Senior Non-Commissioned Officers and Employment after leaving the UK Armed Forces - Full Report.
Abstract: Previous research studies have highlighted that Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) face particular challenges transitioning to civilian employment due to a variety of factors, including lower educational levels and a lack of confidence in translating military experience to civilian employers. The Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, along with QinetiQ and RFEA, the Forces Employment Charity, were commissioned by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) to examine the transition of SNCOs from all three Services into civilian employment (including full/part-time, self-employment, volunteering, or a combination of these) and to contribute to FiMT’s evidence base to understand this particular group’s unique transition challenges. The research seeks to fill the current gap in knowledge and to contribute to policy-making and improved service delivery.
Abstract: Background: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during military service can lead to moral injury (MI) outcomes and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). This longitudinal study examined the relationships between PMIE exposure, MI outcomes, and PTSS among Israeli combat veterans, and the potential protective role of dispositional forgiveness in these associations. Method: Participants were 169 Israeli combat veterans who participated in a six-year longitudinal study with four measurement points (T1: 12 months before enlistment, T2: Six months following enlistment- pre-deployment, T3: 18 months following enlistment- post-deployment, and T4: 28 months following discharge). Participants’ characteristics were assessed via semi-structured interviews (T1) and validated self-report measures (T2-T4) between 2019-2024. Results: Approximately 36% of participants reported exposure to PMIEs during service, with 13% exceeding the clinical threshold for probable PTSD at T4. PMIE-Betrayal at T3 was positively associated with MI outcomes of shame and trust violation at T4. The indirect effect of PMIEs on PTSS through MI outcome-Shame depended on forgiveness levels. Among veterans with low forgiveness, higher exposure to PMIE-Betrayal was associated with increased MI shame, which was linked to more severe PTSS. Conversely, for those with high forgiveness, exposure to PMIE-Self and Other was associated with decreased MI shame and subsequently reduced PTSS. Conclusion: Dispositional forgiveness moderates the relationship between PMIE exposure and MI outcomes, particularly shame, which mediates the development of PTSS. These findings highlight forgiveness as a potential target for intervention in treating moral injury and preventing PTSS among combat veterans.