Female veterans feel less supported than men

09 July 2019

18 September 2018

And almost as many (43%) reported feeling on their own with no-one looking out for them after they hung up their uniform.

This research is reflected in the increased number of women coming forward asking to be matched with a SSAFA mentor. Currently, female mentees make up 22% of the service, which is disproportionately large compared to the male-to-female ratio within the Armed Forces (approximately 10%).

The SSAFA mentoring service provides one-to-one support for service leavers and their families during the pivotal transition back to civilian life. SSAFA mentors help with practical and emotional support, assisting decision-making, supporting career decisions and offering independent and confidential advice.

When questioned about their experiences, over a third of former servicewomen (35%) said they weren’t fully prepared for civilian life. Further to this, 38% of female veterans said they did not plan their post-military career before they left the Armed Forces.

Although many service leavers thrive in civilian life, if a veteran is struggling and the issues are not addressed early enough, problems can escalate to a stage where more drastic intervention may be necessary. SSAFA's mentoring service aims to stop this by providing early preventative support.

It’s concerning that female veterans don’t feel they are getting the right support - however, it is reassuring that we continue to see a rise in former servicewomen approaching SSAFA to be paired with a mentor. 

- Gary Williams, Head of Mentoring, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity

Currently, female serving personnel make up just under 10% of the Armed Forces, but with close combat roles being opened to women recruits, it’s possible we will see a further increase in the demand for our service.

All servicewomen, female veterans and female spouses are eligible for our support services including SSAFA mentoring and we would encourage anyone facing difficult times to get in touch.