Military Institutional Betrayal: A Quantitative Analysis of Perceived Inadequate Transition Support and Institutional Betrayal Among U.S. Veterans

This study examined the association between perceived inadequate military transition support and institutional betrayal during the transition of U.S. military veterans into civilian life. A cross-sectional, quantitative design was used to survey 269 veterans, utilizing the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire 2 – Military Version (IBQ.2-M). Veterans who reported feeling inadequately prepared for the transition out of military service were significantly more likely to report high levels of institutional betrayal, as measured by affirmative responses to core IBQ items. Chi-square (χ²) analysis confirmed a strong association, χ²(1, N = 268) = 47.76, p < .001, with a moderate effect size (Φ = –.422). Among veterans who felt unprepared, 79.5% endorsed six or more betrayal items, compared to 33.3% of those who felt adequately prepared. Strong internal consistency was demonstrated with Cronbach’s α = .84 with the IBQ.2-M. Exploratory bivariate analyses demonstrated significant associations between most betrayal items and perceived inadequate preparation. There were no significant associations discovered between demographic variables and perceptions of betrayal, which might indicate that this experience is not only limited to subgroups. These findings suggest that veterans may interpret inadequate transition planning as a form of systemic neglect, contributing to broader perceptions of institutional betrayal. The results highlight the need for meaningful reforms in transitional support programs and carry important implications for clinical intervention.