Press Release - Leaving the services
27 July 2007
The Ministry of Defence offers a good range of resettlement
support for those leaving the Armed Forces, and most people adapt
back into civilian life easily and comfortably. There are a
minority of people who have a more difficult time finding
employment, housing or making the social transition.
A National Audit Office survey of those who have left the
Services in the last two years revealed that three quarters found
the return to civilian life was as expected or easier; and two
thirds said the support offered by the Armed Forces helped them to
find work. 94 per cent of leavers who were seeking employment
through the Career Transition Partnership programme found
employment within six months.
In 2006-07, some 25,000 personnel left the Armed Forces and all
leavers have access to some assistance to help them when returning
to civilian life. The level of resettlement support is determined
by the length of military service and is not dependent on the rank
of the leaver. Personnel discharged for medical reasons are
entitled to the highest level of support regardless of how long
they have served.
The majority of leavers get coaching in CV writing and job
interview techniques; a contribution of £534 towards the cost of
training plus associated travel and accommodation costs; up to 35
working days to prepare for their return to civilian life;
briefings on housing and personal finance issues; and access to a
career consultant.
Most Service leavers find suitable accommodation on leaving the
Forces, and the MoD offers a reasonable amount of support to help
people when doing so. However, a small number of leavers have
difficulties in finding suitable accommodation.
The MoD has improved the provision of resettlement support for
Early Service Leavers because this group includes individuals more
vulnerable to unemployment and homelessness. However,
inconsistencies in the quality of support offered at unit level
undermines the overall provisions made.
The Army has to contend with particular challenges in supporting
those leaving, compared to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The
Army draws a large number of recruits from educationally and
socially disadvantaged backgrounds who, in many cases, also join
with weak basic skills. Access to resettlement provision to meet
the challenges of the transition to civilian life has been affected
by the recent high level of operations which has increased the
demand on soldiers’ time as they come to the end of their
service.
An NAO survey showed that around one in ten leavers who were
eligible for the full resettlement package did not attend any
Career Transition Partnership course. A small proportion said they
were not aware of the services which were available to them. For
those leaving the Army, the proportion of those who were unaware of
what support was available to them was higher, especially from the
junior ranks. The MoD must continue to improve awareness of the
support that is available.
Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, said
today:
“The practical realities for people leaving the Armed
Forces can be very demanding. The process of finding a new home and
a new job at the same time is something most of us would find quite
stressful. So it is encouraging that most make that transition
smoothly, and without too many troubles.
“And undoubtedly, part of that is due to the good support the
Ministry of Defence provides to those leaving the Forces. It is
important that all those leaving the Services know what support is
due to them, and have the opportunity to take advantage of
it.”
Notes for Editors
- An Early Service Leaver is an individual leaving with less than
four years service or someone who leaves because of compulsory
discharge.
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Sir John Bourn, is the
head of the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He
and the NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 41/07
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