We recently spent the morning at RAF Benson with the Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Association for the South East (SERFCA) at a defence employers briefing and came away with a deeper appreciation of the skills and adaptability Reservists bring to both military and civilian life.
From electricians and supply chain managers to flight planners and chefs, the breadth of Reservist roles supporting RAF operations was remarkable.
While there were interesting presentations, it was the personal stories that really stood out.
Some Reservists were keen to build on existing professional expertise, while others embraced the opportunity to develop entirely new skills alongside their civilian careers.
Whilst chatting through rations and logistics with a Reservist chef, our ears pricked to hear that they continue to use canned food thanks to its shelf life, weight and durability in the field – something that resonates with our work supporting Canned Food UK.
Thankfully, other stories resonated much less with our (primarily office-based) work, as an escape and evasion trainer shared their nightly routine of checking for “bum leeches” in the jungle. On that note, we headed off for lunch in the Officers’ Mess….
At TALA we’ve signed the Armed Forces Covenant and we’re committed to supporting members of the Armed Forces community. Our day at RAF Benson with SERFCA helped us to broaden our understanding of the challenges of service life and hear directly from those with lived experience of Reserve service.