Armed forces veterans have welcomed the idea to create Fife’s own champion for the work of the military.
The role, expected to be created this week, will see a local councillor installed as the region’s armed forces community champion in a bid to highlight the kingdom’s links with the military.
Members of Fife Council’s executive committee will discuss the proposed role at their meeting on Wednesday.
However, the idea has already received support from local veterans.
Rob Scott, chairman of the Fife branch of The Black Watch Association, said: “The military has always been a good employer in Fife, whether it’s been The Black Watch, RAF Leuchars or the naval base at Rosyth.
“I hope that it’s a position that won’t just be a token role. It has got to be done correctly or it shouldn’t be done at all.
“When you’re in the military you are told what to do and how to do it. You get institutionalised, to an extent. When you come out there is nobody there and that can be a culture shock.
“I will give my support to anything that will give support to our boys when they come back.”
Jim Reilly, from the Dundee-based Tayforth Veterans’ Project Centre, says elected officials can make a huge difference in highlighting the work of locally-based military staff.
“It’s a very important position,” said Mr Reilly, whose charity helps veterans from across Tayside and Fife.
“We’ve had tremendous support from Dundee’s Lord Provost Bob Duncan and he has helped to open up a lot of channels for the people who come here.
“He has supported what we do and hopefully, a person in Fife would do the same. We would certainly welcome them here as we know, like Bob Duncan has here, that they can make a real difference.”
Fife has previously had an armed forces community champion, a position held by the local authority’s executive director of environment, enterprise and communities, Steve Grimmond.
Last year saw Fife sign up to the Armed Forces Community Covenant, a statement of mutual support between the region and the local military community designed to show gratitude and commitment to armed forces personnel both past and present, in Fife.
A report prepared for Wednesday’s meeting says: “Fife Council has been a strong advocate of developing arrangements of mutual support with our armed forces community.
“It is now proposed to complement these developments, including the Armed Forces Community Covenant, with the identification of an elected member armed forces community champion.”