Celebrating the benefits of military Service: reflections from recent research and roundtable discussions with delegates across the Armed Forces sector
Over the past year, we conducted the Centre’s first piece of primary research, the OUTCOMES study [1], exploring the onward value and perceived benefits of Serving in the military.
Sharing new evidence
The OUTCOMES study has started to address an important evidence gap about the benefits of military Service. In a climate where evidence focuses on negative consequences and indicates the public hold misconceptions about ex-Service personnel and the Armed Forces community, building an understanding that balances perceptions of Service for individuals and society is timely.
We were pleased to release the results of the study at an event at The Army and Navy Club (RAG) in London, on Tuesday 23rd September 2025. The Centre brought together delegates from the Armed Forces (AF) community sector, creating an opportunity to share key findings and recommendations from the study, engage in roundtable discussions, and for cross-sector networking.
Setting the scene
We were delighted that Anisha Worbs, Director of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, delivered opening remarks which highlighted the necessity and timeliness for robust research to fill evidence gaps about the benefits of Service, and the contributions of ex-Service personnel in the UK. She emphasised the importance of drawing on evidence to influence policy and practice, referencing the upcoming Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan and the Government Strategic Defence Review 2025 [2]. Both strategies highlight the need to change the existing public narrative about the AF community, to one that champions and celebrates.
Key research findings and recommendations
With the context and importance of this research set, Dr Karishma Jivraj, (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Evidence), presented a summary of the study, highlighting the key messages from the findings:
- Military Service provides the opportunity to develop many high level and unique skills, and exposure to distinct, exceptional, and empowering experiences, leading to social, emotional, and psychological growth, and upward social mobility.
- However, to benefit from these opportunities Service leavers must put effort and have agency in their transition and navigate competing military and civilian identities.
- Good quality leadership and support both during Service and through transition, recognising and supporting varied backgrounds and Service experiences, is vital.
And some key recommendations:
- Support Serving and ex-Service personnel to recognise and apply the skills and experiences developed and prepare early on in Service for post-Service life.
- Armed Forces leadership to promote dual roles and balanced military–civilian identity and encourage Serving personnel to make the most of opportunities offered by Service.
- The Ministry of Defence should broaden transition support (through Career Transition Partnership programmes) recognising the importance of identity and culture, and Office for Veterans’ Affairs to further embed the benefits of Service in future policy strategies.
- Employers and third sector organisations to champion the value of ex-Service personnel and share positive narratives and educating society about military culture to balance misconceptions.
- Continue research to deepen understanding of the benefits of Service, across varied roles, backgrounds, and experiences.
Learning from delegates across the AF sector in roundtable discussions
Delegates engaged in interactive roundtable discussions, chaired by Dr Mary Keeling (Deputy Director, Centre for Evidence), with three core questions posed:
1. In your work in the sector, how much do you hear / speak about the benefits of Service?
The room had mixed responses. Some noted that discussions about the benefits of Service (with examples such as discipline, resilience, and personal growth and skills), are still too limited, while others pointed to emerging recognition of the value of ex-Service personnel, through initiatives like the Ex-Forces in Business Awards [3], the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme [4], and the Armed Forces Covenant [5]. There was broad agreement that the narrative about Service should be balanced, celebrating success stories, and highlighting the strengths of ex-Service personnel.
2. Focusing on one or two of the recommendations, how might they be implemented?
When discussing implementation, delegates proposed tangible actions such as:
- Raising awareness of ex-Service personnel as valuable contributors across society and increasing the visibility of AF friendly employers
- Championing reservists as visible ambassadors
- Focusing on the role of media in shaping public perceptions and working with them to shift the narrative by sharing positive examples
- Working with employer networks to highlight the various benefits of Service
- Preparing Serving personnel earlier for transition through life skills packages
- Recognising third sector organisations’ key role in supporting the change in the narrative about ex-Service personnel
The helpful feedback prompted the Centre for Evidence to update the digital summary report [1], to include an explicit recommendation for AF third sector organisations to amplify the benefits of Service and support ex-Service personnel to be able to recognise their unique contributions and skillsets.
3. What can be done to support the reduction of the military-civilian divide and minimise the ‘cultural clash’ found by this research?
This question sparked engaging conversations between delegates on how to reduce the cultural gap between military and civilians. Ideas included increasing visibility of the AF at public events, promoting AF-friendly employers, sharing best practice from reservists and more ‘organic’ role models, and shifting research, public, and media focus away from deficit-based narratives. Some even questioned whether aspects of the divide might be beneficial, for example, by maintaining distinctive values that the AF bring to society.
Closing reflections
Stephen Lees, Armed Forces Engagement Lead at Jaguar Land Rover, gave the closing remarks citing the importance of helping employers understand the value of Service, and AF champions supporting ex-Service personnel to articulate their experiences. He emphasised that change must come from both within the AF community and wider society, ensuring the benefits are more fully recognised and celebrated.
Looking ahead
The OUTCOMES study release event marked an important opportunity to share evidence about the benefits of Service, starting to balance the narrative about ex-Service personnel. However, more work is required across the sector, and we call relevant stakeholders to act on the recommendations made in the OUTCOMES study summary report.
It is vital that further research is undertaken to understand the benefits of Service for specific sub-groups of Serving and ex-Service personnel, the role of military identity in shaping post-Service experiences, the unique contributions of ex-Service personnel and development of upward social mobility, and how to enable more Serving and ex-Service personnel to benefit from the benefits. Creating evidence about this, we will enable a shift in wider narrative about ex-Service personnel to one that is balanced and representative.
In addition to ex-Service personnel, it is important to consider the wider AF community, especially Service-connected families. We are therefore, developing work to address the evidence gap about the benefits of Service for families of ex-Service personnel, starting with a review of existing literature.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the event. Your engagement afforded the opportunity for cross-sector discussion, strengthening the potential impact of the research. This is notably evidenced by the feedback from the delegates informing subsequent changes to the OUTCOMES study summary report with the addition of a specific recommendation for the third sector as well as the above noted suggestions for the implementation of the recommendations.
By producing and sharing research findings in accessible and meaningful ways, the Centre aims to ensure that evidence informs decision-making and contributes to a thriving Armed Forces community.
We encourage further conversations about the benefits of Service in your work and welcome you to get in touch with the Centre to discuss how we can continue creating evidence about the benefits of Service.
References:
[1] Centre for Evidence for the Armed Forces Community. Outcomes Study: Investigating the benefits of military service [Internet]. Link
[2] Ministry of Defence. The Strategic Defence Review 2025 – Making Britain Safer: secure at home, strong abroad [Internet]. London: GOV.UK; 2025 Jun 2. Link
[3] Ex-Forces in Business. 2025 Winners – UK Awards [Internet]. Link
[4] GOV.UK. Defence Employer Recognition Scheme [Internet]. Link
[5] Armed Forces Covenant. [Internet]. Link
