Veterans' Transition Review: Follow-up Report: October 2017

Summary: This 2017 report follows-up on the original, The Veteran's Transition Review, published in 2014. As per the annual updates, this report and provides an update on the progress that has been made towards implementing the report's recommendations. As per this follow up, there have been two important recent developments that will add momentum. These should bring together different efforts in the field of transition, producing processes and services that could resolve many outstanding issues and ensure proper support for those who have served the nation. The first is the planned establishment of a Veterans Board, which will provide direction and coordination; I suggest possible and important tasks for it below. The second is the commitment in the Queen’s Speech to deliver the Armed Forces Covenant across the UK, which has wider application than establishing support for Service leavers and veterans in Northern Ireland, and which has been one of my main concerns. Below, I show that many brilliant initiatives are too localised and we need ensure they are available to all. “Across the UK” should be taken as a commitment to make this happen. However, the main theme of my work this year has been to look at the public’s perception of the impact a Service career has on an individual. That is the most important part of this follow-up report. I believe that fixing this problem is the greatest challenge facing the government in this field and that it must be addressed