The fatal flaw in Britain’s latest plan to defend itself

Are we ready for war? Welcome to The i Paper’s opinion series in which our writers tackle a question that, until recently, few had thought to consider. • Britain is closer to nuclear war than you think. This is how it will unfold• The UK’s plan for civilians in a war is terrifying – you’re on your own• World War 3 is closer than you think. And still Britain is half asleep Week by week, the world is becoming a more dangerous place. Wars in Europe and the Middle East show no signs of ending any time soon. It’s clear that the UK cannot rely on the old-world order as it once did. We need a government that can keep us all safe, so it’s natural to hear talk of increased defence spending, national resilience and the UK’s readiness to fight, if the time comes. But there is a gap at the centre of that conversation that has not been addressed properly, even after decades of warnings, advice and human impact. We’ve seen successive governments treat veteran support as a separate issue from national defence. It’s seen as an afterthought, something charitable organisations, local communities and overstretched public services pick up once the uniform comes off. If the need arose to suddenly expand our Armed Forces in the face of war, our highly skilled veterans will be the first to get the call. New legislation introduced at the start of the year would increase the age limit for the strategic reserve to 65 and lower the threshold for them to be called into service. If we’re not looking after our veterans now, then we are not doing our best to prepare these highly skilled, already trained people for what’s ahead. Those joining the services today can expect to be “in reserve” for many years of their lives. It is a matter of national security to ensure we are doing what we can to ensure that they are not disadvantaged by their service when transitioning and we also hold a moral obligation for them as well. This attitude has been around for generations, as we saw in the wake of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, where lack of support for those coming home led directly to my employer, Help for Heroes, being set up to fill the dire need almost 20 years ago. I served for 10 years in the Armed Forces, including operational deployments overseas, and the problems that existed then are still ongoing. Given the geopolitical landscape we find ourselves in today, there is an urgent need to fix these issues that prevent us from providing the support our veterans desperately require. If the UK wants a strong Armed Forces in an era of heightening global uncertainty, support for veterans must be seen as part of the country’s defence infrastructure itself. Far too often I see veterans who are still being let down after service. Too many face long waits for physical and mental healthcare. Too many struggle to navigate through confusing systems that vary dramatically depending on where they live. Too many are left fighting for support long after they stopped fighting for their country. When people leave the Armed Forces, they enter a system that is fragmented, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. For those who leave early due to injury or illness, the transition can be even more abrupt and challenging to thrive after service. We know that around 2,000 personnel are medically discharged from the Armed Forces each year. That is roughly five people a day leaving service because they are no longer able to continue. For them, leaving is not a planned transition; it is a sudden exit from a highly structured system into one that is far less predictable. One veteran I know even described it as being “thrown to the wolves.” The daily news cycle highlights the increasing risk of our nation getting involved in a war or conflict. If that becomes a reality, there will be a need to recruit from the younger generation in potentially large numbers. However, the joiners of today are the veterans of tomorrow, and any potential new intake will want to feel assured that they will be done right by the time they leave service. A government that prioritises thriving veterans is a very powerful advert for joining our Armed Forces. If our veterans continue to feel abandoned or forced to battle broken systems after their service ends, then that will have consequences not just for them personally, but for the future strength of the Armed Forces themselves. I know of too many individuals who leave without a clear handover into civilian healthcare; some don’t even have a confirmed diagnosis in place. Others face delays in accessing medical records, compensation, or appropriate mental health support. We know that this gap at the point of discharge can shape the rest of their lives. We see steps in the right direction. The Armed Forces Covenant is the nation’s promise to our forces, and a firm commitment from the Government that recognises those who serve should not be disadvantaged because of their service. However, the lived experiences of many we support tell a different story. Accessing help can feel inconsistent, confusing and exhausting. Some leave service with complex physical injuries. Others carry hidden psychological wounds that can take years to surface, whilst many face challenges with housing, employment, relationships or mental health that are directly connected to their service. For years, veteran organisations like Help for Heroes have been highlighting these issues, so they are not new challenges our politicians are facing. To ensure that our country is truly war-ready, we must have a defence strategy that includes a serious plan for supporting those who have served. The UK Government knows the importance of veterans in this space. But the investment must go beyond military equipment, training and operational readiness. Tanks, submarines and fighter jets do not operate themselves. We must support the people behind the uniform, especially once their service has ended. With our new Prime Minister in place and a Cabinet that has a clear focus on defence, there is an opportunity to make necessary, lasting change. Charities like ours play a vital role in this, and we will continue to do so. However, we should not be filling the gaps left by broken systems. I’ve seen it first-hand, too often, veterans are having to rely on charities to navigate these problems that our public services should already be equipped to handle. I believe it is long overdue that we make serious changes to ensure veteran care is meaningfully implemented into wider plans to expand our country’s defensive capabilities. We owe this to the men and women who have given everything and those who will give everything through their service to bring about the safety and security of our nation.