Key documents

Links to key Covenant documents are provided below.

Covenant publications

• The statement of the Armed Forces Covenant
• Armed Forces Covenant Annual Reports

Covenant legislation

• Part 16A of the Armed Forces Act 2006 – the legislation that requires the Secretary of State to publish a Covenant Annual Report each year, and contains the Covenant Legal Duty.
• The Armed Forces (Covenant) Regulations 2022 – the legislation that defines ‘relevant family members’ for the purposes of the Legal Duty, and brings the Statutory Guidance into force.
• The Armed Forces Act 2021 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2022 – the legislation that brought the Legal Duty into force.
• Covenant Legal Duty Statutory Guidance
• Covenant Legal Duty toolkit – a range of resources that provide further information about the Covenant Legal Duty.

Covenant research

• Covenant research documents by the Forces in Mind Trust, including a toolkit for councils to help them implement the Covenant.

Historical documents

• February 2000: Soldiering – The military covenant: Army Doctrine Publication Volume 5
• 17 July 2008: Publication of The nation’s commitment: cross-government support for our armed forces, their families and veterans, which outlines two principles underpinning the nation’s commitment to the Armed Forces community.
• July 2009: Publication of The nation’s commitment to the armed forces community: consistent and enduring support, a consultation green paper (WMS)
• 25 June 2010: News story: Military covenant to be enshrined in law (the HMS Ark Royal pledge)
• 1 September 2010: Publication of Report of the Task Force on the Military Covenant and the Government’s response to it
• 8 December 2010: News story: PM welcomes report on supporting Military Covenant and News story: Government commits to progress on rebuilding Military Covenant
• 16 May 2011: News story: Armed Forces Covenant published for first time
• 10 January 2013: Publication of The Armed Forces Covenant: today and tomorrow
• 22 November 2022: Press release: New legal powers to support Armed Forces families and Veterans
• 28 June 2025: Press release: Pledge to protect Armed Forces community as government delivers on manifesto commitment – The Prime Minister has announced that legislation will be brought forward to deliver the manifesto promise to bring the Covenant fully into law.