Understanding the lived experience of military-to-civilian transition and post-service life among non-UK Veterans

Abstract: The UK Armed Forces have an established history of recruiting non-native citizens, including individuals from the Commonwealth and Ireland, as well as Nepalese nationals who may join the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas. During and after their military Service, members of these communities may encounter challenges and opportunities that can impact both their own and their family's wellbeing. While there is now a sizable community of veterans who served as non-UK personnel, little research has engaged with this community to date. To address this evidential gap, this study examined the following question: 'What are non-UK veterans' experiences of military-to-civilian transition and of post-Service life?' Recognising that a veteran's military-to-civilian transition begins at their first contact with the UK Armed Forces, the research examined the lived experience of non-UK veterans across four key stages: 1) joining the UK Armed Forces; 2) in-Service life; 3) resettlement and military-to-civilian transition; and 4) post-Service life. While the participants' testimonies were extremely diverse, the study provided initial insight into the additional complexity and uncertainty associated with non-UK veterans' military-to-civilian transition, the perceived value awarded to their military Service, and the significance of informal support networks among members of this community.

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