The Experience of a Romanian Veteran in International Missions: A Case Study on Psychosocial Resilience and Post-Military Reintegration

Introduction

By acceding to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004, Romania achieved one of its most critical milestones for national security, „the transatlantic relationship representing the strategic bond that gives coherence and consistency to NATO actions” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MFA], 2021). Consequently, Romania became an important and reliable ally within the North Atlantic Alliance, alongside the other 31 members.

Prior to joining NATO, Romania participated with troops in external missions of the Alliance or under the UN aegis:

• IFOR – Implementation Force (1995-1996) and SFOR – Stabilization Force (1996-2004), NATO-led operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ene, C. 1997);
• KFOR in Kosovo (March 2000) (Ministry of National Defense [MoND], 2000);
• OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) – the mission in Afghanistan, launched in June 2002, which recorded its first two casualties in 2003 (Comisarul, 2014);
• Operation Alba in Albania (1997) (United Nations, 1997), as well as UN Missions in Somalia (June 1993 – October 1994), Rwanda (August 1994 – March 1996), and Angola (1997-1999) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MFA], 2023).

„During its first ten years of membership in the North Atlantic Alliance, Romania participated in operations in the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and North Africa. In these missions, the Romanian Armed Forces maintained a presence materialized in 40,000 rotated service members within these theaters” (Manciu, 2014).

The mission in Afghanistan (2002-2021) represented the largest and most prolonged external deployment of the Romanian Army since World War II. „In the 19 years of participation with military structures in this theater of operations, 27 Romanian soldiers lost their lives in combat actions, and over 200 were wounded” (Cozmei, 2021).

Following the conclusion of the mission in Afghanistan, the Romanian Army continued to be active in several external operations and missions under the aegis of NATO, the EU, the UN, and the OSCE, with a maximum force of 5,000 soldiers according to the Force Employment Plan for the year 2026, approved by the CSAT (Crasnea, 2026).

The participation of Romanian soldiers in external missions and their exposure to operational risk factors generated systematic needs for social support, both for active military personnel and for veterans and their families. In this context, the recognition of mental disorders associated with military service, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), was consolidated in Romanian legislation through Law no. 168/2020 (Parliament of Romania, 2020).

This legislative framework represented an essential step in institutionalizing support for service members, veterans, and their families, establishing a foundation for the advancement of military social work and applied academic research, as reflected in specialized scientific literature such as the Romanian Journal of Military Social Work.

The present study contributes to the specialized literature by examining, from a qualitative perspective, the experience of a Romanian veteran who fulfilled distinct operational roles — sniper and military cook — within the same theater of operations.

Methodology

Research Design

The study utilizes a qualitative case study design, epistemologically grounded in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) (Smith et al., 2009). Smith (2009, p.11) defines IPA as „a qualitative approach to research data concerned with examining how people make sense of their major life experiences. […] it is phenomenological in that it wishes to explore experience in its own terms.”

The primary method of data collection is the semi-structured narrative interview, which allows the participant to reconstruct the lived experience in their own terms, thereby facilitating access to the subjective meanings of the described events.

The research objectives are:

1. Capturing motivational factors and the formation of professional identity;
2. Analyzing coping strategies utilized under extreme stress;
3. Identifying psychosocial assistance needs in the post-mission reintegration process.

Participant and Operational Context

The interviewee — Corporal (Ret.) Slabu Iulian Virgil (S.I.V.) — is a former professional soldier of the Romanian Army, enlisted in October 2002 and discharged into the reserve in 2022, following nearly 20 years of military career. He participated in two international missions in Afghanistan:

• Mission I (2008): deployed to FOB Masoud, Zabul Province, serving as a sniper;
• Mission II (2009-2010): deployed sequentially to FOB Masoud, FOB Mescal, and FOB Lagman, serving as a military cook within the Logistics Company.

Note: FOB (Forward Operating Base) represents an advanced military outpost used by coalition forces in Afghanistan. FOB Masoud in Zabul Province is located in southern Afghanistan, an area known for high insurgent activity; FOB Mescal is an advanced base utilized for regional security through patrolling and counterinsurgency operations; FOB Lagman is a base located in eastern Afghanistan, used in stabilization operations within a strategic area due to its proximity to Kabul and insurgent supply routes.

Data Analysis

The analysis focused on identifying recurrent themes through inductive thematic coding, an exploratory approach to qualitative data where codes and themes are generated directly from the collected data without the use or influence of pre-existing hypotheses or theoretical frameworks (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The interview transcript was segmented into units of meaning, subsequently clustered into higher-order analytical categories correlated with military social work indicators and presented in the results section.

Results

The Formation of Military Professional Identity

S.I.V. describes his choice of a military career through the prism of internalized institutional values: „I chose a military career because I wanted to be part of an institution built on discipline, honor, and responsibility.” This narrative aligns with theoretical models of organizational socialization in military institutions, where exposure to norms, discipline, rituals, and collective experiences shapes professional identity (Soeters et al., 2003).

Attaining the sniper specialization is depicted as a result of individual performance: „Following the results obtained during training and live-fire exercises, I submitted a request to be selected for specialized sniper training, and after the necessary evaluations, I was assigned as a sniper within the 2nd Company, 3rd Platoon.” This dynamic reflects the significance of merit and performance, core values of military culture, as well as the role of individual agency in building a professional trajectory.

An element of profound analytical relevance for social work is the transition toward the role of a military cook during the second mission, dictated by the „operational needs of the unit”, illustrating the identity flexibility demanded of modern soldiers and the importance of logistics functions for operational sustainability: „An army cannot function efficiently without logistical support. Nutrition directly influences the morale, physical capacity, and concentration levels of the soldiers.”

Institutional Recognition and Professional Validation

Institutional recognition was the direct outcome of the veteran’s participation in international missions, materialized through diplomas, distinctions, and professional commendations based on merit, courage, and professionalism: „For my participation in the two international missions, I was awarded the NATO medal and certificates of appreciation attesting to my contribution to the successful fulfillment of missions conducted under allied command.”

These forms of recognition transcend the symbolic dimension of a reward, representing a validation of his professional contribution and his belonging to the military community.

The International Mission as a Personal and Professional Growth Experience

Analysis of the interview indicates that participating in the missions in Afghanistan represented not only an operational challenge but also an opportunity for personal and professional development: „Direct experience offers a completely different perspective compared to the one you have prior to deployment”; „Through professionalism, respect, sincerity, and shared experiences both during training and missions… the values and experiences acquired have remained a part of my life.”

Exposure to an environment characterized by risk, responsibility, and uncertainty contributed to the development of competencies such as self-control, adaptability, and the capacity to make decisions under stress: „Patience, self-control, discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to make correct decisions under pressure. A sniper must be calm, balanced, and highly proficient professionally.”

These findings are consistent with specialized literature showing that operational experiences can reinforce psychological resources, foster resilience, and lead to sustainable adaptive mechanisms (Bartone, 2006; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004). Furthermore, Habib et al. (2018), in a thematic analysis of post-traumatic growth (PTG) experiences, identified six themes among military personnel and veterans: appreciation for life, re-evaluating a sense of purpose, enhanced personal human traits, forging bonds and connecting with others, integration into society, pride in one’s heritage, and a sense of value to society.

Psychosocial Resilience and Coping Mechanisms in Theaters of Operations

From the narrative analysis, several adaptive coping strategies are identified. The first mission (2008) represented the participant’s initial direct contact with the inherent risks of the theater of operations — combat mortality: „we lost comrades and had colleagues wounded.”

This traumatic exposure is processed retroactively by anchoring it in professional values and group solidarity, essential factors in fostering cohesion and resilience: „Through preparation, adhering to procedures, and trust in colleagues. Repeated drills prior to deployment built the necessary reflexes to act effectively even in difficult situations.”

Group Cohesion — A Central Protective Factor in the Military Environment

Research findings by Griffith (2009) indicate that „soldiers’ experiences with supportive unit leadership and cooperative peer relations reinforce their identification with the unit, reduce the likelihood of leaving the military, and enhance perceptions of combat readiness.”

The presented narrative validates these studies and highlights that mutual support, interpersonal trust, and unit identification functioned as psychosocial protective mechanisms, contributing to the interviewee’s successful adaptation: „total trust in colleagues and the readiness to support each other regardless of the situation”, while also underscoring the role of repetition in combat stress management: „Repeated drills prior to deployment built the necessary reflexes to act effectively even in difficult situations.”

Multidisciplinary Intervention: The Role of the Military Social Worker vs. Psychological Support

The participant benefited from institutional psychological support following his first mission: „upon returning to the tank unit, I participated in sessions led by the unit psychologist.” However, for an accurate analysis within the sphere of military social work, it is mandatory to delineate clinical competencies from social ones.

It must also be pointed out that within the Romanian Army, the specialized role of a military social worker—as defined in Euro-Atlantic systems (such as the Military Social Work model in the US or UK)—does not currently exist. In the absence of a professional corps of military social workers within combat or logistical structures, responsibilities specific to social case management are frequently fragmented.

Transition and Post-Military Reintegration

The process of transitioning into the reserve in 2022, after nearly two decades in military service, is described by the interviewee as a „major change,” emphasizing that „the values and experiences acquired have remained a part of my life,” particularly „discipline, respect, responsibility, integrity, and perseverance.” This identity continuity suggests a high level of adaptability and a functional appraisal of military experience during the transition to civilian life.

The relational dimension formed over two decades in the military environment can generate a persistent sense of loss, reflected in the following statement: „[I miss] The camaraderie, the team spirit, and the feeling of belonging to a structure unified by a common goal.”

This experience can be interpreted as a manifestation of losing the sense of belonging and camaraderie specific to military culture, phenomena frequently reported by veterans during transition phases (Sachdev & Dixit, 2024). The presence of this dimension highlights the imperative need for community support networks tailored for veterans.

Conclusions

The present study offers a valuable qualitative insight into the experience of a Romanian veteran participating in international missions, carrying direct implications for the practice of military social work. The primary conclusions emphasize: (1) the vital role of preparation and group cohesion as factors of psychosocial resilience; (2) the importance of post-mission institutional psychological support; (3) the necessity of transition programs tailored to the cultural and identity specificities of veterans.

The results concurrently highlight the relevance of military social work in identifying and managing the psychosocial needs of service members and veterans, alongside the development of support mechanisms designed to facilitate family reintegration. In this regard, military social work can contribute to reinforcing individual and family resilience, preventing social isolation, and supporting the adaptation process to civilian life after concluding a military career.

The limitations of the study reside in its monographic single-case design and its reliance on self-reported data, which may be subject to retrospective recall bias. Future research could extend the analysis to larger samples of veterans and integrate comparative perspectives between different military specializations, thereby contributing to the development of specialized knowledge and interventions within the field of military social work.