'Fast track' jobs plan for military veterans

Military veterans are to be fast tracked into jobs as teachers, prison officers and in the NHS as part of a new scheme aiming to improve their employment prospects, the Government said.

The Cabinet Office has launched a £70m veterans' strategyactionplantoencourageformerarmedservicespersonnel to apply their military skills to public service roles.

The plan covers several schemes, including a prison officer programme which will see veterans fast-tracked into posts at 50 prisons and former soldiers and other military personnel will also be offered a £40,000 training bursary to become secondary school teachers through a "troops to teachers" programme.

Defence minister Leo Docherty said: "The veterans' strategy action plan will boost employment, modernise servicesandhelpusbetterunderstand the needs of the veteran community. Veterans already makeahugecontributiontosocietyandtheplansoutlinedtodaystepupourcommitmentto allowing them to live successful and healthy lives."

Some £18m of additional funding will be invested in health services, including for improvements to veterans' mental health support.

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the funding will make health services more accessible for veterans.

She said: "Our armed forces personnel are an immense sourceofprideforourcountry butveteransandtheirfamilies need access to NHS support that is considerate of their unique circumstances.

"In line with our long-term plan, the NHS is investing an additional £18 million to make ourhealthservicesmoreaccessible and ensure GP surgeries and hospitals are even more veteran-friendly."