PUBLISHED 21 June 2023
When I left the British Army in January 2001, I never though I'd put on the 'green stuff' again.
I joined the Womens Royal Army Corps (WRAC) in 1990, already in my late twenties, one of the oldest on my recruit cadre. Originally attached to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) as a storeman, within a year, the WRAC was disbanded, and I was cap badged REME, the women going through training with the men. I reskilled to Regimental Specialist and became part of the Recruit Training Team, as they now needed female instructors at the Training Centres. Double-hatted as a Combat Med Technician (CMT), I progressed through the ranks to Warrant Officer Class 2, and the Position of Company Sergeant Major, in charge of the training and security of 140 soldiers in a REME Recovery Company (V).
The army gave me all the skills and confidence to follow my dream of becoming an Outdoor Education Instructor and Expedition Leader, getting paid to travel across both the UK and world, teaching young people and adults, and leading them on expeditions to places like Nepal, Vietnam, and South Africa.
At the age of fifty, I decided I was getting a bit old for running up and down mountains for a living and changed career to work as a Health and Safety Training Consultant.
In 2017, the job at AKS came up, and as part of my role, I lead the schools Combined Cadet Force, again teaching young people the skills they will need in as an adult, using the skills and experience I have learnt, both military and civilian, throughout my adult life.
I find myself, once again, in the 'green stuff'.
WO2 Sharon Hobson Woodhead
Contingent Commander and School Staff Instructor (SSI)