How military occupations affect veterans' later socioeconomic attainment.

Sociologists and economists have traditionally been interested in how credentials earned in the early life affect later labor market success. The following paper examines how the later socioeconomic attainment of veterans is affected by serving in a combat occupation. The paper uses longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth to test hypotheses drawn from the skills mismatch hypothesis. Preliminary results suggest that these veterans are affected by a skills mismatch, as they are less likely to be employed and have lower earnings than other respondents, despite comparable rates of work-related disabilities. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]