ABSTRACT
This chapter examines whether the Military Covenant simply codified an unwritten centuries-old bond between the individual soldier, Army and nation, or whether claims concerning such a bond have been idealised or exaggerated. To this end, evidence of the historical existence of a reciprocal sense of identity, loyalty and responsibility between the Covenant's three component actor's soldier, Army and nation is examined. The bilateral relationships within the Covenant's tri-lateral framework are explored; that is, between the individual soldier and the nation, the nation and the Army, the Army and the individual soldier. In addition, there will be a certain degree of synergy between the qualities of identity, loyalty and responsibility: the generation of one could stimulate the growth of another. Since migration, various matters have been deemed Covenant issues by different civilian actors: the chapter focuses primarily on those having a direct impact on soldiers' welfare: pensions and healthcare.
