Failing to Adequately Equip Service Personnel for Civilian Life Can Be Problematic

The transition from military to civilian life is one of the most significant challenges faced by UK Armed Forces personnel. While soldiers, sailors, and airmen receive extensive training in combat readiness, discipline, and operational effectiveness, their preparation for reintegration into civilian society is often inadequate. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has long been criticised for failing to equip service members with the necessary emotional resilience, problem-solving skills, and emotional vocabulary required to navigate post-military life successfully. Many veterans struggle with being emotionally unavailable, suffer from PTSD or moral injury, and face significant barriers to employment and social reintegration. Problem-solving in the military is rigid and hierarchical, often relying on standard operating procedures, direct orders, and predefined structures. Soldiers are trained to follow commands and execute plans under extreme pressure. However, the civilian world operates differently, requiring adaptive problem-solving, independent thinking, and flexibility in decision-making skills that military personnel may not be adequately trained. While military personnel excel at tactical and strategic problem-solving in combat scenarios, these skills do not always translate into everyday civilian challenges, such as career development, financial planning, or navigating bureaucratic systems. In civilian workplaces, ambiguity is common, and success often depends on negotiation, emotional intelligence, and the ability to self-direct. All areas where military training falls short. Many veterans struggle to adjust to environments where leadership is not clearly defined, and problem-solving requires persuasion rather than command. The MoD does little to bridge this gap, leaving many veterans ill-equipped to handle the complexities of civilian employment and personal life. Emotional resilience is often misunderstood in military training. In the Armed Forces, resilience is equated with toughness, endurance, and the ability to suppress emotions to complete a mission. While these traits are essential in combat, they are counterproductive in civilian life, where emotional awareness, adaptability, and open communication are vital for success. I would argue that the MoD does not adequately prepare personnel for the emotional challenges they will face upon leaving the military. Many veterans experience culture shock when transitioning to civilian workplaces, where teamwork is based on collaboration rather than hierarchy and where individuals are expected to express emotions constructively rather than suppress them. The inability to process emotions effectively can lead to frustration, withdrawal, or even aggression in professional and personal settings. Furthermore, without emotional resilience training tailored to civilian challenges; such as dealing with rejection in job applications, handling relationship breakdowns, or coping with financial instability. Sadly, because of this many veterans will struggle to maintain stability after service. The military’s emphasis on emotional suppression can make it difficult for former service personnel to seek help when they need it may lead to long-term mental health issues and social isolation. In my opinion, one of the most overlooked aspects of military transition difficulties is the lack of an emotional vocabulary among service personnel. The military environment often discourages emotional expression, fostering a culture where vulnerability is seen as weakness. This results in many personnel being unable to articulate their feelings or recognise the emotional states of others. In civilian life, success in relationships, whether professional, familial, or romantic, depends on the ability to communicate emotions effectively. Veterans who lack this skill often struggle with interpersonal relationships, leading to difficulties in maintaining employment, friendships, and family connections. Many report feeling misunderstood, frustrated, or isolated because they cannot express their struggles in a way that resonates with civilians. Without a strong emotional vocabulary, veterans are also less likely to seek mental health support. If they cannot describe what they are experiencing—whether it be anxiety, depression, or PTSD, they are unlikely to receive appropriate help. The MoD does little to address this issue, failing to provide structured emotional intelligence training that would enable veterans to navigate civilian interactions more effectively. A significant number of military personnel leave service emotionally unavailable, a direct result of years spent suppressing emotions in high-stress environments. Emotional unavailability can manifest in difficulty forming meaningful relationships, an inability to express vulnerability, or a tendency to detach from emotional situations altogether. This issue is particularly damaging for veterans attempting to reconnect with family and friends after years of service. Many military families report that their loved ones return home emotionally distant, unable to engage in deep conversations or express affection. This often leads to strained marriages, broken relationships, and difficulty reintegrating into family life. In civilian workplaces, emotional unavailability can create barriers to career progression. Leadership roles in the civilian world require emotional intelligence, and the ability to connect with colleagues, inspire teams, and demonstrate empathy. Veterans who struggle with this aspect often find themselves unable to adapt to leadership positions outside the military, limiting their career opportunities. Despite the well-documented impact of emotional unavailability, the MoD provides little in terms of structured emotional reintegration programmes. Veterans are often left to navigate this issue alone, with many unaware that their difficulties stem from ingrained military conditioning rather than personal failure. As someone once said… “ I wouldnt be like this if I knew how to not be like this!”

Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Moral injury and PTSD are among the most severe consequences of military service, yet the MoD’s preparation for these challenges is insufficient. Military Sexual Trauma can destry lives, during and after military service. Moral injury occurs when service personnel are involved in, witness, or fail to prevent actions that violate their ethical beliefs. This can lead to deep psychological distress, guilt, and a loss of trust in themselves and society. Many veterans experience moral injury after leaving the military, particularly if they struggle to reconcile their peacetime and wartime actions with civilian values. Yet, the MoD does not adequately address this issue, often treating it as a subset of PTSD rather than a distinct psychological condition that requires specific treatment and support. PTSD, a well-documented consequence of military service, affects a significant proportion of veterans including MST survivors, yet, many receive little to no support upon discharge. While there are mental health services available, stigma and a lack of awareness prevent many from seeking help. Additionally, the structured, purpose-driven environment of military life contrasts sharply with the unstructured nature of civilian life, exacerbating feelings of anxiety, depression, and detachment. Despite the known prevalence of PTSD and moral injury among veterans, the MoD’s transition programs focus primarily on employment and financial stability, often neglecting the psychological impact of leaving the forces. Without comprehensive mental health preparation, many veterans struggle to function in civilian society, leading to unemployment, homelessness, and even suicide. In summary, the UK Ministry of Defence continues to fall short in preparing service personnel for the realities of civilian life. While military training equips individuals with discipline, teamwork, and operational skills, it does not provide the emotional resilience, problem-solving abilities, or emotional intelligence necessary for a successful transition. Veterans often struggle with emotional unavailability, lack the vocabulary to express their challenges, and face severe psychological issues such as MST, PTSD and moral injury. To improve outcomes for veterans, the MoD must implement comprehensive transition programmes that enable veterans how to focus not just on employment, but also on emotional intelligence, resilience training, and mental health support. By addressing these gaps, the government can help service personnel reintegrate more successfully into civilian life, reducing homelessness, unemployment, and mental health crises among former military members. Until these changes are made, thousands of veterans will continue to suffer in silence, unprepared for the very world they risked their lives to protect.

Tony Wright CEO Forward Assist