Estimates from the Department of Veterans Affairs indicate that there were around 19 million veterans in the United States in 2021. Veterans Day, observed each year on November 11, honors all those who served honorably in the U.S. military during both wartime and peacetime. Data from the VA indicates that, as of 2016, Gulf War veterans account for the largest share of all U.S. veterans. Roughly 7.8 million veterans served during the Gulf War. Vietnam veterans also make up a sizable percentage of U.S. military veterans, as VA estimates indicate there were approximately 5.9 million veterans who fought in the Vietnam War in 2021. Though veterans need not have served in wartime in order to be recognized and honored on Veterans Day, the vast majority of U.S. veterans served during wartime. According to the VA, 78 percent of veterans in 2021 had served during wartime.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is more prevalent than people may realize. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, roughly 5 percent of adults in the United States experiences PTSD in any given year. The VA reports that women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, with around eight in every 100 women experiencing the condition compared to four in every 100 men. That disparity is partly attributable to the types of traumatic events that women are more likely to experience than men, such as sexual assault. PTSD can develop after an individual goes through or witnesses a life-threatening event. Though the VA notes it’s normal to experience stress reactions after such events, it’s also typical for people to begin feeling better after a few weeks or months. When individuals experience stress reactions that last longer than a few months, they might have PTSD and should contact a physician immediately.
