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Who are the Post-9/11 Veterans?

As of 2013, more than 2.6 million post-9/11 veterans have returned from active duty service and the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates this cohort will grow to nearly 3.5 million over the next 10 years. A News21 demographic analysis breaks down this cohort according to sex, age and education.

A demographic breakdown

To illustrate the demographic characteristics of the post-9/11 veterans, News21 has represented more than 2 million people with 100 circles. Each circle represents approximately 2,600 post-9/11 veterans, drawing from the U.S. Census Bureau 2011 American Community Survey.

By sex

The post-9/11 veteran cohort will perhaps be most recognized for redefining the role of females serving on active duty.

The line between non-combat and combat roles in Iraq and Afghanistan was eliminated in January 2013 when then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted the ban on females in combat roles.

More than twice the percent than in the overall veteran population.

By race

Post-9/11 veterans are the most racially and ethnically diverse of all U.S. military cohorts.

By age

As of 2011, more than half of post-9/11 veterans were between the ages of 18 and 32 and less than 9 percent were older.

Education

Post-9/11 veterans have about the same level of education as non-veterans. Of those who have completed high school, post-9/11 veterans are more likely to have some college but are less likely to have completed college or to have a master’s, professional or doctoral degree.

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey one-year Public Use Microdata Sample from 2011, Department of Veterans Affairs report, “America’s Women Veterans,” from 2011.