Is the MOD 90 the same as the Veteran Card?

No. The MOD 90 is the identity card issued to serving personnel, which service leavers can keep. The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a separate card that proves veteran status.

Do reservists count as veterans?

Yes. The UK government definition of a veteran includes anyone who has served for at least one day, regular or reserve.

Can I use Enhanced Learning Credits after I have left?

If you left on or after 1 April 2016 and are eligible, you can use ELC for up to five years after discharge.

Glossary

Glossary of forces-to-civvy business terms

Leaving the forces to start or run a business brings a lot of acronyms. This glossary explains the terms veteran business owners, their customers and their suppliers come across most often, from resettlement schemes like CTP and ELC to the Armed Forces Covenant and the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card.

By Stephen James, Founder & Chairman, British Veteran Owned

Published 27 September 2026 · Last reviewed 27 September 2026

What military ID and records might a veteran use as proof of service?

The most common documents are the MOD 90 identity card, the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card, discharge papers and a service summary printed from JPA, the forces personnel system. Any one of these is accepted as evidence when a business applies for British Veteran Owned verification.

See how verification works for the full list of accepted evidence.

What support is available when leaving the forces?

Service leavers get resettlement support before and after discharge. The Career Transition Partnership provides employment and training support, and learning credit schemes such as Enhanced Learning Credits help pay for qualifications. How much support is available depends mainly on length of service.

Our guide to starting a business after leaving the forces explains how to use this support if you plan to work for yourself.

Which terms matter to employers and buyers?

Employers and buyers most often meet the Armed Forces Covenant, the pledge organisations sign to support the Armed Forces community, and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which awards Bronze, Silver and Gold to supportive employers. Both are free and public, so buyers can check a supplier’s status.

Read more in our guides to the Armed Forces Covenant and the Employer Recognition Scheme.

What wellbeing and benefit schemes should veterans know about?

Op COURAGE is the NHS mental health service for veterans, service leavers and reservists in England. The Defence Discount Service is the official MOD discount scheme. Forces Help to Buy helps serving regulars buy a home. The Office for Veterans’ Affairs coordinates veterans policy across government.

Definitions

Armed Forces Covenant: A promise that members of the Armed Forces community should face no disadvantage compared with other citizens when accessing goods, services or employment. Businesses of any size can sign it for free and set their own pledges.
Armed Forces community: Serving regular and reserve personnel, veterans, their families and bereaved relatives. It is the group the Armed Forces Covenant is designed to support.
Career Transition Partnership (CTP): The Ministry of Defence’s official resettlement provider. It offers employment and training support to service leavers, generally from two years before discharge until two years after, with the programme available depending on length of service.
Defence Discount Service: The official Ministry of Defence discount service for the Armed Forces, veterans, their families and MOD civilians. Online membership is free.
Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS): A Ministry of Defence scheme that recognises employers who support the Armed Forces community. Bronze is self-nominated after signing the Covenant; Silver and Gold are awarded through nomination and renewed every five years.
Defence Relationship Management (DRM): The Ministry of Defence team that works with employers on the Armed Forces Covenant and the Employer Recognition Scheme, including processing requests to sign the Covenant.
Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC): A scheme that helps eligible serving personnel and service leavers pay for qualifications at Level 3 or above with an approved provider. Veterans who left on or after 1 April 2016 can use it for up to five years after discharge.
Forces Help to Buy (FHTB): An interest-free salary advance for eligible regular Service personnel buying their first home or moving for an assignment. They can borrow up to 50% of annual salary, to a maximum of £25,000.
HM Armed Forces Veteran Card: A free card that proves veteran status. People who left from December 2018 receive it in their service leavers’ pack; earlier leavers can apply through GOV.UK. A digital version is also available.
Joint Personnel Administration (JPA): The personnel administration system used by the British Armed Forces. A JPA service summary print is one of the documents a veteran can use as evidence of service.
MOD 90: The Ministry of Defence Form 90, the plastic identity card issued to serving personnel. Service leavers can keep their MOD 90, which helps identify them as veterans.
Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA): The government office that coordinates support for veterans across departments. It was created in the Cabinet Office and is now part of the Ministry of Defence.
Op COURAGE: The NHS mental health and wellbeing service for veterans, service leavers, reservists and those due to leave the forces who live in England. People can self-refer or be referred by family, a charity or their GP.
Reservist: A member of the Reserve Forces, such as the Army Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve or Royal Auxiliary Air Force, who serves part-time alongside a civilian job. Reservists who have served count as veterans.
Resettlement: The support and training available to service personnel as they prepare to leave the forces and move into civilian work, delivered mainly through the Career Transition Partnership.
Service leaver: Someone who is in the process of leaving, or has recently left, HM Armed Forces. Service leavers can access resettlement support for a set period after discharge.
Standard Learning Credits (SLC): Funding of up to £175 per financial year that serving personnel can use for smaller, approved learning courses during service or in their resettlement phase.
Veteran: Anyone who has served for at least one day in HM Armed Forces, regular or reserve, or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on defined military operations. This is the UK government definition.
Veteran-owned business: A business majority-owned by a veteran. British Veteran Owned also verifies businesses majority-owned by reservists and by spouses, civil partners or bereaved partners of serving personnel and veterans.

Frequently asked questions

Is the MOD 90 the same as the Veteran Card?: No. The MOD 90 is the identity card issued to serving personnel, which service leavers can keep. The HM Armed Forces Veteran Card is a separate card that proves veteran status.
Do reservists count as veterans?: Yes. The UK government definition of a veteran includes anyone who has served for at least one day, regular or reserve.
Can I use Enhanced Learning Credits after I have left?: If you left on or after 1 April 2016 and are eligible, you can use ELC for up to five years after discharge.

Got your MOD 90, Veteran Card or JPA print to hand? That is all you need to verify your business with British Veteran Owned, free.

Start free verification

Sources

An employers’ guide to hiring veterans (GOV.UK)
HM Armed Forces Veteran Card (GOV.UK)
Veterans to retain military ID, allowing easier access to services (GOV.UK)
Career Transition Partnership (GOV.UK)
Enhanced Learning Credits, Further and Higher Education scheme changes for veterans (GOV.UK)
Standard Learning Credits (Ministry of Defence)
Forces Help to Buy (GOV.UK)
Access Op COURAGE: the veterans mental health and wellbeing service (GOV.UK)
Defence Discount Service (Ministry of Defence)
Office for Veterans’ Affairs (GOV.UK)
Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (GOV.UK)