The Experience of Being Recalled to Active Duty After September 11 (Paperback)

This qualitative study was conducted to broaden the understanding of the experiences encountered by military reservists recalled to active duty. This was accomplished by exploring the life experiences of three U.S. Naval Reservists (two co-researchers and this researcher). A heuristic phenomenological research approach was employed to provide a personal, subjective, and experiential examination into this matter. The data was acquired through informal conversational interviews and standardized open-ended interviews. The study revealed five group depictions: initial shock of being recalled, sense of helplessness, interpersonal loss, lack of military support, and coping strategies. The findings are noteworthy because they concur with previous research (Norris, 1996; Kelley, 1994; Wexler & McGrath, 1991) concerning the effects of war and separation on service member families.