Scotland is the first British nation to fully sign up to a "moral commitment" to support Armed Forces personnel and their families, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced.
All 32 local authorities have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a UK Government initiative to remove the obstacles some forces personnel face accessing public services such as housing or healthcare, and urge citizens to honour them in their communities.
Only about two-thirds of English councils and less than half of Welsh councils have signed up to date.
Scotland's councils have appointed Armed Forces champions or liaison officers who will address issues affecting the local forces community, from health and education to housing and employment.
Glasgow's Helping Heroes initiative is designed to improve access to advice and support for service personnel, veterans, their families and carers in the city.
Highland Council's Getting It Right For Forces Families project aims to address post-traumatic stress, alcohol misuse, suicide, homelessness and disability while Dumfries and Galloway Council has set up DG Contact First to help veterans resettle in social housing.
Brigadier Paul Harkness, Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade, said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support that the devolved administrations and the Scottish Government has given us, and the willingness of local authorities to embrace the military community, be they past, present or future members.
"Great progress has also been made in England and Wales, with around 250 of all local authorities across the United Kingdom now signed up to the community covenant. This represents over half of all local communities."
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence(Ministry of Defence)
