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PrefaceThis report is the third deliverable of a six-month study commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), which assesses the evidence relating to resilience and transition for UK Service leavers. This document presents the findings of a literature review which comprised three approaches: a systematic review of academic literature, a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of academic and grey literature, and a scoping review of ongoing research in this domain.In this report, the study team provides an overview of how the links between 'resilience' and 'transition' are conceptualised in the literature reviewed. It then explores existing approaches to categorising Service leavers, before identifying a range of challenges that can affect Service leavers and a number of comparator groups. Finally, a series of recommendations are outlined for research, policy and service provision.RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit policy research organisation that aims to improve policy and decision making in the public interest through research and analysis. RAND Europe's clients include European governments, institutions, non-governmental organisations and other organisations with a need for rigorous, independent, multidisciplinary analysis.
Foreword by the Forces in Mind TrustWhilst most of those leaving the UK Armed Forces go on to lead successful civilian lives, there are unfortunately a minority who are negatively affected by the challenges faced during transition. To help those who struggle, we must first understand why they do, and why the majority do not. Resilience is a concept which has come up time and again in relation to successful transition and which featured strongly in the 2016 FiMT Life Transitions consultation. It is because of this regularity, and a lack of robust evidence to support it, that FiMT decided to commission RAND Europe to undertake this review.Transition is not a straightforward process: it is an individual experience and Service leavers can face unique challenges. Resilience is a common and beneficial characteristic...