Mum armed with the right skills to serve on frontline
A MUM of one temporarily swapped her life as a care worker for a military training camp – to help make a key difference on the frontline.
Care support worker Jacqueline Ricketts, from Cardiff, is giving up her spare time to serve as a combat medical technician with the Army reserves.
She has just returned home after spending a fortnight training with 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh and said she had no regrets in taking on the challenging role on Exercise Dragons Talon.
The exercise saw army reservists spending two weeks at the Sennelager training area in Germany as part of an infantry field firing camp.
For some, it meant the chance to train on Panther and Warrior armoured vehicles, as well as boosting their skills in close quarter marksmanship, grenade and fire and manoeuvre ranges.
And through it all, Jacqueline was on hand to provide vital medical cover.
She said: “I used to be Army Cadet Forces instructor but I wanted more of a challenge and to push myself further and I certainly get to do his through being in the reserves.
“It is a challenge and a big commitment at times but I definitely feel it has made me more confident and the medical training I have received has undoubtedly enhanced my civilian career prospects – there are so many training opportunities available to enable you to develop and gain experience.
“My employers are really supportive as they can see what the benefits of what I do and what I bring back to my job.”
There are not only infantry soldiers within the ranks of the Reserve Battalion but medics, training officers and support staff, most of who have busy civilian jobs.
Without Jacqueline on hand, the exercise would not have been able to go ahead.
“The aim of the exercise was to enhance everyone’s soldiering skills and my role has been to provide medical cover and support to the live firing ranges,” she said.
“The ranges have been really busy and although I have not been able to fire a weapon on this exercise, without me being here the range cannot work; thankfully there have not been any medical injuries for me to deal with!”
Throughout the fortnight, those taking part were tested on section defence, fireteam and platoon attacks through the woods and heathlands of the training area.
The exercise culminated with the battalion completing a company attack that saw them conduct a minefield breach, assault specific objectives, neutralise an armoured threat before seizing a bridge and clearing the remaining enemy positions.
Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Nigel Crewe-Read said: “Not many of the younger reservists will have done an exercise like this before, it has been a steep learning curve but they have more than matched what has been asked of them and that shows remarkable development, resolution and determination on their part to succeed.”