This week is Armed Forces Week and here at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, IT Support Technician Ryan Knighton is preparing for a competition in Finland.
Ryan Knighton is a member of the Reserves – formally known as the Territorial Army, part time soldiers.
On June 24 he will head to Finland for eight days for the military skills competition.
Here, Ryan explains about what being a Reservist means and what Armed Forces Day means to him.
In 2008, Ryan was in the Regulars full time. He said: “I started off in the Parachute Regiment picked up an injury after three months training and had to join an infantry regiment which was the Royal Anglian 1st Battalion: Vikings (then).
Eighteen months ago he joined the Reserves. He said: “I started off in Duke of Lancaster Infantry Regiment (4 Lancs) but eventually chose something more specialist.”
Ryan, 34, explained the role of the Reserves.
He said: “We carry out all the same training as Regular soldiers (full time) but in our own time and over a longer period alongside our regular day to day jobs, mainly evenings and weekends.”
Ryan is a member of the 101 Regiment Royal Artillery, 204 Battery Tyneside Scottish. He said: “We are known for the MLRS (Multi Launch Rocket System) which is a tracked, armoured, self-propelled, multiple rocket launcher.
“The MLRS is operated by a 3 person crew and fires 12 rockets, we can achieve this in less than 60 seconds and up to 300 kilometres.
“We also form part of the Divisional and Corps Deepfires and specialise in Precision Strike. Most of our movements are done at night, therefore we are closely associated with other reconnaissance battalions.
“Not only do we train on the MLRS I have also been trained on the light gun such as the L118, which are used on the battle field and also in remembrance salutes. We also carry out training on multiple types of vehicles, which can cross over and benefit our civilian lives.
“We also take part in cohesion events and assured weekends, which consist of non-vehicle based training which is referred to as 'normal soldiering' this includes blank firing exercises such clearing/defending buildings and harbour areas, explosive ordnance, navigation exercises in and out of vehicles, living out in the field and communications. Which is standard training carried out by all British Army personnel.”
In Finland Ryan will represent the British Army and compete in the Military Skills competition against other NATO countries.
Some of the exercises he will take part in include:
- 16 km Navigation Exercise
- Driving
- Weapons firing - 9mm Pistol and the Finnish Armies Assault rifle the RK 62
- Land and Swim Obstacle Course
- CCC (Combat Casualty Care)
After Finland, Ryan will head down to a camp in Salisbury Plain in September for two weeks.
He said: “I am back for a couple of weeks after Salisbury Plain and then we have a training exercise in Gibraltar for two weeks at the end of October. The number of times we go away changes every year. This year will be my busiest year. In between that I also need to attend weekends to carry out other training.
“Next year, I believe we have another exercise in Finland as a whole regiment (101), but I am not sure what the duration is.”
As our Armed Forces Working Group will shortly mark Armed Forces Day and Reserves Day, Ryan said: “Recognising people that work in the armed services is very important and I believe that every workplace should recognise that.
“I understand that serving is a choice, but also Reservists train like any other soldier therefore bolster regular forces, with that said we are deployable so will need to defend the country if that was ever required. Thankfully the NHS recognises this, and has been shown by signing the Armed Forces Covenant, by having that in place means, that we (NCIC) recognises its current and future reservists and allows them to have that flexibility to train alongside their everyday job.”
Ryan’s manger, Andrew Pescod, who is IT Delivery Manager at NCIC, explained what it means to have someone like Ryan in his team.
He said: “Ryan is a new addition to my team, but not the department, which has allowed me to see the benefits that being a reservist brings to the organisation both in his old and new role.
“As an organisation anyone who is a Reservists get an extra five days leave to accommodate training requirements, however as these tend to be at least two weeks every year additional annual or unpaid leave is required to support this training. Whilst this seen initially as an additional strain on the department, it’s quite the opposite due to the upshot of this training which highly beneficial to the department as well as the trust.
“Ryan is highly organised and methodical with how he approaches his work but has the ability to quickly change to new challenges as they appear which is very important with in IT. From his training he is very cool under pressure which was beneficial recently when he ended up solely dealing with a medical emergency, outside our Carleton clinic workshop, and getting the appropriate help providing the best care he could.
“In all, I would encourage any team with a member staff interested in being a reservist as it is not only beneficial to the individual but the department and organisation as a whole.”