Employees in Essex are being encouraged to take on a second job – with the blessing and backing of their employer.

Thousands of people in all walks of life act as Army Reservists.

The UK Reserve Forces – the “part-time soldiers” – are made up of ordinary people who devote a portion of their year to training with their counterparts in the fulltime regular services.

They form an essential part of the UK’s defence capability.

One of them is Warrant Officer second class (WO2) Lee Bland, 40, section head of the railway engineering department at Prospects College, in Basildon.

Lee recently spent a working day in uniform as he carried out his teaching and mentoring duties Neil Warren, Prospects’ chief operating officer, said the college supported Lee in his other role outside work.

He said: “A lecturer turning up to the college in his Army Reserve uniform is quite a talking point.

“We are very proud of the work Lee does as a reservist and as an educational establishment we benefit from his military training and skills development.

“In addition, we all enjoy hearing about the things he’s been doing on his training weekends and in his spare time.”

Lee, aka WO2 Bland, has served in the Army Reserve for 22 years.

His unit is the London Regiment, based at C (City of London Fusiliers) HQ in Balham. As Company Sergeant Major, WO2 Bland has seen operational service in Bosnia (1996), Iraq (2003) and in Afghanistan (2012), where he deployed with the Grenadier Guards, and was a member of the Casevac party repatriating injured service personnel
back to the UK.

He joined the Army Reserve when he was 18. He said: “Work was hard to find at the time, but I also felt I needed a challenge in life.”

His Army Reserve training has been varied and he said: “It has given me some unique, rare and useful skills.”

He is particularly grateful he had the chance to gain a graduateship in leadership, with a Level 6 qualification, the equivalent of a full honours degree.

He said: “I’ve also acquired a large number of driving qualifications, along with cutting-edge medical skills training.

These skills have made a crucial difference on more than one occasion.”

His boss at the college, Mr Warren said: “Lee is one of thousands of people in Essex and London who volunteer their time and commitment to our vital reserve forces, and as his employer, we at Prospects are keen to show our support.”

WO Bland, who currently has a beard for his part in a ceremonial re-enactment by his unit, said: “Wearing my Army Reserve uniform to work has been great.

“The reaction from all the students has been very positive and it certainly generated a lot of questions. They all want to know what it’s all about.”


YOU CAN BE A RESERVIST

Army  reservists train for between 19 and 27 days a year.

After completing initial training, they earn £45.06 for each full day spent on training or deployment.

This rises incrementally with promotion. Reservists also earn a lump sum bounty each year, which rises steadily.

For further information, go to www.army.mod.uk/reserve /31781.aspx

* Prospects College provides technical vocational training to apprentices in trades, including engineering, and the built environment. Lee works with leading contractors including Atkins, Thales, Bombardier, Telent and Eurostar.