Applying behavioural insights to successful transition

Abstract: Each year, thousands of people sign up to serve in the UK’s Armed Forces. The commitment is all encompassing: irregular hours and time away from loved ones, often in dangerous situations. Families of Service personnel mirror this commitment, often uprooting their lives every few years for a new posting and managing a household singlehandedly for prolonged periods of time. Although frequent relocation can be challenging, the move back to civilian life – a move made by 15,000 serving personnel each year – can be the hardest of all. Families play a key role in supporting their serving person to successfully transition out of the Armed Forces and as such, there is an increased call to better understand and recognise their transition experience. Commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) have been working to answer two questions:
1. How do families of Service personnel experience transition?
2. How can insights from research with families, coupled with an in-depth understanding of human behaviour, be used to improve the transition process?