FINAL Cover Letter_Second Mailing_Deployment Experiences Study

Deployment Experiences Follow-up Study

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Boston Healthcare System

September 12, 2013

JOHN DOE

111 PARHAM RD APT 1

RICHMOND, VA 23233

Dear JOHN DOE,

Thank you for participating in our prior study focused on Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans’ experiences before, during, and after deployment. We are writing now because you agreed to be recontacted for follow-up study opportunities. About a year ago, we requested your participation in a second study that is also sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The enclosed survey is the second of two surveys that are part of this follow-up study. The purpose of this follow-up study is to better understand Veterans’ workplace and family experiences and how they relate to Veterans’ use of VA services. We hope that the information we obtain from this study can be used to further prepare future military personnel for the challenges of being deployed overseas, and help us better understand how to assist Veterans after their deployment.

You will find the follow-up survey included with this letter, along with a Study Fact Sheet that provides details about the study. The survey may take up to 45 minutes to complete and, as a token of our appreciation, we have enclosed a $25 Visa Prepaid Gift Card, which you may keep and use regardless of whether you choose to participate in this study. The decision about whether to participate is up to you and you may choose to answer or skip any survey questions you want. Your responses are invaluable to this study, however, so we hope that you will find the time to assist us in this effort.

If you agree to participate in this part of the study, all you have to do is complete the survey and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided in this packet. Please note, the questions will ask about different periods of your life, so please read the section headings carefully. If you do not want to complete the survey, simply use the postage-paid envelope to return the opt-out letter included in this packet and check off the “I am declining to participate in this study” option, so that we know not to contact you again about this study. If we made a mistake and you are not an OEF/OIF Veteran, please indicate this by checking the “I am not an OEF/OIF Veteran” option on the same form and return it to us.

We sincerely appreciate your time and consideration. If you have any questions about this project or you are interested in learning more about the prior study findings, please feel free to call Dr. Dawne Vogt, the Principal Investigator of this study, at 857-364-5976.

S incerely,

Dawne Vogt, Ph.D.

Study Principal Investigator