Today is Reserves Day, a day to highlight and recognise the valuable contribution Reservists make to our Armed Forces.
Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.
The Reserve Forces make up approximately one-sixth of our Armed Forces personnel. They are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, particularly providing capability in specialist areas such as medical and cyber.
In celebration of Reserves Day, we caught up with Dave from Chemring Countermeasures to understand how being a reservist helps his role at Chemring.
Tell us about your military career.
I joined the Army in 1987 at the age of 15 years and nine months. After completing basic training, I joined my local Infantry regiment, The Ist Battalion of the King’s Regiment. I joined the battalion in Berlin in 1988 and was fortunate enough to witness the fall of the Berlin Wall whilst serving there.
From there, we moved to Northern Ireland for a two-year tour, which meant deploying province-wide in various roles. In 1992, we moved to Hounslow to carry out public duties for the royal palaces. Whilst here, we deployed on a six-month tour of South Armagh in Northern Ireland.
1995 saw us move to Dhekelia, Cyprus, for two years which was very enjoyable. I was also fortunate enough to visit Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt whilst serving here. In 1997 we left Cyprus for Blackpool, which was less exotic. Here, we were the province Reserve Battalion for Northern Ireland, a constant deployment covering the Drumcree unrest and the orange day marches in Belfast.
In 2000, before leaving Blackpool, we deployed on Exercise Grand Prix in Kenya for six weeks. On leaving Blackpool, we moved to Catterick, North Yorkshire, in an Armoured Infantry role. The Battalion would stay here until 2007. During this time, we deployed to Canada on exercise in 2002 and Iraq in 2003. On return from Iraq, I was posted to the Army Apprentices College in Reading as a training Sergeant for new recruits.
On return to the Battalion, we covered the fire strikes on OP Fresco. After completing this, I was posted as a training Sergeant at Army Training Regiment, Bassingbourn. I stayed in this role for two and a half years before joining my newly amalgamated regiment, 2nd Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in Episkopi, Cyprus, in 2008.
Here with my wife and family, would be my last tour of duty in the army. The Battalion was Theatre Reserve for OP Herrick, Afghanistan. I deployed operationally to Afghanistan 4 times during my time here. I left the army in 2015 and have completed a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree both in Leadership and Management.
How did you end up at Chemring?
After working from home as a learning coach for Henley Business School, University of Reading, for two years, delivering Level 7 Senior leadership apprenticeships, I came across an advert on Indeed for the role of Operational Trainer. The role was much better suited to what I wanted to do, and I was fortunate enough to be successful in getting the role.
What's your role at Chemring?
I am the Operational Trainer in the Learning and Development Department.
What do you miss the most about military life?
Representing the Army and Combined Services at Rugby League!!!
What do you enjoy about your current role?
The variety of designing and delivering the many aspects of learning and development packages encourage learning throughout the company.
Do you think Chemring is a good fit for veterans?
100% and would make a great transition role for people who leave any branch of the Armed Forces.
What is your role as a reservist?
I am responsible for the training of new recruits and the successful completion of their recruit training modules.
How do you fit your reservist responsibilities into your working/home life?
Most activities, except for the Annual Competency Training, a two-week camp, are done on weekends. Training nights are every Tuesday, so we know in advance what we can attend and what we can’t.
How does Chemring support your reservist work?
Chemring actively supports reservists; I feel I would be supported when needed.
What do you get out of being a reservist?
It is a good way to keep up to date with what is happening across the military and be able to take useful training back into the workplace to keep our training at Chemring as varied and exciting as possible.
What has been the most exciting thing that’s happened to you as a reservist?
The opportunity to take people with no military experience and be able to coach and guide them to reach their potential.
Does being a reservist give you new skills you can use in your work/home life?
It has definitely given me new skills that I can and do bring into my role as the Operational Trainer.