Understanding the Transition from Military to Civilian Life

People who serve in the United Kingdom’s (UK) Armed Forces and their families are, at some point in their lives, expected to undergo a transition from military to civilian life. Many Service leavers and their families have positive experiences of this process, and go on to enjoy successful civilian lives, although the transition can also be complex and challenging given the unique circumstances of military service. Whilst it is evident (through improved provision of dedicated resources and services) that significant progress has been made over the last decade to better support Service leavers and their families to transition into civilian life, research shows that challenges remain. Building upon prior transition studies contracted by FiMT (Kantar Futures, 2017; The Futures Company, 2013), there is a need to understand the transition process of today in greater depth, to determine its reach and impact, and identify what else could be done to fully support ex-Service personnel and their families in achieving a successful transition.

The aim of this study was to explore the following:

• How the transition process currently works across each of the Services.
• How the transition process is communicated to Service leavers and their families.
• How the process is viewed by stakeholders and recent Service leavers and their families.
• The progress that has been made over the last ten years in the transition support available, including the impact of key initiatives and services where possible.
Where challenges remain, including an analysis of the potential impact or cost of not addressing those challenges.
• The value to the Armed Forces Community and society of improving the transition process, enabling a successful and sustainable transition for all ex-Service personnel and their families.
• Where support could or should be improved or resources invested, and how.
• The current UK external environment and its impact on transition. In particular, how it may exacerbate or help to mitigate unsuccessful transition outcomes and subsequent societal costs. This focuses on areas where Service leavers and their families may be impacted to a greater extent than their civilian counterparts.