Becoming a civvy

A great deal of rubbish has been written about Service people making the move into civilian life. Stereotyped images of gangsters, thieves, rapists and worse using their military skills to crack safes, act as mercenaries or contract killers tell us they will inevitably suffer from psychological problems. They are unable to cope without being ‘told what to do’ and having their every action dictated to them by a superior. They will fail in civilian life.

The other extreme view is that the civilian world is crying out for Service efficiency and effectiveness. Under military organisation, trains would run on time, criminals would soon have the rough edges knocked off them, fraud and corruption would be a thing of the past, there would be respect (that concept beloved by politicians) all round, and British football teams might even qualify for the World Cup. Life would be better.

These gross exaggerations probably contain nuggets of truth, but they reinforce the prejudices of civilians with little or no experience of the Forces and Service people, many of whom have little or no real experience of life out of uniform. As usual, reality is in there somewhere, with the vast majority of Service leavers adapting quickly to a new environment, some finding a fulfilment they never had before and a few unhappy at what they have had to leave behind. In fact, the process is most certainly possible – and even easy – for anyone who recognises that it requires change.

The world of operations, enemies, friendly forces, refugees, flanks and peace enforcement is in many ways quite similar to that of sales, profit, suppliers, VAT, industrial tribunals and employment legislation. One may appear more glamorous, exciting and worthy, but the other is more familiar to civilians, and so the Service leaver must be prepared to adjust their attitudes to its requirements. The competition is just as cut-throat, the rewards of job satisfaction and financial gain just as satisfying, and failure can be just as painful.

Job-finding for the first time for people who have hitherto been posted can be a culture shock. For some, it is a long-awaited opportunity to make decisions for themselves. Many of the skills involved can be learnt on courses, but Service leavers often have to make hard decisions about their lives and their futures, in a competitive and sometimes uninviting marketplace.

They will be without the safety net provided by the Forces. And the term ‘safety net’ simply describes some very generous measures that Service people get as part of their employment: things like relative protection from business cessation and office closure; index-linked pensions; considerable time off; subsidised sport and holidays; a relatively cheap and high-quality social life, and so on. They will also lose job security, and that can be a big loss. Service people who may not be terribly good but who do nothing wrong will probably continue to be employed, if not promoted any further. Less than fully effective civilians may well be sacked because employers simply cannot afford to keep them on.

Management styles and interpersonal skills will probably have to change. The direct command is often replaced by the oblique suggestion. Discussion, negotiation and consent take over from estimates, plans and orders. The words ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ may be heard in the workplace, while women, gay people and cultural diversity are in every workforce.

The civilian world can be a tough environment, with some people who react well to enemy fire feeling a little aimless and lost when they encounter it. Service leavers need to accept this and be ready for the experience. Taking full advantage of all the resettlement opportunities available, even if they have a job waiting for them, is strongly advised to make this transition as easy as possible.

Steven Roles amplifies these points and makes others in his account of ‘One man’s resettlement’. A glance at the East Midlands identifies employment and learning opportunities in that region, while accountancy and book-keeping, and the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sectors continue to provide opportunities for trained people and new entrants.

Although some may see the City of London as a destination for well-connected officers, our feature exposes the incredible number of jobs that it offers in such areas as ICT, security, facilities management and catering. Aviation security is also big business, and we note that a large proportion of jobs in the aviation industry are in the security field. With terrorists, criminals, stalkers and maniacs out on the streets, close protection is too often no longer just a luxury or a must-have accessory for rich celebrities.

The country is crying out for people with building trades, and current shortages will only get worse as major projects like the London Olympics start up, while an ageing workforce opts for retirement. We also explore management and supervision outside the Armed Forces, and ways in which knowledge, skills and experience can be exported to a second career. We wish you happy reading for 2008.