The University of Chester report, funded by Forces in Mind Trust, found that those former members of the Armed Forces who participated in the project reported mostly positive experiences of their time in Service, but  highlighted that the pace of change for ethnic minority former Service personnel was slow.

The study was the first of its kind to explore the experiences of former Service personnel from ethic minority backgrounds and adopted an inclusive research design approach, including co-production of the research design, development and implementation.

The research focused on understanding more about what motivated people from ethnic minorities to join the UK Armed Forces, what enticed them to say, what factors influenced their decision to leave, and their experience since leaving.

The research was based on 36 in-depth interviews with ethnic minority  former Service personnel, and over 400 survey results from both ethnic minority and white ex-Service personnel, who had served between 1974 and 2023.

Participants interviewed reflected on mostly positive experiences of their time in the Armed Forces, often describing the military as their “family” in interviews, which fostered a support network based in a sense of camaraderie. There was also a positive perception that the Armed Forces were a way to enhance education and gain transferable skills to use in further employment. Ethnic minority veterans were more likely to say that they enlisted in the Armed Forces for skills, education and training, than white respondents to the survey.

Those interviewed provided examples of racism, bullying and harassment during their time in the Armed Forces, but indicated that overt racism was rare. However, it had a significant negative impact on ethnic minority personnel when it did occur. Perceived unconscious bias was more common, with participants citing concerns about feeling that they were overlooked for promotion more often than their white peers.

Ex-Service personnel reported that experiences of ethnic minorities had improved during their time in the Armed Forces, but they thought that the pace of change was too slow.

The research also sought to understand the experiences of ethnic minority Service personnel after they had left the Armed Forces. There was evidence in the report to suggest that their experiences differed during transition and in civilian life, in areas such as access to employment and housing. The report stresses the importance of further research for understanding the unique needs of this cohort after Service.

The full report, including more of the key findings and recommendations as well as excerpts from the interviews, can be found here.

Dr Alan Finnegan Veteran and former Professor at the University of Chester said

“It has been an honour to be involved in this project. By exploring the experiences of military veterans from ethnic minority backgrounds, the study has provided a wealth of information to help improve the landscape for both serving armed forces personnel and veterans. From the outset, representing the participants’ voices was key with participants welcomed as equal partners, and their outstanding contributions helped shape the report.”

Michelle Alston, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust said

“Understanding the experiences of under-researched groups is essential to improving support to the Armed Forces community. This research allows us to listen to and understand their experiences, allowing their voices to be heard by those developing policy and delivering services, which will improve transition for ethnic minority Service personnel and their families.”

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The research interviewed 36 ethnic minority veterans and surveyed 179 ethnic minority veterans and 274 UK white veterans.