'Changing Step': The transition from the Regular Army to civilian life and work

Abstract: The British Army has always recognized that the majority of their full-time personnel will leave the Army and move into other employment sectors before their formal retirement from the world of work. In fact, the majority of Army personnel will work, on average, longer in other employment sectors than in the Army itself with, for example, about half of personnel serving six years or less in the Army, and with a current mandatory retirement age of 55 for most personnel. Therefore, there has been a long-standing interest in managing the transition from military to civilian life for those leaving the Army. This chapter will deal with the recent history of how the Army prepares its soldiers for leaving the Army, sets the context for why it does this, and describes how individuals are being encouraged to think of a ‘through-career’ transition to civilian life that emphasizes education, individual development, personal planning and preparation for life beyond the Army. The details of the actual provisions that members of the Army can access in preparation for leaving will also briefly be described along with some of the challenges that may arise in the future.