Minister: Ditch outdated views of veterans to help them into jobs

Misguided and negative stereotypes that armed forces veterans are “mad, sad and bad” must be challenged as they damage future job prospects, the Government has said.

Former military personnel face a “branding issue” which is creating barriers for work, with research showing the public are woefully ignorant about ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen.

A survey by the Veterans Work Consortium, comprising Deloitte, the Forces In Mind Trust, and the Officers’ Association, shows that 87 per cent of people think veterans struggle to adapt to new working environments when they leave the forces, while 30 per cent feel veterans are not suited to civilian jobs. 

Only eight per cent of respondents to the survey of 1,001 British adults were able to identify correctly that to be defined as a “veteran”, you need only have served for one day.

Johnny Mercer, minister for Defence People and Veterans, said: “As a former Army officer and serving defence minister, I have met and worked with hundreds of veterans … and their drive, skills and confidence are second to none.

“We must all do more to challenge the negative stereotypes.”