At Leigh Library’s Writing to Remember event, veteran John Stephenson introduced his new book, The Making of a Hunter, aimed at helping ex-service personnel navigate life after leaving the forces. Too many veterans leave the military unprepared, struggling to find meaningful work. Stephenson’s book tackles that gap head-on.

After leaving the military, Stephenson discovered just how tough civilian life could be. Seeing the gaps in official support, he founded the Forces Transition Group (FTG) to guide veterans with mentoring, practical advice, and career support. FTG helps them turn military experience into meaningful employment and a sense of purpose in the civilian world. As Stephenson told the audience, “A lot of veterans are struggling not because of war, but because they can’t fit in.”

While the military provides official support through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), offering workshops, one-to-one guidance, and job-finding assistance, it has significant limitations. CTP support lasts only the first two years after leaving service and is often considered only at the very end of a veteran’s career. Participation isn’t mandatory, which means many veterans slip through the net and miss out entirely. A strong believer that a military career is a finite chapter in a veteran’s life, Stephenson emphasises that transition planning should begin from the moment of recruitment, not just at the point of leaving.

The scale of the challenge is clear. In the year ending 31 March 2025, 14,590 people left the UK Regular Armed Forces, with Voluntary Outflow (VO) the most common reason, accounting for 67.7% of departures. These figures show that most veterans leave the forces by choice. The UK Regular Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey found that 64% cited the impact of service life on family and personal life as their main reason for leaving. Long deployments take a significant toll: 67% of respondents reported spending up to six months away from home, highlighting the personal sacrifices made and the strain on relationships with loved ones.

Stevenson’s new book, The Making of a Hunter, aims to fill these gaps. Co-written with a ghostwriter, it combines practical advice with the insights from Stevenson’s own military journey. The book helps veterans translate their military skills into value in civilian life, where such experience is often overlooked by employers. Beyond building confidence and guiding career paths, it goes further than the standard CTP programme, offering more than generic advice and instead providing a vital roadmap to success in civilian life. To date, the Forces Transition Group has supported over 45,000 veterans and service personnel.

Even with official schemes like the CTP, many veterans still struggle to find meaningful work. When they do find employment, it is often below their skill or experience level. The 2022 Veterans Survey found that 52.5% of working veterans had taken roles beneath their previous military responsibilities, largely because employers didn’t recognise their skills or because suitable roles were unavailable. This underemployment highlights that leaving the forces isn’t just about landing a job; it’s about finding the right role that values the experience veterans bring.

Leaving the military is a leap into the unknown. Short-term programmes like the CTP can help, but veterans need practical, long-term support. John Stephenson’s The Making of a Hunter and the Forces Transition Group prove that with the right guidance, veterans can move from the sidelines to real success.

The Off the Page series continues at Leigh Library, the next talk features author Maura Jackson: Writing with Many Hats – Next Talk.

Learn More / Connect with John Stevenson

For more on how John Stevenson and the Forces Transition Group (FTG) support veterans transitioning to civilian life, visit FTG Website.

Stay updated with John Stevenson’s work and insights: Instagram | Facebook.

Explore practical guidance for veterans in his new book, The Making of a Hunter: Buy the Book.