Expansion of Veterans' Careers Support Service Announced by Ministry of Defence
Operation Ascend to provide enhanced job support for veterans and their families, emphasizing collaboration with industry.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced an expansion of its careers support service, known as Operation Ascend, aimed at assisting thousands of veterans and their family members.
The initiative will extend its services to all veterans, regardless of when they exited military service, marking a significant step in veteran support initiatives.
Operation Ascend is designed to offer a comprehensive range of job-related assistance.
This includes guidance on curriculum vitae (CV) preparation, interview skills, and strategies for entering diverse professional sectors such as energy, data and digital technology, telecommunications, and construction.
The MoD intends for this initiative to work in close alignment with its career transition partnership resettlement programme, which specifically aids those transitioning out of active military duty.
Veterans Minister Alistair Carns stated that the scheme aims to empower veterans in their career journeys, reinforcing the government's commitment to supporting those who serve and have served in the armed forces.
Carns, who has a background as a Royal Marines colonel, emphasized the importance of providing veterans with clear and accessible resources as they navigate their career paths.
He described Operation Ascend as a natural progression of the existing resettlement scheme, designed to maximize veterans' potential in the job market.
The MoD characterized Operation Ascend as a complementary service to its Operation Prosper initiative, which also focuses on enhancing employment opportunities for veterans.
Together, these programs are backed by a combined government funding of £2.1 million.
In addition to direct career support, the Operation Ascend service includes collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders to facilitate employment events targeted at veterans.
This initiative aims to encourage companies to reassess their hiring strategies to better integrate military talent into their workforces.
Currently, Operation Ascend has assisted approximately 3,000 veterans and family members and has collaborated with over 300 businesses, helping them understand the potential advantages of employing veterans in their organizations.
Industry leaders, such as Ian Fortune from Centrica, have acknowledged the program’s role in bringing high-caliber talent from the military into civilian workplaces, noting the confidence it builds among service leavers and their families.
The initiative will extend its services to all veterans, regardless of when they exited military service, marking a significant step in veteran support initiatives.
Operation Ascend is designed to offer a comprehensive range of job-related assistance.
This includes guidance on curriculum vitae (CV) preparation, interview skills, and strategies for entering diverse professional sectors such as energy, data and digital technology, telecommunications, and construction.
The MoD intends for this initiative to work in close alignment with its career transition partnership resettlement programme, which specifically aids those transitioning out of active military duty.
Veterans Minister Alistair Carns stated that the scheme aims to empower veterans in their career journeys, reinforcing the government's commitment to supporting those who serve and have served in the armed forces.
Carns, who has a background as a Royal Marines colonel, emphasized the importance of providing veterans with clear and accessible resources as they navigate their career paths.
He described Operation Ascend as a natural progression of the existing resettlement scheme, designed to maximize veterans' potential in the job market.
The MoD characterized Operation Ascend as a complementary service to its Operation Prosper initiative, which also focuses on enhancing employment opportunities for veterans.
Together, these programs are backed by a combined government funding of £2.1 million.
In addition to direct career support, the Operation Ascend service includes collaborative efforts with industry stakeholders to facilitate employment events targeted at veterans.
This initiative aims to encourage companies to reassess their hiring strategies to better integrate military talent into their workforces.
Currently, Operation Ascend has assisted approximately 3,000 veterans and family members and has collaborated with over 300 businesses, helping them understand the potential advantages of employing veterans in their organizations.
Industry leaders, such as Ian Fortune from Centrica, have acknowledged the program’s role in bringing high-caliber talent from the military into civilian workplaces, noting the confidence it builds among service leavers and their families.
