Getting Ready to Leave the Armed Services

Research and analysis

Preparedness to leave the UK armed forces: Veterans’ Survey 2022, UK

Published 22 August 2024

Across the UK, under half of veterans (43.2%) felt prepared or very prepared for life after service in the UK armed forces and over a third (34.7%) said they felt unprepared or very unprepared. The percentage of veterans who felt very unprepared decreased as age increased.

When compared with their counterparts, some veterans were more likely to have felt unprepared to some extent for life after service (for example, veterans who were disabled, discharged on medical grounds, who did not live in owner-occupied or shared ownership properties, who witnessed or took part in enemy operations, did not serve as officers or who said they were bullied, discriminated or harassed during their service).

Across the UK, training or additional training was the most cited type of information, advice or guidance that veterans felt would have improved transition to civilian life (46.7%), a family counselor and alcohol support services were the least cited (both cited by 3.5% of veterans).  For more on this article click here