Veterans Are Not A Homogenous Group!

A veteran is someone who served in the military for more than one day but is that all most have in common?

Do all veterans share the same outlook on life or the same views? Sometimes there is strong disagreement and very different behaviours.

Should veterans be respected for their service, or defined by it?

When organisations or individuals speak for veterans, do they develop their rhetoric, based on a lack of quantifiable data, to paint a distorted picture and cause damage to the ‘veteran’ brand? Homelessness, unemployment, suicide etc – are they as big an issue as some organisations want us to believe? Does the lack of data mean these issues are glorified in their fundraising activities? It is certainly an effective way of raising funds.

A serving soldier is often portrayed as a hero whereas a veteran is often expected to be broken or in need. Neither label, hero or broken, is appropriate to the majority military/ex-military personnel. What impact do the negative stories have on recruiting, or on the mindset of employers, or in the expectations of service leavers? What about the families?

There are about 2.5m veterans, with circa 65% over the age of 65. Over the next 20 years there will be a sharp decrease in the number of veterans. Which military-focused organisations want to see their income drop by a similar percentage? Is it better therefore to maintain problems rather than focus on solutions and the best interests of the veteran and their family? If underlying issues were addressed would many charities no longer be needed?

Are veterans more or less likely than civilians to be homeless? The best data available says less likely, although many veterans may not declare so it is unknown. Of the circa 1000 veterans Forces in the Community have engaged with less than 20 have spent one or more nights rough sleeping whereas over 100 have experienced sofa surfing, often due to relationship break ups or poor family dynamics. The biggest cause appears to be relationship breakdowns.

The number of British veterans in prison is also unknown although attempts are being made to record those who declare. It is not always safe to identify as a veteran. Much is made of veterans being the largest occupational group in prison but it is important to realise ‘veterans’ are the only occupational group identified. Interestingly when numbers of veterans in prison are quoted they often include veterans from other armed forces, not just British veterans.

Unemployed veterans - actual number unknown although the RBL do highlight this as a possible area for concern. One of the biggest issues the charity has experienced has been the frequency of job changes, especially in the 5 years after leaving service. One veteran listed 23 jobs in 5 years.

Including veterans, there are 16 people per day, circa 6,500 per year, who end their life by suicide in the UK. It is unknown how many veterans end their life each year although a figure of about 80 is shared around social media. In comparison it is reported there have been over 1,500 construction workers who have died by suicide in the last 5 years.

Suicidal ideation is incredibly complex, and it is far too simplistic to blame the MoD or assume a suicide has anything to do with being a veteran. I do believe a factor is a comparison between who I was and what I had whilst serving and my life as a veteran. A recurring issue is the loss of belonging, of no longer feeling part of something. For others who have attempted to end their lives, it’s about the loss of family. Many veterans I have worked with over the years have an underlying sense of not being good enough, that pre-dated military service and reappears after leaving.

PTSD is commonly talked about as a major risk for suicide but is it? Studies suggest PTSD is no more of a risk than many other diagnoses.

The prevalence of PTSD within the civilian population is approximately 4.0%. There are therefore roughly the same number of civilians with PTSD, 2.3m, as there are veterans in total. Whilst PTSD is still very much associated with military more needs to be done to educate the wider community so veterans are seen in a more favourable light and not likely to be labelled as damaged.

Many recruits join up with childhood trauma which can have an impact throughout life. An attraction in joining the military is to feel part of something, to experience belonging. Many of the veterans I work with came from disparate backgrounds where physical, sexual or emotional abuse was frequent. Joining up was often to escape, to belong somewhere, to have the chance of a better future or to attempt to make the family proud. Many new recruits often have experience of life where they did not feel good enough, for many reasons including poverty, poor family life, abuse, neglect, bullying and a lack of opportunities. It's very easy to train someone who is already devalued to sacrifice themselves to save others if need be. In this shared experience recruits begin to feel accepted for whom they are, of being good enough - I am acceptable to others and more importantly, to myself.

But after leaving service and when something goes wrong the underlying not good enough process is exposed. Many veterans have talked of feeling like they are a burden to others - a common suicidal thought. A similar sacrificing process where many are prepared to die for the perceived benefit of others.

Too many veterans report a negative experience in their last few weeks/days/hours. The leaving process creating feelings of rejection and shame. All ranks from WO1 downwards have made similar comments. Most of the veterans the charity receives have been out for between 6 and 15 years, having served for a similar duration. If this negative experience prior to leaving was more positive would veterans seek support a lot sooner when needs are less complex? If you feel rejected by your family the last thing you want to do is seek help from them. 

If veterans are looking to belong but feel adrift from society the pressure to be accepted in the workplace can be great. Any sign of not fitting in and the job is no good. How many veterans choose jobs where they work alone?

Over the last decade the charity has worked with hundreds and hundreds of veterans of all ages, male and female. Whilst housing, employment and welfare support are established areas of need more focus should be directed at the underlying issues that often cause these difficulties.

One of the major challenges is difficulty in forming and sustaining close relationships. How many serving personnel/veterans rush into poor relationships? It can be a trauma response and lead to abusive relationships. The relationship forms with the focus on pleasing the partner with little or no interest in the (female or male) veteran’s needs. Partners often state the veteran can be emotionally devoid or cold. How many veterans seek solitude in times of relational/emotional distress? As the relationship develops unconscious self-sabotage behaviours appear to protect the veteran but often are a cause of breakups.

Is the value of belonging (family) focused on a concept, ‘the military’, rather than meaningful relationships with real people? Does this prevent integration into society and balanced relationships?

So additional support and education should be offered to new recruits to help them recognise and work on the areas of their life they are not consciously aware of so that change can be given a chance and future distressing issues minimised. The leaving process is too late when the responsibility is then shifted to the NHS or charities, and the harmful ways embedded.

The term 'veteran' references a passionate group of individuals with a wide range of abilities, hopes, wants and needs. Some need support, others offer it. Some care about others, some care little for themselves, and others do not care at all.

Why are the issues faced by veterans today virtually the same as they were 10, 20, 30 years ago? The collective bank accounts of all the charities, associations etc would suggest money is not the problem, so what is? Money is often provided as a solution but often only provides a short-term fix for more complex issues. Many believe egos and politics within this sector prevent real change.

Having met, worked with and supported over one thousand veterans over the last decade I can honestly say I no longer see the ‘veteran’ label as the primary label for the issues faced by fellow human beings. I’ve worked with murderers, thieves, rapists, sex offenders inc paedophiles who have been through prison – all veterans. I am used to veterans not turning up to appointments or cancelling as much as I am to those who arrive 5 minutes before the agreed appointment time, or earlier. Sometimes ‘veteran’ is used to avoid taking responsibility – “I’m homeless because I’m a veteran” or ‘I’ve served my country now my country needs to serve me” and sometimes the internal ‘adapt and overcome’ belief hinders support – seeking or receiving.

Professional sports people, actors and other professions that run alongside civilian life experience similar issues to veterans. The change from who I was to who I now am can be overwhelming.

Does veteran status hinder transition? Can one truly transition when the primary descriptor is an anchor to the past?

To achieve change for veterans the dialogue needs to change. Veterans do not all want or deserve the same. Veterans do not all think the same, walk the same, love the same, eat the same or drink the same, although 'too fast' is an often used descriptor! Being labelled as a veteran may provide a sense of belonging but should not define life after service. Focus on the person not the label.

For those who choose to speak on behalf of veterans please consider the damage you could be causing by assuming your perspective is relevant to and for all veterans.

We all need to be seen for whom we are and not solely defined by a period of our lives.

Rick Harrington Founder & CEO

Forces in the Community