I don't know how well they are informed when they leave the forces; I would need to look at what kind of “second career” briefing they're given when they leave.
Having retired from the Canadian Forces myself—that was a long time ago—you know a bit, but I would say I didn't get that much information.
I think people think about Veterans Affairs—and this is just a statement on my part—when they have problems, and besides that they don't really think about it. So I don't think it is well understood or well explained.