Back in August, you might have seen our posts on social media about a hugely important report from our ADVANCE-INVEST study.
For those who missed it, the report takes a compassionate look at the experiences of veterans who were medically discharged after sustaining serious combat injuries. It’s all about understanding their journey and finding ways to make the transition to civilian life as smooth as possible.
Professor Nicola Fear from KCMHR summed up the ‘why’ behind this work perfectly:
A Quick Refresher
The research team spoke with hundreds of veterans, and their stories helped shape some powerful recommendations. The key takeaways are all about:
- Closer collaboration between the chain of command and service leavers to increase their sense of agency.
- The provision of robust and timely financial advice to help manage compensation payments effectively.
- Offering specialised career support and professional development opportunities early in the physical rehabilitation process to help personnel “reinvent” their futures.
The UK government has acknowledged the report’s findings, with the Minister for Armed Forces, Al Carns MP, stating:
Fancy a deeper dive? The full report is free, easy to read, and packed with insights.
Full report title: “Medical discharge from the UK Armed Forces and the role of combat injury: a short report from the ADVANCE-INVEST study (Burdett, Fear et al)”, published by King’s College London.
