Post-9/11 Veteran
Town Hall Series

The Hoover Institution Veteran Fellowship Program is hosting a series of discussions across the U.S. that investigates the connections between post-9/11 veterans and their communities.

Veteran generations often shape the societies to which they return. U.S. World War II veterans led the country to a period of economic prosperity and one of the largest sociological shifts in American history. The experience of the Vietnam veterans led to the all-volunteer force. Now, over twenty years after 9/11, a new generation of veterans has come of age. This generation is making decisions about the future of the force, the role of service members in society, and ultimately leading their communities and government. It is time to better understand the post-9/11 generation of veterans and discuss their relationship with and contributions to society. 

Under direction from the sixty-sixth secretary of state and Hoover Institution director Dr. Condoleezza Rice, and led by Hoover Fellow, post-9/11 veteran, and US Air Force reservist Dr. Jacquelyn Schneider, the Town Hall Series on Post-9/11 Veterans: Their Legacy and Contribution to Our Society aims to generate public discussion around how post-9/11 veterans are engaged and committed to their communities. The outcome will: 

• Highlight post-9/11 veterans’ commitment to service, their country, and local communities 

• Engage in forward-looking talks that investigate where and how these former service members will apply their expertise to develop and lead the future 

• Discuss how these veterans will leave their mark on their communities and the military 

This series aligns with the 50th anniversary of the all-volunteer force. How the post-9/11 generation of veterans reconciles its identity with the communities they are now shaping is intimately tied with the future of the all-volunteer force.