recent researches and publications. Such domestic researchers as V.P. Kokhan, A.S. Kolisnyk, O.V. Shapovalova, V.I. Sheverdina, T. Zakharina, V.K. Malolitneva, R.A. Jabrailov. M. Bazaeva studied foreign experience using the example of the USA. At the same time, there is no comprehensive overview of foreign policy regarding the support of veterans and their reintegration into civilian life in domestic works. Purpose of research is to carry out a general review of foreign experience in issues of support for veterans using the example of the USA, EU, Germany, France and Great Britain. Article`s main body. The article examines the issue of professional adaptation of veterans as a key element in the successful reintegration of military personnel into civilian life. It outlines the experiences of the United States, the European Union, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to identify effective veteran support practices that could be adapted to the Ukrainian context. The focus is on the legal and organizational aspects of veteran policies, including legislative support and the involvement of both governmental and non-governmental organizations in the outlined area. The article concludes that the United States has a well-developed system of veteran support, primarily driven by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Special attention is given to the functioning of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). It is suggested that the establishment of a similar specialized judicial body could be an important step for Ukraine to effectively protect veterans’ rights in the post-war period. The article highlights the absence of unified legislation on veterans within the European Union. Nevertheless, it emphasizes the role of pan-European non-governmental organizations in this field, such as the European Confederation of Veterans. The legal and institutional framework for veteran policies in specific EU member states, particularly Germany and France, is also discussed. Special attention is given to the experience of the United Kingdom, which aspires to have the most advanced veteran support system. It is noted that the strategic approach to veteran policy, particularly through the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-2024, provides long-term legal certainty for veterans and enhances the effectiveness of state policy. Conclusions and prospects for the development. The article underlines that professional adaptation of veterans is a critical precondition for successful post-war recovery in Ukraine and the preservation of veterans’ economic activity. The use of foreign experience, particularly the creation of specialized judicial bodies, the development of national veteran support strategies, and the active involvement of non-governmental organizations, could become a subject of further discussion aimed at finding the optimal path for building an effective veteran support system in Ukraine.