Dorset has a strong and long-standing relationship with the Armed Forces community. More than 6,000 serving personnel are based across four permanent military establishments:
• Blandford Camp (Royal Signals)
• Bovington Camp (Royal Armoured Corps) and Lulworth Camp (Lulworth Training Area)
• Royal Marines Barracks at Hamworthy,
• West Moors Fuel Depot (tri-service)
Dorset also has several Army Reserve units, including:
• 158 Field Company (REME)
• C Company, 6th Battalion The Rifles (6 RIFLES)
• 63 (UKSF) Signal Squadron
• Royal Wessex Yeomanry - Regimental Headquarters and A (Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry) Squadron
There are around 50 cadet units in Dorset, including Army, Air, Sea and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) units.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), around 58,000 veterans live in Dorset. This is around 2% of the UK's veteran population, even though Dorset makes up just 1.2% of the national population.
Dorset has one of the highest veteran populations in the country. Around 7.95% of residents aged 16 and over have served in the Armed Forces. Many veterans are aged 75 or over, reflecting the legacy of National Service.
Military families are also an important part of Dorset's Armed Forces community. The ONS estimates that:
- 61.5% of Dorset veterans live with a spouse
- more than 1,500 serving personnel are accompanied by their spouses
- more than 2,300 children are part of serving families
Together, Dorset's Armed Forces community is estimated to include more than 100,000 people. This means around 1 in 7 Dorset residents could benefit from the support and commitments set out in the Armed Forces Covenant.