Following a deployment to the Falkland Islands, I undertook further instructor roles at both Army Training Regiment (Bassingbourn) and the Army Foundation College (Harrogate). A short stint in Scotland was then followed by a promotion and assignment to Germany. It was at this point I decided to take the plunge and started a BSc (Hons) Sport, Coaching and Fitness degree. After studying part-time for a couple of years, I opted to take a career break to study full-time and gain valuable experience in the voluntary sector. Following a successful year studying and working as a case worker for the Royal British Legion, I returned to Military Service. The time I spent away from the Army gave me an excellent opportunity to broaden my horizons and gain new perspectives, which I brought back to my role as an instructor.
After another successful instructor appointment, I was selected to become the senior master coach at the Army Foundation College. This was followed by another promotion to become a member of the Army’s flagship mental fitness programme, where I specialised in teaching psychological skills (mental resilience training). After gaining valuable experience, I was given a sideways promotion to become Chief Instructor of the Army’s Mental Health Briefing Team. Whilst I have always excelled in teaching, it was in these final roles that I found my true passion for helping people to understand and then improve their mental health and resilience. Today I use my experience, knowledge and skills to educate others on the benefits of fostering a positive mindset and raising awareness of the potential dangers that neglecting one’s mental health can cause.
