The Government says its 10-year Veterans Strategy is intended not only to support former service personnel but also to strengthen the appeal of military service to future recruits, Veterans and People Minister Calvin Bailey has said.
The position was set out in a written parliamentary answer to Conservative MP Stuart Anderson, who asked what progress the Office for Veterans’ Affairs had made in helping veterans succeed after service while supporting wider efforts to connect Defence with society and recruit the next generation.
Bailey said: “The Strategic Defence Review recognised the role of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in helping veterans thrive after service and ensuring their skills, experience and contributions are valued across society.”
He added: “Through the UK-wide Veterans Strategy, the Government is working with employers, local communities and delivery partners to support successful transitions to civilian life and improve opportunities for veterans.”
The new 10-year Veterans Strategy was published in November 2025 and is intended to provide a UK-wide framework for government, employers, charities and wider society.
Bailey said: “Published in November 2025, the new 10-year Veterans Strategy sets out a fresh narrative that recognises veterans as one of the UK’s greatest strategic assets.”
He continued: “It aims to improve public understanding of veterans, celebrate their contribution to society, and challenge misconceptions about military service and life beyond the Armed Forces. The Strategy applies across the UK and provides a framework for government, business, charities and wider society to support veterans.”
The strategy is organised around three themes: Celebrate, Contribute and Support. The first focuses on recognising service and sacrifice, the second on the skills and experience veterans bring to society, the economy and national security, and the third on access to assistance when it is required.
Bailey said: “It is structured around three themes: Celebrate, by recognising the service and sacrifice of veterans; Contribute, by valuing the skills, experience and expertise they bring to society, the economy and national security; and Support, by ensuring veterans can access timely and effective assistance when needed.”
The MOD also explicitly linked the treatment and public perception of veterans with the attractiveness of joining the Armed Forces in the future. Bailey said: “By helping veterans succeed after service and promoting greater recognition of their positive contribution, the Strategy strengthens the connection between the Armed Forces community and society, while supporting the attractiveness of military service to future generations considering a career in the Armed Forces.”
The answer does not provide specific recruitment figures attributable to the Veterans Strategy, but sets out the Government’s position that better outcomes and public recognition for veterans form part of the wider effort to strengthen the relationship between the Armed Forces and society.
