For many of us the Military is an itch unscratched, which is probably why the Army reserves is such an appealing value proposition for many men & woman in their late 20s / 30s. It certainly was in my case – I had always been curious about the British Army growing up and always wondered what Army life was truly like.
As time went on and I settled in my civilian career in the Pharmaceutical Industry, my curiosity remained prevalent in the back of my mind. The most common question for any reservist (not looking to join the regular Army) is “What made you made you join the Army?” – To this day I have never heard anyone give a straight answer to this question.
Personally, I can’t give one specific reason I decided join, however what I can say is that I have never looked back. One of the biggest lessons that I have learnt is that the British Army is built on two core principals; “Consistent Behaviors” & “Compassionate Ruthlessness”. Officers and NCOs aren’t respected just because of their rank, but because of there experience & knowledge which they are always keen to share.
What I love most about the reserves is that I am always learning; whether it be platoon (or section) attacks, or even some soft navigation skills. There is always something to learn and there is always a way of doing it better, which is an outlook that I have adopted in my personal life.
Although I have bounced around various social circles in my life, my unit welcomed me with open arms as soon as I walked through the door. This is a common a theme in the Battalion where everyone is welcome no matter your background. I also credit this to my own development as I have learnt so much from other soldiers, who I probably wouldn’t of come across outside of the Battalion.
Completing phase 1 training (Alpha & Bravo) was a great experience and I feel that I have come on leaps and bounds on every Battalion weekend that I have completed since then. I feel that I am now in a position to share insight with recruits and new soldiers that come through.
At C Company, 3rd Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (3PWRR) we hold high standards but always look to work together. “The Standard you walk past, is the standard you accept”. My goal now over the next 18 months will be to work towards becoming a Junior Commander in the Battalion and continue to develop as a solider and as a civilian
To find out more about 3 PWRR, follow the link below:
