Armed Forces Day 2023 - reflections from some of the RSP UK team

To mark Armed Forces Day 2023, we spoke with three of the RSP UK team who have served in the armed forces. We asked Nathan Bancroft , Tris Wass , and Lee Vaughan to reflect on their time in the forces, the skills they gained, and how their experiences influence their personal and professional lives now.

What first attracted you to join the armed forces?

Lee: For me it was the appeal of travel, plus family and friends recommended it. There were also poor prospects in my hometown for people leaving school.

Nathan: I come from a family of former and current armed forces members, and my brother still serves in the Army. Alongside this, I was always a very outdoorsy kid, and I was keen to challenge myself, travel and develop my life skills.

Tris: I was attracted to the army for a number of reasons: I had friends serving at the time, and I was into fitness, so this encouraged me to join as I felt I could then physically push my personal fitness levels into the unknown.

What was your experience like? What were the highlights and the challenges?

Nathan: I spent six years in the Army and I loved my time serving. I got the opportunity to operate in countries such as Germany and Canada, which were both amazing places. The main highlight for me, and I believe this would be echoed by any armed forces personnel past or present, is the camaraderie. There is nothing like it. The humour that gets you through the difficult times is unparalleled to anything else I’ve experienced. In terms of the challenging times, being able to conduct your work running off no sleep, little food and without running water, was sometimes tough, but this just helps you build a physical and mental resilience.

Tris: For myself I was everywhere in a fast-paced environment, ranging from conducting Op Olympics one summer to numerous high readiness exercises around the world (Kenya, Oman). My personal highlights include being part of the Airborne Task Force (2 Para Battle Group) before moving on to working alongside the reserve forces while the main focus was on the Army 2020 Orbat.

Lee: Overall, I really enjoyed it. I spent most of time in Germany and Canada, with operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of my main highlights was being on the BATUS permanent staff for two years, which allowed me to live in Canada with my family, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Time away was always difficult but working within such close-knit teams made up for it.

What skills did you gain and how are you using those now?

Tris: The Army helped me to gain people skills, the ability to speak at all levels and to have high standards in everything I do. This helps me today to really strive for continuous improvement while I’m training the future operators of the suction excavation industry. Having the ability to coach new operators and pass on my experiences from the Army and my current industry of construction and utilities gives me a great sense of personal and professional pride.

Lee: I was a VMA (tracked vehicle mechanic). This meant completing an apprenticeship and gaining the necessary driving licences early on in my career. Vehicle platform courses allowed me to gain a broader knowledge with different vehicle types.

Nathan: I was fortunate to be trained in both soldiering and as an electronics technician, and my primary role was to maintain a fleet of Challenger 2 main battle tanks for a cavalry regiment called the Queen’s Royal Hussars. This gave me the ability to learn my craft in maintenance, diagnostics and fault finding, all while operating under high pressure situations. Transitioning from a military environment isn’t easy but the work ethic I have brought with me is really valued by civilian workforces.

What parallels are there between your time in the armed forces and your life now?

Lee: I still have most weekends off, no Wednesday sports afternoons though I’m afraid! I’m still a field engineer, having swapped armoured vehicles for suction excavation trucks. Working as part of small team, we have a great understanding of how each of us work, just like any fitter section.

Tris: Being in the Army paved the way for my life now, in terms of being a team player and helping others, whether this is at work or personally helping friends. It taught me the importance of being inclusive in the workplace and in my personal life, along with always striving for more and being competitive in all aspects. It also helped me to become self-motivated and disciplined.

How do you think your experiences have shaped you personally and professionally?

Nathan: I personally joined at the young age of 16 so the armed forces definitely moulded me into the person I am today. It gave me the drive and the ambition I still have today. From a professional standpoint, it has enabled me to be diligent in all I do and really work well under pressure.

Tris: Professionally, it has made me more confident and structured when delivering lessons to larger groups and staying organised within work. On a personal level it has given me the confidence to go out and strive for more out of life and to stay hungry for personal growth.

Lee: I have gained a better appreciation for the quality of my home life. Meeting a variety of people along the way has helped me to be more understanding of each person’s persona and how best to talk to them. My base knowledge from being in the armed forces has been perfect to build from.

What advice would you give to anyone leaving the armed forces and embarking on a new career?

Lee: Research the career you want and take advantage of all the tools available to you during the career transition workshops. Contact companies you see hiring and ask questions. Speak with people you know who have already left.

Tris: Leave no stone unturned and always push outside your comfort zone to gain maximum personal growth.

Nathan: I would tell anyone to embrace the opportunity. It is not as daunting as you may think. The skills and experience obtained in the armed forces are 100% transferrable, and civilian employers like RSP UK definitely recognise and value this.

At RSP UK we really appreciate the contribution that Service personnel make, and welcome applications and expressions of interest from those who are looking for the next step in their civilian career. Please get in touch at [email protected]