Careers, skills and the British Army

In the latest episode of ‘Career Stories’, hosts Joe and Carrie welcome two guests for the first time in the series. Corporal (Cpl) John Haxton and Craftsmen (Cfn) Lee Sinclair from the British Army sit down to talk about life as a soldier and the skills they are developing in active service.

Cpl Haxton is a soldier in the Royal Engineers as well as a trained carpenter and a combat engineer.

Cfn Sinclair is a soldier and armourer in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). He is also in the final phase of his apprenticeship programme in the army.

A world of opportunity

During the conversation, both soldiers explain the basics of their respective battalions, their ranks and how they found their different paths into army careers. Life in retail for Cpl Haxton developed his work ethic and despite an initially rejected application to enlist, he eventually found his true calling in service.

Cfn Sinclair on the other hand always knew his destiny was to become a solider, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and dad. He even explains how he met his wife through the forces.

Both soldiers talk about the many opportunities available to recruits to develop different vocational skills in various crafts and trades, as well as the discipline and other core skills expected of a soldier.

Aside from formal training and skills development, the army has an expansive programme of sports and leisure activities. Soldiers can join army teams to compete in amateur competitions, while informally soldiers can get into any sports simply for fun and fitness. As Cfn Sinclair explains, it’s not all about sports. Armourers and engineers have a particular fondness for the world of Warhammer and many can be found geeking out over the latest in-game weapons (which explains why they usually end up in REME!).

While the discussion is not about current world events, the soldiers also honestly point to the fact there is a real prospect of serving overseas and potentially also at war. These tours, as Cpl Haxton notes, are where you get to really experience the army and develop bonds for life with fellow soldiers.