A new study examining how service personnel move into civilian life has found clear progress over the past decade, but warns that support remains inconsistent and that poor transitions still carry a significant cost to society.
The research, carried out by QinetiQ and RAND Europe and funded by Forces in Mind Trust, looked at how transition is understood, communicated, and experienced across the Armed Forces community.
A decade of improvement
According to the report – Understanding the Transition from Military to Civilian Life – most service leavers now make a successful transition. One key driver has been the shift towards a more holistic approach, following the 2019 Defence Holistic Transition Policy, which places greater emphasis on supporting personnel and families throughout their military career rather than only at the point of departure.
Employment support for leavers has also strengthened, and both government and third-sector provision for health and wellbeing has expanded. However, the report notes that progress has stalled in some areas, particularly the sharing of healthcare data between military and civilian systems, leaving some families struggling to navigate support.
Barriers and inconsistent experiences
Despite progress, transition support remains uneven. Guidance can be overly complex, difficult to access, or inconsistently applied. Cultural barriers within Defence also mean transition planning often begins too late, with limited preparation before personnel decide to leave.
Recommendations for improving transition
The report sets out several recommendations designed to create a smoother and more effective transition process:
• Better data sharing: Improving how information is collected, tracked and transferred between organisations so that veterans do not have to continually retell their story.
• Earlier preparation: Encouraging transition planning “in career”, with personnel and families making use of training and education opportunities long before discharge.
• Cultural change: Normalising conversations about transition throughout a military career to support earlier planning.
• Clearer guidance: Simplifying policy documents and making resources more accessible, including to families who currently face barriers to information.
A need for continued momentum
Researchers said the findings reflect how both Defence and wider society have changed over the past decade, and emphasised the importance of adapting support to meet that evolving context. Lin Slapakova of RAND Europe noted that re-examining transition through a “contemporary lens” is essential if improvements are to continue.
Natalie Fisher of QinetiQ added that, while progress has been significant, the complexity of the support landscape means challenges remain.
FiMT chief executive Michelle Alston said transition is increasingly non-linear, with military careers often intersecting with civilian employment. She said a “whole career” approach is now needed to support families, strengthen recruitment and retention, and reflect the whole-society approach outlined in the Strategic Defence Review.
