Finding Meaning: a talking points brief on underemployment of service personnel

Abstract

NZDF provides transition programmes for military personnel, these programmes have not been seen by the individual as being ‘useful’. It is this desire to be useful that makes an ex-service person a valuable employee. However most service personnel leave without a civilian or trade qualification. It takes them a long time to get a job. In addition even those that leave with a qualification that is recognised in the civilian world find themselves ‘starting over’ and their years of service ignored or discounted.