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Identity After the Uniform

Emerging Findings from the Identity After the Uniform Research Programme

What happens when a role becomes your identity, and then that role ends?

The Identity After the Uniform research programme explores identity reconstruction following military service, emergency services careers and other identity-defining roles.

This white paper presents emerging findings from the first stage of the ongoing qualitative research programme.

About this paper

This white paper presents emerging qualitative findings from 32 of 108 planned interviews.

It explores:

  • Identity disruption after transition
  • Emerging themes from the interview data
  • The developing Identity → Community → Purpose → Stability sequence
  • Prevention and earlier support
  • Future research implications

Identity After the Uniform Research Programme

A live overview of the current research programme and its progress.

Research Progress
30% complete

32 of 108 Interviews Completed

Current Research Phase
  • Interview RecruitmentCompleted
  • InterviewingCompleted
  • TranscriptionCompleted
  • Qualitative CodingCompleted
  • Thematic AnalysisUpcoming
  • Final Dataset CompleteUpcoming
  • Independent Academic ReviewUpcoming
  • White Paper UpdatesUpcoming
  • Final Research PublicationUpcoming
Research Aim

To better understand how identity is rebuilt following military service and other identity-defining careers, and to explore whether identity reconstruction may provide an earlier opportunity for preventative support.

Research at a Glance
Interviews completed
32
Target interviews
108
Communities represented
VeteransEmergency ServicesMilitary FamiliesNHSElite SportOther Identity-Defining Careers
Research status
Active
Research Note

This is an active longitudinal qualitative research programme.

Interview numbers and project milestones will be updated as the research progresses.

The findings published on this website represent emerging evidence and should not be interpreted as final or peer-reviewed conclusions until the full programme has been completed.

Read online

Identity After the Uniform, full white paper

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This paper is available to read online only. It is not offered as a download, and it may not be copied or redistributed. All rights reserved, AURIS Institute.

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Read the full paper, keep up with the research as more interviews are coded, or talk to us about identity work in your organisation.

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