The sedentary, office lifestyle wasn't for me so I turned to the Army!
After studying Consumer Behaviour & Marketing at Reading University, I found myself working in a relatively slow-paced office role focusing on online/ digital marketing. However, after nearly four years, I knew the sedentary, mundane routine of office life was not giving me any satisfaction or enjoyment.
I thought back to when I was younger, and I vividly remember watching advertisements on the TV for the military; I decided to revisit these old thoughts (now older and wiser with a bit of life experience). After much debate about which career path I wanted to go down, the Army Air Corps stood out above everything else. The opportunity to work with aviation and possibly hang out the side of a (then) Lynx was enthralling. So I did it. I took the plunge..
I began basic training in 2017, attending Pirbright, Surrey before moving onto Middle Wallop, Hampshire to learn my trade as an Aviation Groundcrew Specialist. After I had completed my training, I was posted to Wattisham, Suffolk in 2018 to work alongside the Apache attack helicopter, where I was fortunate enough to visit numerous locations on exercise (Scotland, France, Germany, Holland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, Austria and Jordan to name but a few).
After three very busy but very enjoyable years, I made the move to the Army Air Corps Engagement Team in 2021. It was an opportunity to interact and engage with the public, and inspire the future generation of military enthusiasts.
JNCO in the Army Air Corps
I promoted out of the AAC Engagement Team, closing a very enjoyable chapter of my AAC career. My new posting is within a Trg Regt MT Dept, which is very busy but enjoyable. As a JNCO, there is an added element of expectation and leadership required, with a number of Airtprs underneath me as added responsibility .
However, despite officially stepping away from the engagement environment, I still thoroughly enjoy assisting both prospective and current soldiers within the Army and AAC, respectively. I will continue to utilise my experience and knowledge to benefit that of others.
Knowing you've made a difference to someone's day
The AAC CET is a very diverse role. We can spend hours delivering information and presentations to people who have zero interest in the military. However, when you have an audience member who is excited and engaged, or perhaps they're asking you more questions about the role, then it's very rewarding knowing you have helped them to feel this way. Equally, it's just as important to positively impact on people's perception of the army, ensuring they understand the dynamic and varied role the army play in today's society.
We had an event recently where one female came away telling me I had made a difference to her perspective of the Army, as well as an increased motivation to join up as a pilot; it's good to know we've had a positive effect on someone's future, especially if before they weren't motivated or inspired.
Similarly, when we take our Gazelle aircraft to events, we offer people the opportunity to sit in the cockpit and get a photo taken with a pilot helmet. The joy on their face (especially the younger generation) is gratifying and the interaction is brilliant. You quite often get unique questions from the little ones, such as 'Can we fly this to the moon?'!! This in turn puts a smile on our face.
Be yourself, work hard and always aim high
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give somebody who has an interest in joining the military is to simply be yourself. One of key values of the military is integrity, so as long as you're honest with yourself and being true to who you are, you can't go too wrong. Those who try to be somebody they're not always get found out, and false appearances can only be kept up for so long.
I would also say work hard. If you continue to push yourself and push what you think are your limitations, you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised. Those who work hard in the military are very often rewarded and go on to have the more fulfilling, exciting career with an abundance of opportunities. Those who shy away from work or are lazy will again get found out very quickly and have less opportunities available.
Playing football for the Army Women's football team
Being asked what's my proudest achievement throughout my military career, is probably one of the more difficult questions I will encounter. There are so many to choose from, as this is a job which serves with great pride on a daily basis.
Stepping out onto the Tottenham Stadium pitch in front of 60,000 people whilst taking part in a Remembrance Service is certainly one of my proudest moments. Similarly, achieving best student in training was a very proud albeit surprising moment, given the amount of hard work I had put in to not only be the best soldier I could be, but to also improve and facilitate those around me.
However, being selected for the Army Women's football team was probably my proudest moment to date. One of the key reasons for joining the military was to play football, so to be offered the opportunity to play for the Army was fantastic. It was the culmination of hard work, dedication and continually trying to improve my game.
