The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Help for veterans
Two Scottish universities have joined up to help veterans find new careers and adapt to civilian life.
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) and Veterans Scotland will jointly host an event in Glasgow tomorrow to exhibit how universities and colleges can support ex-military personnel and their families.
GCU and ENU are signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the military are treated fairly.
The event forms part of the GCU-HM Forces Learning Partnership, designed for military personnel looking to change direction.
Jim Castle of GCU said many of the skills learned by veterans can be transferred across different industries.
“All servicemen and women have been trained in battlefield evacuation”, said Mr Castle. “They learn how to treat someone who has been badly injured, to keep them alive until medics arrive.
“This is called ‘the golden hour’, the theory is if you can keep someone alive for an hour they will survive. This is a massive skill.
“They also have physical fitness, leadership skills, decision making, commitment, teamwork, loyalty, integrity, discipline and courage to name just a few. They have a huge range of transferable skills, which combined with education, will maximise their potential and make them highly employable.” ● ● ●