Real value of Service personal development agenda

It is probably true that, a few years ago, the Armed Forces only trained people comparatively narrowly to perform their Service job and only provided education in the amount and to the level required for military purposes. In other words, if it was not strictly necessary for an individual in their Service role, it did not happen.

Things are very different now.

From the moment that new recruits are deposited at the barrack gate and left in the tender hands of the duty provost staff, they are lining up for ‘education, education, education’ – to quote a recent election slogan. As well as fulfilling all the requirements of a concentrated training programme, they enter the world of Modern Apprenticeships, NVQs and diplomas, whether they value it or not.

Some see this provision as a waste of time – they joined up to avoid more school and college. However, they will still benefit hugely from this investment in their futures when the time comes to explain their skills and trades to future employers, most of whom no longer have first-hand experience of the Forces.

Huge numbers, however, are making a personal investment in their education, with far more people than ever before signing up for courses and using the money on offer. A six-fold increase in the number of people in the Army using Standard Learning Credits has been followed by at least double the number expected to register for Enhanced Learning Credits already on the system just halfway through the first year of its existence. Initial focus on promoting the scheme has changed to determination to find the necessary extra cash to fund it.

The Personal Development Record, initially used by some to balance uneven table legs and by others as a conveniently heavy missile, is now coming into its own. It encourages ongoing learning that supports, and is supported by, the professional development that is part of a Service career, with each stage building on the one before. Used properly by individuals and any adviser or manager with whom they choose to share it, it will guide and identify profitable areas for future study as well as demonstrate learning achievements.

In a 22-year career, a Service person can now gain up to £9,000 in support for personal learning, plus travel and subsistence costs for attendance at courses. This is all in addition to courses, which are all fully funded. And, because the Services are in many ways far more democratic than civilian companies, this is the same for everybody – regardless of position. It is not just the high flyers who can benefit. (Incidentally, while this level of expenditure may be necessary to compensate for the need for Service people to be able to gain civilian qualifications and thus recognition, it is not something that civilians readily understand or regard as fair.)

The Forces also have their own education centres and advisers, libraries, learning schemes and interactive facilities. There are numerous courses available, and people ready to show an interest and help each individual to make the best choices – for them. And this is the case throughout a career and at its end.

If individuals fail to take advantage of what is on offer, that is up to them. What they should not do is to complain later that they suffered from a lack of opportunity. The response to the complaint that operational pressures make personal development impossible, is that plenty of people in the Forces and outside make the time available to study by sacrificing other things in their lives. It may not be easy but it is usually possible.

The brutal fact is that the vast majority of civilians never have anything like the opportunities of their Service counterparts. Such training as might be provided by their organisation is generally the bare minimum to do the job and meet legal requirements. A very few stars of the future may be selected for special treatment but the vast majority of civilians have to fund anything and everything they wish to study – job-related or just for personal satisfaction.

The short-lived Individual Learning Allowance of £175 (equivalent to one year’s Standard Learning Credits) has been abolished and its promised successor has not yet materialised. (Neither has the tax relief on personal development courses that was scrapped to fund it been restored.) So there is not much help with funding for learning from the public purse either.

Frankly, Service people have a generously funded personal learning system, with advice, courses, facilities and encouragement from line management. There is every opportunity for individuals to achieve anything they wish, within reason; all that is required is a comparatively small investment in time and money. It is quite staggering that there still appear to be some people around who do not believe this, or who will not make the effort to help themselves. They are probably only going to realise the truth when it is too late.