Changing Uniforms, Changing Identities: Exploring the Role of Social Identity Complexity in Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Work Within the Prison Services

Research shows US and UK Veterans often seek employment in other uniformed or security organisations as a means of preserving elements of their former military identity. Across the wider veteran transition literature too, identity loss is frequently identified as an important theme however there is comparatively little research into why it is important or how it may affect the transition process. This problem is particularly salient for veteran prison officers because of their potential to experience conflicting identity relationships with veteran offenders. Social Identity Complexity (SIC), an offshoot of Social Identity Theory, is specifically 
concerned with the experiences of individuals with complex and dynamic social group identities making it an ideal framework for the context of this study.

This study will take a critical realist approach utilising mixed methods to explore the role of 
SIC in veteran employment transition for veterans working in the UK prison services. In the first phase, individuals’ social identities will be understood quantitatively using the Social Identity Mapping (SIM) technique. Survey measures of work adjustment and well-being will be used as a marker of successful transition and analysed for any correlative or predictive relationships with the various elements of social identity. The second phase will follow up with participants from phase 1 utilising qualitative semi-structured interviews in order to explore the initial findings more deeply as well as to explore the personal experiences of individuals and how the social identities of veteran prison officers may impact their relationships with 
veteran offenders.