Reservists wanted for Jersey Field Squadron

Sunday 13 May 2018

The Jersey Field Squadron is on the look for reservists willing to challenge themselves to join its ranks, after it was attached to the 25 Close Support Engineer Group.

The move will see the Squadron provide engineering support to the 3rd (UK) Division and provide more opportunities for local reservists from Jersey to deploy on operations abroad.

Formed by the Duke of Wellington during the Peninsular Campaign, the Division is also nicknamed the 'Iron Division' as a result of fierce fighting during the First World War. Today, the Division provides the majority of the British Army’s operationally deployed troops as well as those held at high readiness. 

Major Charlie Montgomery, the Squadron's Commanding Officer, explained that the move will not incur drastic changes for the Squadron, which was previously under the command of 12 Force Support Engineer Group. "It will be the same except that we will be reattached to a higher formations. This means that there will be more opportunities to deploy on operations and for our reservists to join their regular soldier counterparts."

Local reservists could join Operation CATAN, a United Nations mission in Somalia, Operation Trenton in South Sudan or Operation Shader in Iraq as well as support mission critical training in Canada, Kenya or Cyprus.

The Jersey Field Squadron are looking to grow their numbers and are on the look for anyone "interested in a challenge." Major Montgomery said that anyone "shy of 18 and up to the age of 55" can join and train in one of the many trades available, even if they do not have experience in that particular area. "We have builders, engineers specialised in demolition, comms specialists for the radio, military chefs who do a whole range of cooking from catering to dinners to cooking on the field, drivers for the big plants, the big diggers and all sorts of vehicles.

"People don't need any experience as we provide full training. All they need is the determination and the drive to challenge themselves. They can train on their spare time, our reservists have other jobs and we have sessions on the weekends and Wednesday evenings. We will provide tactical skills as well as transferrable skills, which will help them enhance their confidence and become a much more rounded individual."

Pictured: Sergeant McDade of the Jersey Field Squadron pauses during a training exercise.

Anyone interested in joining the Squadron can pop in at Le Quesne Barracks on Mount Bigham on a Wednesday evening or contact the team on their Facebook page.  They will have the opportunity to speak with the recruitment captain and learn more about the different roles and what being a reservist entails. If they decide to go ahead, they will then be sent to an assessment centre in the UK before their training can start. With an enlistment bonus of £300, a bonus of £1000 for completing Basic Training and a daily rate starting from £37.47, the minimum expected commitment is from just 27 days a year, Major Montgomery explained.

He said: "The reservists will first learn how to become a soldier, which is a basic training required to become a member. They can then have access to all the other trainings we have available. We are very much looking to hear from anyone up for a challenge and for joining a very diverse and rewarding environment."