Dear David,
There is not a specific variable which identifies these people. You can start with job codes 1171 and 3311 in current (w_jbsoc00) or last (w_jlsoc00, if not currently employed) job but the ONS Standard Occupational Classification Guide (https://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/archived-standard-classifications/standard-occupational-classification-2000/dissemination-media-and-availability/soc2000-volume-2.pdf) states:
2.2 The Armed Forces and the Civil Service
Many members of the Armed Forces and, to a lesser extent the Civil Service, have jobs which are unique to those industrial sectors. The most common job titles for Forces personnel are included in the index, for example:
Commander
Corporal
Sergeant
Where the specific term is not given, for members of the Armed Forces, if officer rank is known, code to 1171, otherwise code to 3311. Similarly many terms used in the Civil Service will be found in the index. However where members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Service give job titles that equate to jobs found outside these organisations, for example, ’Vehicle mechanic’, ’Radio operator’, ’Statistician’, use these titles to code the occupation, rather than rank or grade.
So this will lead to under-reporting. You can then follow the industry codes (w_jbsic07, or w_jlsic07 if not currently employed) of respondents with SOC code 1171 or 3311, and list their SOC codes. This could find more members of the armed forces, but also people who work in security for example. Reservists may have listed one of these codes as a second job (w_j2soc00). To find out if someone’s first job was in the military you could use w_j1soc00. There is a code for “The Armed Forces” in w_jbsectpub, “What kind of non-private organisation do you work for?”, which was asked in Waves 1-3, and w_benpen8 identifies those receiving a war disablement pension.
You will need to decide which assumptions to make, and which respondents to include, based on your research question.
Best wishes,
Stephanie Auty - Understanding Society User Support Office
Updated by Stephanie Auty