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Connected for Life: The Power and Benefits of Shared Experience

I recently had the privilege of participating in the 80th Anniversary of the Edinburgh Branch of the Association of Wrens. Marking this significant milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the strength of connection, continuity and mutual support that has endured across generations.

Military service creates a distinctive way of life, shaped by shared experiences, common language and close working relationships that do not always translate easily into civilian life. Service life is built on teamwork, trust and reliance on one another, forming bonds that often remain important long after the uniform is set aside.

For many veterans, and from what I hear consistently across the country, remaining connected to something familiar and meaningful matters. Association membership is not simply about remembering the past; it is about having a network that is there when it is needed. Life brings challenges to everyone — periods of ill health, bereavement, caring responsibilities or sudden change — and having people around you who understand your background without explanation can provide reassurance, practical help and a sense of steadiness at difficult moments.

There is clear value in spending time with people who share a common experience. A shared understanding brings with it a shared language and a shared sense of humour — often dry, sometimes irreverent — that can make even hard conversations feel lighter and more manageable. Being with people who “get it” removes the need to explain yourself and allows support to be offered naturally and without fuss.

As noted in my report Community and Relationships: Anything but Uniform, veterans and their families can experience isolation at any stage of life, particularly when the sense of community that comes with Service life falls away. Rebuilding networks in civilian life takes time, and associations can provide continuity, familiarity and connection during that transition and beyond.

Research and lived experience consistently show the importance of belonging. Veteran organisations, whether Single Service Associations, Legion Scotland Branches or groups bonded by a particular deployment or campaign, often provide regular contact, shared activities and informal peer support — not as a replacement for statutory services, but as a trusted space where relationships develop and people look out for one another.

As Scottish Veterans Commissioner — and as a proud member of the Association of Wrens — this has been about far more than membership of an organisation. It has been about community. It has meant being part of a group where shared experience is understood without explanation, friendships are sustained over time, and support is there when life becomes difficult. In an uncertain and changing world, that kind of fellowship remains deeply important and should not be underestimated.