Social adaptation of veterans of a special military operation through sports

Relevance . War on any scale inevitably leads to an increase in the number of veterans. Due to the special military operation (SVO), the task of adapting these people to the changed living conditions is becoming a priority for Russia. Despite the efforts already being made, more needs to be done. It is important that veterans know that if they become disabled, they will not be left without support. Physical education and sports open up new opportunities for personal growth for them. Therefore, the development of recommendations for optimizing sports programs aimed at the rehabilitation and social adaptation of military veterans is relevant both in scientific and practical aspects. The purpose is to determine the effectiveness of using sports as a tool for the social adaptation of veterans of the military. Objectives : to review the literature on the social adaptation of combat veterans and the role of sports in rehabilitation processes; to identify key factors contributing to the successful integration of military veterans into civil society; to identify barriers hindering this process. Methodology : a comprehensive methodological approach was used, based on theories of social identity and social support, which make it possible to explain the functional burden of sports in matters of social rehabilitation of veterans of the military. The analysis of reports of sports organizations, social services and veteran organizations, historical, biographical and statistical methods are involved in the reconstruction and determination of the prospects for the implementation of sports rehabilitation programs for veterans of the SVR. A structured interview (n=20, target sample) allowed us to specify the understanding of the problem. Results . Sports activities are aimed at meeting the needs of veterans in movement, maintaining health, personal growth, self-realization and improving the quality of life, as well as socialization and integration into society. Conclusions . Sports and physical exercises can provide significant assistance in the fight against alienation and in the rehabilitation of combat veterans who have been injured. They help strengthen the spirit, help to find new goals in life and successfully adapt to new realities.