News
December 13th 2021
Loughborough College students get a ‘Look at Life in the Army Reserve’
Students had demonstrations of kit and equipment.
Students from Loughborough College’s Public Services Course spent a week with Reservists from 203 Loughborough Transport Squadron to get an insight into the Army Reserves. The Squadron is part of 158 Regiment of The Royal Logistic Corps, an Army Reserve Transport Regiment.
The Loughborough College annual trip to Walesby Forest Activity Centre was attended by 130 students from the Public Services Course, which is described as “teaching and training tomorrow’s leaders in the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Marines, Police, Fire & Rescue Services, Ambulance and Prison Service.”
Led by 203 Squadron’s Sergeant Richie Bowles and Private Helen Kavanagh – herself a former student on the course – the students were invited to take a ‘Look at Life in the Army Reserve’.
Students were given an insight into some fundamentals of Reserve life, such as combat rations and pitching tents, as well as being shown equipment and weaponry that the Reservists use.
As a Transport Squadron, Reservists are able to operate a wide range of logistic vehicles and equipment, so Private Kavanagh demonstrated how to change a tyre on an Army-specialised truck. Some students also had a go at communicating through morse code and semaphore.
Students also practiced a casualty evacuation, which involved Pilot Mike Lord flying G-ZZLE, a former Army Air Corp Gazelle AH1 helicopter, onto the grounds of Walesby.
Students getting a closer look at G-ZZLE.
Private Helen Kavanagh commented: “I am a former student of the Public Services Course at Loughborough College, so I wanted to use my connections to form a link between us [203 Squadron] and the College.
“I thought it was really important for the students to see what it is that Reservists do, as when I was on the course I heard a lot about opportunities in the Regular Army, but had no idea there were so many Reservist roles and opportunities.”
She added: “We look forward to doing more work with the college and strengthening our relationship with the staff and students.”
Interested in the Reserves? Find out more.
