Government Aid to Ex-Service Men

Report Outline
Problems Raised by Release of Soldiers
Past Efforts to Aid Ex-Service Men
Reemployment of Returned Soldiers
Social Security Benefits for Veterans

Problems Raised by Release of Soldiers

Some 200,000 soldiers are scheduled to be released from the army by the end of 1941, and much larger numbers of service men will be discharged, upon completion of their training periods, in 1942 and ensuing years—if the United States avoids formal entry into the war. Increasing attention is therefore being given to methods of easing the transition of large contingents of men from military to civilian life, in order to protect demobilized draftees against unemployment and other economic hazards and to minimize dislocation of the civilian economy.

From time to time throughout its history, the United States has been confronted with the need for aiding war veterans in readjusting themselves to civilian life. Present plans, however, call for the creation of a large peacetime reserve army through induction of new recruits into service each year until 1945. Under this system large numbers of men discharged from active duty will be constantly returning to civil life as others are called up for training. In consequence the absorption of demobilized soldiers into the civilian economy will become a continuing problem.

Job Restoration Guarantee in Selective Service Act

The Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, unlike its World War counterpart, contains provisions intended to make it as certain as possible that the jobs of drafted men will be restored to them after their discharge. Section 8 of the act provides that a draftee who applies to his employer for reemployment within 40 days after the expiration of his term of service shall be restored to his job, or to a job “of like seniority, status, and pay,” unless “the employer's circumstances have so changed as to make it impossible or unreasonable to do so.” The law makes no provision, however, for placement of men who were unemployed at the time of their induction into service.