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Thousands of sick and injured soldiers leave the Army every year, and Exercise Roebuck is helping to ease what can be a difficult transition back into civilian life. Report by Lorraine McBride.

"Inviting troops here makes them realise that they are not alone and that we are in this together," said Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Paul Meldon, who is responsible for the wounded, injured and sick in the 145 and 2 Brigade areas.

He explained how they slotted into the Army's resettlement process. In a best-case scenario troops return to active service, but more than 18,000 personnel have left the Armed Forces over the past year, and the MOD admits some find it difficult to get jobs.

The Army offers leavers a resettlement package to help them start a new life, and, in Malta Barracks, a one-stop-shop invited speakers from SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), the Royal British Legion and Citizens Advice, as well as financial experts and Army Welfare Officers, to talk on topics ranging from stretching your Army pension and healthy eating, to new careers and CV writing.

Adapting to life on 'Civvy Street' can be daunting. Soldiers typically join up in their teens and live a regimented life, which disappears overnight when they leave. It can be a culture shock, but the Army's inaugural information day aimed to help them prepare for the future at an unsettling time.

Many of the troops attending have experienced serious injury or illness and, as organiser Major Trevor Rawson explained, troops are given time to adapt:

"If someone woke up today and felt they couldn't face it, then there was no three-line whip."

The side effects usually start once soldiers return home, but illness can also have a dramatic effect on wives, children and other relatives, leaving them feeling alienated:

"Today is a friendly environment so troops can feel part of something else," said Major Rawson, as we watch the guys chatting over coffee before gathering for a unit photo.

The Army set up the PRUs on regional lines (there are 11 across Britain), into which sick and ill soldiers are posted:

"Having all these organisations here makes them see just how many people are involved in their recovery process," said Major Rawson. The day is an eye-opener to allow soldiers to sample the wealth of support out there.

"If you've lived in the Army all your working life, you don't realise the scale of the people who want to help you," he added.

Personnel Recovery Officer Captain Frazer Keith helps more than 80 sick and ill troops navigate the path to recovery or leaving - everything from finding a job, housing and benefits, to education and retraining. He explained:

"Some guys might go back into their units while others will leave the Army and need help so that they've got a fireproof recovery plan."

Captain Keith stresses that the nature of the injuries is at odds with the stereotype of amputees. In truth, soldiers could be injured on operations or playing sports, or be suffering from cancer, MS, bone disease or any other illness.

Perhaps surprisingly, just 30 per cent have suffered the loss of a limb on operations. What is clear is that leaving the forces is far from the end of the world and, in many cases, is the best option:

"What we don't want is for a young soldier with the world at his feet ending up in a role with no prospects," said Captain Keith. "The danger is, two years down the line, he would see his mates getting promoted and posted so his old tour quickly becomes old news. That very quickly becomes a frustration.

"If you're 25, most of your career is ahead of you, so it is about giving people a second shot at life," he added.

The speakers imbued the troops with real optimism but did not patronise them with false hope. Their prospects are determined by their injury, job availability - which may involve transferring to another unit - or being pensioned out of the Army.

One resettlement officer told of specialist recruitment firms who snap up army veterans, impressed by their can-do ethic and military discipline. Tesco is just one major supporter of Service leavers, but don't be fooled by the supermarket stereotype of shelf-stackers:

"Tesco runs one of the biggest logistics and supply operations in Britain, which is ideal for soldiers," he said.

In addition, Combat Stress's presence was tacit acknowledgement that the Government does not always acknowledge the psychological changes involved.

While the Army runs regular vocational assessment courses for all wounded and sick soldiers, Exercise Roebuck provides extra training and education for troops posted to the 145 and 2 Brigade PRU, mostly funded by generous military charities.

After 15 years in the Army, Sergeant Zeb Sneddon knows it is likely that shortly he will be medically discharged. He suffered a back injury in Catterick jumping in and out of tanks, which led to repeated surgery. An armourer, Sergeant Sneddon said:

"I have loved my career, I have served nearly 16 years and this will stop in a shot. I was upset at first but life goes on so I'll take each day as it comes. I have a lovely wife and a beautiful son."

Sergeant Sneddon cannot praise his Personnel Recovery Officer Dave Parsons highly enough - he has unstintingly provided support and encouragement. Inevitably, there have been dark moments along the way, but Sergeant Sneddon is now looking to the future and hopes to carve out a new career as a locksmith.

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