Exploring the experiences of military mobility for young people from British Army and RAF families, both overseas and within England.

Young people navigate significant developmental changes, while establishing their sense of self and completing key educational milestones. Young people from Armed Forces families, alongside these normative life factors, may experience military mobility which might interrupt their social relationships, hobbies and education. UK literature often centres on educational outcomes, whereas this study explores young people's overall experiences of mobility around England and for young people who have mobilised overseas and returned to England. Existing research frequently overlooks their perspectives, relying instead on adult accounts, especially in the UK context. Hearing directly from young people who are experiencing military mobility is essential to gain a deeper understanding of their lived experiences and perspectives. 

The purpose of this research is to explore and understand the experiences of military mobility through the perspectives of young people, aged between 14-18, from British Army and RAF families, who have experiences of mobility either overseas or across England.

Adopting a narrative inquiry approach, the voices of six young people aged 14-18 were captured through unstructured interviews with an open guide and optional creative methods. Their stories were analysed using narrative thematic analysis and split into two groups: those who were presently experiencing military mobility and those who had experienced mobility in the past. 

What are the experiences of military mobility for young people from British Army and RAF families? 

- Young people from British Armed Forces families. 
- Aged between 14-18 years old.
- Moved around the UK or overseas due to a parent(s) Armed Forces posting.