More than 44,000 military personnel and veterans complete annual Vet Tix survey
PHOENIX, AZ – Service members and veterans find that participating in events in their community eases the transition from military to civilian life and improves their overall well-being, according to a major new survey released today by the nonprofit Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), which received input from more than 44,000 currently serving military personnel and veterans who have signed up for Vet Tix’s services.
The survey results will help Vet Tix and other organizations serving the military and veterans better understand the needs and preferences of this national cross-section of Americans who serve or have served.
Vet Tix provides free event tickets to currently serving military, veterans and family members of those killed in action. Since 2008, Vet Tix has provided over 2.8 million free tickets to a community of 500,000 verified service members and veterans, allowing them to attend concerts, sports events, conventions and other community events while paying only a small delivery fee.
This year’s survey findings reveal that:
- Providing free access to a wide range of community events:
- Has a positive impact on the military transition and reintegration process
- Contributes to positive mental health and family bonding
- Increases community engagement
- Access to Vet Tix’s support enabled nearly 60 percent of respondents to attend a new type of event.
- 70 percent of respondents feel that non-veterans can’t relate to military service and their struggles.
- Attending events through Vet Tix significantly improves respondents’ perception of their community’s support for veterans, with more than 90 percent agreeing, after attending events through Vet Tix, that their community supports veterans.
- 35 percent of respondents reported feeling isolated from personal relationships after serving in the military. That’s why it’s great news that over 95 percent said that attending events with significant others improved their relationships.
Service members and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, communities, and eventually, into civilian life. The data results drive home that organizations like Vet Tix provide a means for veterans to spend quality time with family and friends, and in turn, rebuild and strengthen social networks.
“This survey highlights that providing free access to a wide range of community activities can have a significant impact on a person and an entire military family,” said Vet Tix CEO Mike Focareto. “Maintaining a sense of connection to one’s community during and after service is essential to many transitioning personnel, and shows us just how impactful a Vet Tix event can be for veterans, service members, and their families. This is especially true in helping military families adjust to new communities after a relocation.”
“Vet Tix will redouble our efforts to provide a wholesome, affordable experience to anyone in the military community who needs support,” Focareto promised. “Vet Tix enriches the lives of veterans and their families by increasing their community engagement and diversifying their experiences.”
A summary of key survey findings is available at the following link: https://www.vettix.org/publicDocs/2016SurveySummary.pdf.
The full survey document is available at the following link: https://www.vettix.org/publicDocs/2016VetTixImpactSurvey.pdf.
ABOUT VETERAN TICKETS FOUNDATION
Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix) is a national non-profit that supports the military community by providing free event tickets to currently serving military, veterans and family members of those killed in action, allowing them to attend sporting events, concerts, performing arts and family activities. Since 2008, Vet Tix has provided more than 2.8 million free event tickets to over 500,000 verified VetTixers, giving back to those who have given so much. Military and veterans experience many difficult transitions as they reintegrate into their families, community, and eventually, into civilian life. Attending events improved morale, strengthens family bonds through shared interest and encourages service members to stay engaged with local communities and American life. Visit VetTix.org to learn more, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
