A Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) inpatient psychiatry program treating Vietnam veterans for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder provided day and evening treatment programs. The evening program, besides treating psychiatric trauma, incorporated the DVA mission of assisting patients with vocational rehabilitation and work force reentry. Although initially opposed to employment, Vietnam veterans accepted a treatment program with an emphasis on working and job training. Both programs were compared using the Ward Atmosphere Scale (WAS). No significant differences between the two programs were found. The results support the DVA's position that employment is a valuable component of psychiatric treatment.