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People’s Stories: Lead First-Reserve Opportunities for Officers
LEAD FIRST –Opportunities for Reserve Officers
Scribe: 2Lt Wells
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For the last 12 months since commissioning into 102 (Force Support) Battalion REME, I have been working full-time on Lead First, a programme for recently Commissioned Officers to work on a Full Time Reservist Service (FTRS) commitment to work alongside Regular Army peers. The programme is designed to give young Army Reserve officers the confidence and experience which would otherwise take years to attain. By virtue of this, they are a better asset when they return to their normal Reservist role, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience back to pass on to their peers and subordinates.
The programme does this with two main elements: firstly, by integrating Young Officers within Regular units to shadow their counterparts. Secondly, by participating on career courses which mean you will have all the qualifications you need until you reach Capt, allowing more time to be put towards exercising with the unit. So far I have completed the Defence Trainer Capability course and with a recently agreed six-month extension up to May 22, I will also have also completed the Military Systems Engineering Course (LAND) (MSEC(L)), Junior Officer Leadership Programme 3 (JOLP 3), The Junior Officers’ Tactics Awareness Course (JOTAC) (Regular Course) and the Land Nav SME course.
As an Army Reservist, fitting those courses in around a civilian career would take a couple of years, whereas with Lead First the ability is there to do the longer Regular courses and get them all done within 12 months; meaning you are much further ahead in
2Lt Wells on Op RESCRIPT with 1 CS Bn REME, sniff test to check the seal of the COVID PPE
your career progression than you otherwise would be. As a Reservist, Lead First provides opportunities that you can’t get in any other way because the programme is funded through its own budget pot; therefore, you’re not using your parent unit’s Reserve Service Days (RSD) allocation, or, other resources so the opportunities can be great for all parties. This has allowed for a wealth of opportunities for me to experience this year; after two months of Regimental Duties, my first attachment was to 1 (Close Support) Battalion REME (1 CS REME) on Op RESCRIPT. Dubbed an “RAF exercise” due to the comfort of the hotel we were staying in but the work came straight at us on the first day. The hospital staff, as well as the patients, were really pleased to see us and we were delivering a real effect that was rewarding for all involved. Whether it was moving patients throughout the hospital, “runner” tasks or cleaning; nothing was beneath anyone involved. The morale boost to the staff and patients was huge and they were evidently sad to see us leave. This was definitely the highlight of my year because of the tangible effect we delivered. Out on a daily PT session in Cyprus following this where I had 5 weeks on Ex LION STAR 4 with 4 (Armoured Close Support) Battalion REME (4 ACS REME) as Ex LION STAR 4 with 4 ACS Bn REME, out on a daily PT Session in Cyprus Platoon Commander on a
Battlefield Craft Syllabus exercise. There was a robust PT build up to this and as this was my first deployment to a hot country I relished the training we were doing. Focused predominantly on Soldier First it was good to use in my first real test as Platoon Commander some of what I’d learnt at RMAS. The heat being in the mid to high-thirties was challenging and affected our training; but it was undoubtedly a great learning opportunity.
My next exercise came soon after, as I went to 1 YORKS in July for a month of training on Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA). This was my first experience of armour and a first line unit; I integrated into a Fitter Section in a Bulldog 432 with a WR512 alongside. I was brought up on a farm and so working on machinery my whole life, therefore the opportunity to get on the tools Using a WR512 to pack lift on a WR510; working through the night to keep 1 YORKS moving was one I jumped at. Seeing how Armoured Infantry work and the the Future Soldier ORBAT realignment. After Lead First, I intend to vital role that REME play working through the night to keep the unit undertake as many RSDs as I can throughout the year, potentially moving was something I found fascinating and proud to be a part of. through an Additional Duties Contract, fitting it around the civilian
My next attachment and the one I am currently in, is at the Army self-employed work that I undertake. Training Regiment (Grantham) (ATR(G)) as a Platoon Commander. I would definitely recommend Lead First to any Army Reserve ATR(G) is a Phase 1 training establishment that sees 80% of Army officer who is commissioning. If you think it’s something you could Reserve recruits going through its gates. It’s a brilliant experience to do I urge you to take part, as you will come out much better for it at work alongside the NCOs who are some of the best in their cap the end and with the output from the Integrated Review and Future badge. I’d recommend working at a Phase 1 establishment for the Soldier there will be more of a need for well-trained Army Reserve confidence and experience you gain through instructing, as well as, officers to deploy on operations than ever. I would also urge units to the formal training you receive. It’s been a great opportunity to seek out and take on Lead First officers, as there is no cost to the unit concurrently hone both my soldiering and leadership skills. and they can bring in fresh ideas, enthusiasm and another pair of
Looking ahead for the next six months, on top of the courses hands to help relieve the pressure where needed. All in all, it’s a winmentioned earlier, I will also be an assistant lead on Ex SNOW win for everyone. I have definitely taken away some excellent SPANNER and then I intend to have another attachment to a first line experiences and networks that will stay with me forever throughout unit, most likely a unit within 4X looking ahead into the realisation of my career.
