MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (164/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 27
July 2007
In a report
published today, the National Audit Office has praised the
Ministry of Defence for the resettlement support given to those
leaving the Armed Forces.
The independent report, 'Leaving the Services', looked
at the wide range of support given to personnel to help them
return to civilian life. The report said the MoD is at the
forefront of best international practice in providing tailored,
professional resettlement help and found the services were of good
quality, particularly in respect of preparing service leavers for
new careers. The report showed that 94% of service leavers seeking
employment through the Career Transition Programme (CTP) found
work within six months.
All service personnel receive some resettlement help. The extent
of help given is determined by time served regardless of rank, and
those who are medically discharged are entitled to the highest
level of support available regardless of their length of service.
The report acknowledged that most people adapt to civilian life
easily and comfortably. A small minority, however, have a more
difficult time finding employment, housing or making the social
transition. The report acknowledges the work the MOD is doing to
provide further support for those that need it and its
recommendations will help improve the support currently available
from the MoD.
The NAO report also noted that the percentage of London's
homeless population who have served in the Armed Forces
'reduced significantly' from an estimated 25% in 1999 to
approximately 6% in 2006. This reduction followed work by both the
Ministry of Defence and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Derek Twigg, said:
"I am delighted that the National Audit Office has
recognised the excellent resettlement package provided for service
leavers. The MoD goes to huge lengths to make the transition to
civilian life as smooth and as stress free as possible."
"Our personnel gain many valuable transferable skills during
their time in the Armed Forces, and the resettlement package helps
them capitalise on these in securing employment after discharge. I
think the success statistics speak for themselves. That said, we
are not complacent. We are constantly seeking to improve the
support for those leaving the Armed Forces. The comments by the
NAO are very constructive and we are in the process of considering
their recommendations."
Notes to Editors
1. Copies of the report 'Leaving the Services' are
available from the NAO website http://www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office via 0845 702 3474
2. Resettlement information and advice is delivered in three
tiers. The first two tiers of information and advice are provided
by the single services and are available to anyone at any point in
their military career. The third tier is delivered by Career
Transition Partnership (CTP), a private/ public partnership
between the MOD and Right Management Ltd, a specialist civilian
outplacement company.
3. The Career Transition Programme provides dedicated one-to-one
employment and career consultancy, access to vocational
resettlement training with funding support, a job finding service,
assistance in CV preparation and job interview technique, and
briefings on post-discharge practical life support matters.
4. Three case studies of service leavers who have benefited from
the MoD Resettlement programme are attached below with
accompanying pictures.
5. For more information visit the website http://www.mod.uk
Anna Jordan, 32, Personal Assistant from London.
Lieutenant Anna Jordan left her role as a Warfare Officer in the
Royal Navy in July 2006 after 13 years of service.
Anna attended a Career Transition Workshop which helped her to
find her current job through the Right Job careers website. Anna
works as a Personal Assistant to HRH The Prince of Wales and the
Duchess of Cornwall. Her office runs the day to day diary for HRH
The Prince of Wales.
Anna said:
"The advice provided by the CTW was invaluable in pulling
together a CV which was going to interest a civilian employer. The
interview skills were also very useful as were all the handouts so
that you could look back at a later date and revisit the
information given.
"Another thing that really impressed me was the number of
organisations that exist to help service leavers into employment.
The Career Transition Workshop really made me realise that there
is a tremendous amount of support about and support that lasts
well beyond your first job which is invaluable.
"Probably one of the other important skills that the CTP
gives you is an understanding of how to sell yourself to a
potential employer as it is not something that many service
personnel will ever have had to do whilst in the military."
Rick Fowler, 42, a self-employed plumber and electrician from Salisbury.
Rick left the Army as a Warrant Officer Class 1 in June 2005
after 24 years of service. In his Army career Rick was based at
Larkhill Garrison as a master gunner in the Royal Artillery. He
had a clear idea that he wanted to work for himself and utilise
his DIY skills. The Career Transition Partnership offered Rick
help and advice in making the first steps in his new career.
Rick said:
"I would recommend the resettlement training to anyone. I
went to some workshops and I saw a lot of people get real benefit
from them. I knew what I wanted to do but I think for people that
haven't given much thought to their time after the Army the
resettlement workshops really make a difference."
John McDavitt, 43, from Elgin, Deputy Clinical Dental Manager for
NHS Highland.
Wing Commander McDavitt left the RAF in November last year after
a 16-year career serving as a military dentist. Through the Career
Transition Partnership (CTP) he was able to line up a managerial
role with the Highland NHS five months before leaving the RAF.
John said:
"The CTP was absolutely fantastic. It certainly helped me to
find the right job. I attended a Career Transition Workshop which
was really useful in helping me brush up on my interview technique
and fired me up to proactively look for the right post. I'd
also recommend the Finance Briefing to everyone."
"The CTP is excellent in reminding ex-service people that we
are highly skilled - I wouldn't have got this post without
the additional qualifications the Defence Dental Services helped
me obtain - and these skills are sought after in the outside
world. CTP helps you to focus on your next career and I think most
people come away with a lot of useful information."