NJ Again Among 'Worst States For Military Retirees,' Study Says

New Jersey ranked among the “worst states for military retirees” in the United States for 2018, coming in at #45 out 50 states (and the District of Columbia), financial data provider WalletHub announced earlier this week.

The study – which was released a week before Memorial Day 2018 – compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia on their ability to provide a “comfortable military retirement,” WalletHub stated.

This year’s rating for the Garden State is a slight improvement from 2016 and 2017, when New Jersey ranked next-to-last in the WalletHub study.

• See related article: NJ Among ‘Worst States For Retired Military Veterans’
• See related article: N.J. Vet Earned Purple Heart, But Can't Cover Wife's Cancer Treatment

The analysis used a data set of 27 key metrics ranging from “veterans per capita” to “number of VA health facilities” to “job opportunities for veterans.” See the full methodology and state-by-state ranking here.

Overall, New Jersey ranked 45th among the states and DC. While the Garden State ranked #15 in “Quality of Life,” is also rated:

• 50th – Veterans per Capita
• 34th – Number of VA Health Facilities per Number of Veterans
• 32nd – % of Homeless Veterans
• 33rd – Veteran Job Opportunities
• 44th – Housing Affordability
• 50th – % of Veteran-Owned Businesses

Florida ranked as the best state for military retirees, and Virginia, New Hampshire, Alabama and South Carolina rounded out the top five states. The District of Columbia, Oregon, Vermont, Nevada and New Mexico were at the bottom of the ranking.

• See related article: These Are The Best Places For Military Retirees

“Retirement is typically viewed as the end of the line — a time for rest, relaxation and the pursuit of interests long ago put on the back burner,” the study’s authors wrote. “But the story is far different for military retirees who must deal with the trials of reassimilation into civilian life. For starters, the average officer is only 45 years old — 42 for non-disability enlisted personnel — upon retirement from service. Many of those who reenter the job market face tough challenges during the transition while others struggle with more difficult problems, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, disability and homelessness.”

So what should military veterans look for in a state when they retire? Here's the advice of Kelli Canada, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri:

“Similar to other retirees, veterans should consider communities with comprehensive health and social services, accessible transportation and geography. It’s important for older adults to have easy access to health care clinics or in-home services… Having reliable transportation through public transit or car services is important… Specific to veterans, having a veteran’s hospital, VFW post or other veteran-specific resources is helpful to stay connected to the military community.”

Despite the WalletHub report, New Jersey has also seen several positive stories involving veterans and military service members in the recent past. Catch up on some smile-inducing stories below.

ACTING AS PTSD THERAPY - New Jersey’s Kevin Interdonato, a combat veteran who served in Iraq (2004-2005), used his love for acting to serve as a therapeutic outlet for his PTSD, eventually finding his stability and place in the film industry as an actor, writer and producer. (Read more here)

EAGLE SCOUT MARKS GRAVES - A New Jersey Eagle Scout identified and marked almost 300 veterans' graves in the cemetery of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge. All of the graves were marked with a plaque and U.S. flag for Memorial Day. (Read more here)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR VETS - A total of 50 more units of affordable housing with on-site support services for homeless and disabled veterans will be built in Basking Ridge. The township has also committed funding for the project from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund. (Read more here)

PURPLE HEART RETURNS TO NEW JERSEY - Almost 75 years after participating in "Operation Tidal Wave," one of the most daring raids of World War II, Caldwell native Brian Woolley Flavelle was again in the memories of Essex County on Monday, when his Purple Heart medal was returned to the first lieutenant's family members. (Read more here)

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESSES - Rider University offers help for veterans who need expert guidance on a business idea through the Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (VET) program offered through the university's Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. (Read more here)

MAKING MUSIC FROM WAR - A team of military veterans-turned-DJs launched a monthly music and art showcase in Montclair called "The New Renaissance." The show's producer, Frank Schupp, a retired U.S. Army medic, said that he and his friends created the ongoing event series to bring positive music and art to the local community. (Read more here)

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Photo: US Army, Flickr