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From weekend warriors to modern day soldiers: Changing TA perceptions

You've heard the jokes a thousand times before. A drinking club dominated by middle-aged men decked out in gear from the local Army and Navy store, their bellies hanging low over their belts while they march around clutching toy guns.

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For decades that was the reputation thrown at the Territorial Army (TA), with stereotypes of reserves being clueless 'weekend warriors' frequently ramped up in the national media.

For a case in point, see Mackenzie Crook's Gareth Keenan character from the BBC's The Office.

Public perception was not helped by The Office's Gareth Keenan

"A lot of people think that those in the TA are not real soldiers," he once said.

"We are. We are well trained, highly disciplined fighting machines ready for war. We're just not available during the week."

The TA was dogged by accusations of poor organisation, with reservists complaining of being called up to deploy overseas at short notice and receiving late payments from the Army.

It all contributed to low retention rates that led in part to a high turnover of troops. But three years down the line from the TA's rebrand as the British Army Reserves and the old stereotypes are finally being laid to rest.

The British Army Reserves now receive training that is as close to that given to regulars as their budget will allow for.

Propelled into taking a vital role in the British armed forces by military cutbacks under the Government's 2020 vision, today's reserves are a very different breed.

Far more is expected of the modern day soldier, and the whole ethos around the training and preparation of the Army Reserve has changed accordingly.

Shane Swannick, from Minsterley, Shropshire, works in recruitment and retention for 202 Field Hospital, a reserve of medics that includes doctors and nurses from hospitals in Shropshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Recruitment officer Shane Swannick

Having previously served as a full-time soldier with the Royal Signals for 15 years, Mr Swannick is ideally placed to monitor changing attitudes towards the reserve force.

"The perception of the reserves has changed a lot over the last 10 years and it is continuing to change," the 40-year-old said.

"When I joined the Army the regulars looked down on the TA.

"It was seen as a bit of a drinking club and not something to be taken seriously. The view was mirrored by the average person in the street," he added.

"Iraq and Afghanistan changed all that.

Attitudes towards the reserves from the regulars has changed since Iraq and Afghanistan

"Soldiers saw first hand the work that reserves do. For example, 202 were out there saving lives.

"That hit home with a lot of regulars who started to see the value of reserves.

"With all the changes going on in the military right now you can see how there will be a bigger reliance on reserves in years to come," he added.

"From what I see today the Army Reserve is a very professional, well-trained outfit full of people who want to do well.

"I think that message is starting to come across to the wider public now."

As part of the 2020 vision reserves now take part in one overseas training camp every year, which generally lasts two weeks and sees them involved in field operations and team-building exercises.

Major Jane Phillips, aged 39, a lecturer at Birmingham University from Worfield, near Bridgnorth, is in charge of organising such training exercises for 202 Field Hospital.

Major Jane Phillips is a university lecturer

She joined the reserves 15 years ago and ran the communications and administration hub at the Camp Bastion military hospital in Helmand Province at the start of last year.

Today her role includes planning field exercises, securing funding for course accreditation, so reserves can gain qualifications while they train, bringing in external instructors with a high level of expertise and utilising the skills of regular military staff.

An overseas training programme lasting two weeks can take up to six months to plan, with the emphasis on putting the troops through their paces in testing 'real life' situations.

The British Army Reserves now receive training that is as close to that given to regulars as their budget will allow for

Reserves are split into three platoons, each led by a commander, with junior officers, lieutenants and officer cadets also among the ranks.

Major Phillips oversaw the delivery of 202's recent trip to Gibraltar, which saw troops flown over in full uniform to the tiny British Overseas Territory via military aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.

"The idea is to provide the highest standard of training possible with the resources we have available," Major Phillips said.

"It takes a lot of planning. For a trip like this we'll do two reconnaissance visits to make sure everything is in order and spend a lot of time bringing in instructors with relevant areas of expertise.

"Over here we've had an infantry expert, a medical services instructor who specialises in providing care in the field, chefs, drivers and various other permanent staff in key roles. For reserves – particularly those who are new – these people offer a wealth of experience and expertise.

"It is not an easy ride," she added.

"The training has improved over the years, and to a large extent reserves are now treated like regular military personnel."

The package also includes an activities day and cultural tour, as well as a military skills element, where reserves are taught how to take orders and follow instructions.

Soldiers and officers took part in adventure training activities on the water while in Gibraltar

"Learning how to respond to orders is one of the biggest challenges for civilians," Major Phillips added.

"In 202 we have people who have reached high grades in the medical profession in civilian life and may have people working under them. As a reserve they have to get used to taking orders. But we also encourage people to take responsibility and move through the ranks into positions of responsibility."

202's commanding officer is Colonel Glynn Evans, an NHS consultant anaesthetist from Tamworth who took over as the unit's lead in January 2012.

He says recruitment and retention will be the the main priority for the Army Reserve for years to come.

Commanding officer Colonel Glynn Evans

His unit is currently at 91 per cent strength, with the aim of having a full quota of reserves to call on by 2017.

"Twenty years ago the Army and the reserves were a completely separate entity," the 48-year-old said. "Now the drive is for one Army.

"There's no doubt we have become more professional in our outlook and standards have increased.

"We want the right kind of people who are highly skilled and want to test themselves in new environments."

Major Phillips, who used to live in Cradley Heath, said that recruitment had been 'really good' over the past 12 months.

"We've had so many new faces, people who have started with us and began to learn the ropes," she said.

"More importantly they are getting through the system well and we are retaining them.

"To me it says they are enjoying what they are doing with us."

Soldiers from 202 Field Hospital undertook training exercises created to mimic real-life situations

This improvement in retention levels is very much a recent development, according to Major Phillips.

"It has been like trying to turn the Titanic," she said. "For a long time throughout the TA retention was an issue, but slowly we are seeing things change.

"We see a lot of new people but also a lot of regulars coming back. They are essential as they bring a lot of experience with them.

"If you look at some of the people we have on this trip there are soldiers with a very high skill set.

"It also brings an added credibility to the training exercises. The soldiers know they are being taught by people who have real field experience."

The impressive Rock of Gibraltar was a backdrop to training Photo: Cpl Timothy Jones RLC

As well as recruiting doctors, nurses and other medical staff, 202 has also brought in chefs, drivers and administration workers – all of whom play a major role in the running of the unit.

"We've also had a few medical students coming through the ranks," added Major Phillips. "I think for a lot of them the Army is a new challenge that enables them to cement what they are learning in practice in hospitals.

"It's also something that probably looks pretty impressive to employers!"

And the unit is casting its net far and wide in the search for new blood, with a large proportion of recruitment done directly through NHS Trusts.

"We're bringing in people from across the West Midlands, Shropshire and Staffordshire," Major Phillips added.

"We try to go directly through NHS Trusts as the bulk of people we are looking for will come from a clinical background."

The Army plans to recruit an extra 2,750 reserves a year until 2020.

Recruitment has undertaken a spurt over the last 18 months, after just 170 reserves were brought in between April 2013 and April last year.

Earlier this year it was revealed that The Government's Major Projects Authority rates the 2020 project as 'red', meaning that according to the authority's own definition "successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable."

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