Please tell us a bit about yourself:
AS1 Jez Scott, driver for 501 Squadron RAF Brize Norton. I am 54 years old and attested 10 years ago in March 2016. I am Married to Marie and have 2 children Ashton 14 and Henry 11. We live in Bournemouth, where I worked as an HGV Driving Instructor for the British Army before mobilising to RAF Akrotiri in January 2025.
What training have you done or are currently doing with the Reserves?
Driver training, HGV C, C+E, D, ADR, ACR 2017 – 2018 Two UK backfill mobilisations to RAF Odiham 2019 – 2020 Overseas Deployment to the Falkland Islands 2021 A400 Sim Stick California & Arizona 2023 Kings Coronation Parade 2023 Ex Pitch Black (UK) 2024 Overseas Deployment to RAF Akrotiri Cyprus 2025 Wilderness Eagle Adventure Training 2025 Two UK backfill mobilisations to RAF Odiham 2025 – 2026.
What do you enjoy most/get out of being a Reservist?
Comradery, banter, and a sense of belonging are key elements. Travel, pride and having the privilege of visiting unique locations that you previously visited during my regular career.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in your military career and how did you overcome them?
Whilst in the Falklands I was asked if I would like to gap for a Corporal that had to return home. This was a great opportunity and I loved the job role. However I quickly learned that I could not do the entire job as I couldn’t complete the driver training. In order to correct this, I mirrored my civilian career with that of my military career and became a HGV Driving instructor for DST South teaching the British Army, at Blandford and Bovington. Despite this, I was still unable to teach in my own uniform due to my lack of rank. I am still pushing forward to achieve this goal, which I hope to be completed very shortly.
What would you say to anyone considering becoming a Reservist?
Get out into the real Air Force (Mobilise), build relationships with your peers and travel. The experience’s and people that you meet along the way will stay with you for life. You will learn so much a lot of which you can transfer into your civilian job.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your time as a Reservist?
I joined county of Gloucester Squadron, to keep an affiliation with my home town. On remembrance, we parade in Cheltenham providing me with an opportunity to tend to my parents grave, in Gloucester at the same time.