On Wednesday 24 June, as part of Armed Forces Week, Reserves Day provides an important opportunity to recognise the dedication and contribution of the UK’s reserve forces, whose service remains vital to national defence. Reservists form an essential and integrated part of the armed forces, making up around one sixth of personnel and delivering critical capability across a range of operations worldwide. Committing their spare time to military service while balancing civilian careers and family life, reservists demonstrate a unique blend of professionalism, adaptability and resilience. From specialist roles in medical support and cyber operations to reinforcing frontline capability at home and overseas, reservists stand ready to serve whenever required. Reserves Day honours and reinforces the enduring importance of the reserve forces in safeguarding the nation’s security.
To mark the day, we asked Lieutenant Colonel Fiona Andrew, of the Royal Logistic Corps to share her experiences of how a reservist role has shaped her professional and personal journey.
"I first encountered Army Reserve life as a student when I joined the University Officer Training Corps. At the time, my motivations were fairly simple: meet new people, earn a bit of money, and have some fun (mostly!). Looking back now, I can honestly say those were some of the best years of my life. Decades later, many of those friendships are still going strong.
More importantly, that experience opened my eyes to the value of Army Reserve service—and showed me that it was entirely possible to combine it with a civilian career.
After a brief dabble with the Royal Navy, I began working for Marks & Spencer (M&S) as a Human Resources Manager, moving between stores across the UK. At the same time, I rejoined the Army Reserve as a Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Petroleum Officer. From that point on, my annual leave was rarely spent resting, as I instead poured it into Reserve life: exercises across the UK, adventure training overseas, skiing trips, running up the Rock of Gibraltar, and sailing around the British coastline and beyond.
Those years taught me the art of time management, because I had no choice! I was also constantly switching between two worlds: managing civilian teams in M&S and leading military personnel in the Army Reserve. Some principles carried across seamlessly; others couldn’t have been more different. Both, however, shaped me into a more adaptable leader.
In the early 2000s, the Army introduced opportunities for Full-Time Reserve Service (FTRS), allowing Reservists to serve on a full-time basis. Drawn in by the challenge I took on what would become the first of several FTRS roles.
I started with the Defence Fuels Group and later moved into Defence Estates. Each role exposed me to something new. One thrust me into a tri-service environment; the other immersed me in a predominantly Civil Service setting. In both cases, I was often the only Reservist in the room—a position that came with its own challenges, but also invaluable experience.
As my career evolved, so did my personal life. I married a Regular Army officer, and suddenly the flexibility of the Army Reserve wasn’t just useful—it was essential. When our children were young, I was able to step back and hang up my boots for a while. Then, when the time was right, I stepped back in.
I took on a role in initial recruit training and built my Reserve commitment around family life. Through an Additional Duties Commitment (ADC), I could work during school hours, evenings, and weekends and fit everything around the reality of a spouse deployed on operations. During this time, my fellow Reservists were nothing short of extraordinary. Their support went far beyond anything I had experienced in civilian workplaces. It reinforced something I’ve come to believe deeply: the Army Reserve is a genuine family.
In 2016, another move—this time to Kenya—brought a fresh set of opportunities. One of the great things about being a Reservist is that you can take it with you, wherever you go. I transferred to a unit that allowed me to continue serving whilst living overseas.
I was incredibly fortunate to be tasked with producing a training safety film showcasing military exercises in Kenya. That role involved spending a fair amount of time in helicopters, flying over some of the most spectacular landscapes imaginable. It’s not something you forget in a hurry.
Kenya also brought a completely unexpected strand to my career: fire safety in austere training environments. Because we were there for three years, I had the opportunity to get involved in developing and supporting fire safety measures in the bush. It was different, challenging, and hugely rewarding—yet another example of how varied Reserve service can be.
Returning to the UK, I had the capacity to take on another FTRS role and moved into an engagement position focused on building strategic partnerships with ethnic minority communities. It was a genuine privilege broadening my understanding and developing new skills in communication, relationship-building, and contracting.
From there, I returned to my HR roots, leading on Diversity and Inclusion. Supporting minority personnel and advising chains of command was both challenging and immensely rewarding. No two days were ever the same, and the impact of that work was tangible.
Most recently, I’ve combined my Reserve role with further periods living overseas. My personal motto has become: “have laptop, will travel.” It isn’t always easy, but the work remains meaningful, and in a post-COVID world, the possibilities for flexible service have expanded even further. This has included developing my professional capacities through overseas adventure training, such as sailing adventures to Iceland (where I have genuinely never been colder!) and the Caribbean (blissfully the opposite).
Over the last 30(!) years, I’ve served under just about every variation of Army Reserve terms and conditions. What stands out is this: there is something to fit every stage of life. Whether you want to balance a civilian career alongside Reserve service or immerse yourself more fully, it offers a level of flexibility that truly is hard to match.
Looking back, I could never have predicted that a student decision—joining for a bit of fun and extra cash—would lead to a lifetime of friendship, opportunity, and global adventure.
Professional development has remained an important part of my journey. One of the most rewarding and professionally significant opportunities has been selection to attend the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserve) at the Defence Academy this year. Opportunities like this do not come along often, particularly in the Reserve space, and so it was not one to be missed. Staying competitive alongside our Regular counterparts matters to me, and successfully completing the course will be an important part of that. ACSC(R) is about more than academic study, however; it provides the space to think critically about leadership, defence, and the evolving operating environment alongside a diverse cohort of peers from across defence and beyond. For Reservists in particular, it bridges the gap between our civilian and military experiences, allowing us to bring the best of both worlds into informed discussion and planning.
The course develops not just knowledge, but judgement—encouraging reflection, challenge, and innovation. Personally, it is both energising and affirming, strengthening my confidence as a leader, and broadening my professional network in ways that will continue to shape my contribution to defence. After the 20 weeks of supported study, we have the two weeks residential phase in July where I will focus on developing my command, leadership and analytical skills, as well as upskilling my security education in a joint environment. The course is proving to be enjoyable, and it is both a privilege and a welcome pause to concentrate on my own growth.
And the best part? There’s still more to come."