The Female Veterans e-learning course

In the UK, veterans are defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations.

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Why female veterans are often invisible

Less than 31% of women who have served identify as veterans. There are many reasons for this:

• Women’s service has historically been less visible
• Some were discharged due to outdated policies
• Some had negative or traumatic experiences
• Many do not feel they “fit” the traditional image of a veteran
• They don’t see themselves in service provision – i.e. websites, social media, leaflets, etc

As a result, female veterans may:

• Not be recognised, respected or celebrated in the same way as men ‘your medals are on the wrong side’
• Not access veteran-specific services for feeling they are ‘not allowed’ or ‘not entitled to’
• Not disclose their service history, especially when asked ‘are you a veteran’ ‘I’m not a veteran, I only did 2 years…’
• Fall through gaps in support

It is important to remember that like all groups, female veterans are not a homogeneous group, they are diverse with different experiences both positive and negative and MUST be treated as individuals.

Asking everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability etc:

A brief history – why policy still matters

Women have served in the UK Armed Forces for over a century, but until relatively recently their careers were shaped by restrictive policies, including:

• The Marriage Bar (women had to leave if they married)
• Discharge for pregnancy (Women were discharged if they were pregnant until 1992)
• The Gay Ban (People were discharged if they were gay and this was repealed in 2000)
• The ban on women in Ground Close Combat (lifted in 2018 and now all roles are open to women)

Although these policies have changed, many women were and still are, directly affected by them.

This has had long-term impacts on:

• Careers and pensions, i.e. not being eligible for pensions
• Confidence and identity
• Trust in institutions and services
• Mental health

Trust and accessing support

Many female veterans report a lack of trust in systems and services, often linked to their experiences while serving.

Some women describe:

• Fear of not being believed
• Fear of being blamed
• Feeling unsupported when raising concerns

This can lead to:

• Under-reporting of harm during and after military life i.e. sexually inappropriate behaviour including rape and sexual assault
• Reluctance to seek help at any point during and after their military career
• Avoidance of veteran-labelled services

Building trust takes time and starts with listening, believing, and going at the individual’s pace.

Where female veterans’ needs may differ

Every veteran is different. However, female veterans may have specific or additional needs compared to male veterans or civilian women. Based on research and conversations with female veterans, we will explore the key areas where these needs are most common, from health and wellbeing to employment and finance.

Physical health

Some women feel that healthcare professionals do not always understand how military service has affected their health.

Many female veterans have experienced the following at a higher rate than male veterans and civilian women:

• Musculoskeletal injuries (for example hip and pelvic injuries)
• Injuries linked to ill-fitting equipment
• Gynaecological and reproductive health issues
• Health issues linked to pregnancy, menopause or caring roles

Mental health

Female veterans experience mental health challenges at higher rates than civilian women, and often differently to male veterans.

Common factors include:

• Trauma during deployment
• Workplace stress and discrimination
• Sexually inappropriate behaviours including sexual assault and rape
• Balancing service with family responsibilities

Female veterans are more likely to experience:

• Depression and anxiety
• Non-combat related PTSD (especially following sexually inappropriate behaviours)
• Eating disorders
• Harmful alcohol use

Many women access general NHS services rather than veteran-specific support, which could mean they are missing out on treatment tailored to their unique experiences.

Sexually inappropriate behaviours including rape and sexual assault

Many female veterans experienced bullying, harassment or sexually inappropriate behaviour while serving.

For some, this included sexual assault or rape.

These experiences were often:

• Normalised as “banter”
• Not reported due to fear or lack of trust
• Minimised at the time

As a result, women may:

• Struggle to name their experiences as trauma
• Find male-dominated spaces unsafe – particularly male veterans
• Need more control and choice when accessing support

Addiction

Some female veterans experience issues with alcohol, gambling and/or substance use. Risk factors can include:

• Trauma
• Mental health difficulties
• Isolation after leaving service – especially initial transition from the military
• Caring responsibilities

Women may not see themselves reflected in traditional addiction services.

Housing

Women often delay seeking help until a crisis point.

Female veterans can face challenges around housing and money. Some may:

• Want to avoid mixed-gender accommodation for safety reasons
• Be hidden homeless (staying with friends or family) as opposed to rough sleeping
• Be single parents or carers

Employment and Finance

Many female veterans bring strong skills to civilian work, including leadership, resilience and problem-solving.

However, some face challenges such as:

• Employers not understanding military experience
• Career breaks linked to caring or a having to move around with a serving partner
• Leaving service early due to historic policies/bans
• Have limited or no pension entitlement due to early discharge
• Needing flexible, remote, and/or part-time work to balance caring responsibilities

These issues can have long-term financial impacts.

Family Life

Female veterans are more likely to be:

• Primary carers for children
• Caring for partners or relatives
• Partner of a veteran or serving person

Caring can be a positive choice, but it can also lead to:

• Isolation and detrimental to health and wellbeing
• Reduced access to services
• Financial pressure

The Justice System

Most female veterans who encounter the justice system are not in prison. They may instead be involved with Probation services, Police, Courts and other community-based justice services. Female veterans are under-represented in official data, partly because many do not identify as veterans or are not identified as such by services. Despite this, it is estimated that around 1% of women in prison are veterans.

While the numbers may appear small, the needs are often complex and should not be overlooked.

Female veterans involved with the justice system often experience overlapping issues such as:

• Poor mental health
• Poverty and financial insecurity
• Trauma and past victimisation

Research suggests that prevention and early support are key to reducing the risk of women becoming involved in the justice system. This relies on services being trusted, accessible, and appropriate for women.

LGBT+

Many LGBT+ female veterans were directly affected by the Gay Ban. Some experienced:

• Bullying and Discrimination
• Fear of disclosure
• Sexual violence linked to their identity
• Dishonourable discharge – affecting future employment prospects

This can affect trust in services long after leaving the Forces.

Ethnic diversity

Female veterans are a diverse group and include many different ethnicities; not just Commonwealth servicewomen, but those who grew up in the UK. Female veterans from different ethnic backgrounds are often overlooked, under-represented and under-researched.

Their experiences are often shaped by:

• Ethnicity
• Faith / religion
• Culture

Women from ethnic minority backgrounds may face additional struggles including:

• Poorer health outcomes
• Discrimination
• Distrust of institutions
• Barriers to employment and support