News

Chesterfield Admin Officer set to take part in Reserves Day

Able Rate Tristan King, aged 27, is a reservist with HMS Sherwood, the East Midlands’ only Royal Naval Reserve unit and also works full-time encouraging young people to consider extending their studies in a higher educational environment.

Serving with HMS Sherwood for 10 years so far, this is the second time that Tristan will wear his military clothing in to school. He explained: “I’m really proud to be a reservist and have had lots of amazing opportunities since I joined, most recently taking part in the unit’s Freedom of the City of Nottingham event where we paraded through the streets and were cheered on by members of the public.”

Tristan King with Principal Roberts

Tristan is a part of the reserve Mine Warfare Branch at HMS Sherwood and enjoys embracing two completely different career paths. He continued: “Being a reservist is really different to working within a school environment but that is the best thing about it. I get to have a part-time military career and continue to work with young people as part of my job at Outwood Academy Newbold.

“The students are always really interested to ask about different training activities I have been undertaking recently which is great. There are lots of transferable skills I’ve developed over the years too such as problem solving, people skills and time management all of which I can bring back in to my civilian work environment.

“I was really shy when I first joined HMS Sherwood so taking part in various reserve-based activities since then has really helped me to ‘come out of my shell’. I now communicate with staff and students in the school environment much more confidently than I would have before too which has a positive effect on my life on a day-to-day basis.”

Speaking about why he would encourage others to join the RNR, Tristan concluded: “If you want a unique experience where you get to meet lots of new people, travel to new places and learn new transferable skills which in my case have helped me to continually motivate students, I would recommend joining HMS Sherwood.”

Principal Roberts, Tristan’s line manager at the school, said: ”We as an Academy are very supportive of both Tristan and his role in the reserves. It is a very worthwhile thing that he does, it is very dear to him and I know he takes his responsibilities incredibly seriously. We see the benefits of the skills he has learnt coming back in to the school environment such as using his initiative and his enhanced communication skills. We can see these skills in the work that Tristan does on a day-to-day basis and ultimately this benefits the students he is working with.”

Armed Forces activities are taking place across the East Midlands from 25 June, with Reserves Day the annual celebration to thank reservists for their Service and learn more about their roles taking place on 27 June across the country.

To find out more about HMS Sherwood visit royalnavy.mod.uk or email navymr-sherwooduwo@mod.uk