Honouring UK's Reserve Forces

Honouring UK’s Reserve Forces

Homeland September 8, 2016

Pictured are members of 2 LANCS acting as civilian rioters facing the reserve soldiers from 4 LANCS during Public Order drills. 4th Battalion Duke of Lancaster's Regt. are now going through the final stages of their validation training in readiness to deploy to Cyprus on Operation TOSCA. Op TOSCA is a six-month long mission to maintain the status quo, peace and security along the buffer zone or Green Line which separates the Turkish north from the Greek south in Cyprus which was annexed in 1974.

In honour of the dedication and commitment of the UK’s Reserve Forces, today is Reserves Day.

Reservists represent a huge variety of citizens from across the country, with bin men and builders, postmen and parkour athletes, all committed to their time as Reservists. There are a total of 35,090 Reservists in the Armed Forces including fully trained and those undergoing their initial training, making up one sixth of the UK’s Forces. Today is a chance to highlight the incredible commitment they make.

The UK Reserve Forces are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, and have been involved in UN peacekeeping operations around the world including Cyprus, South Sudan and Somalia.

With the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London today, it is an opportune time to highlight the contribution the Reservists make and for companies to recognise their Reservist employees.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon officially launched 2016’s Reserves Day at a recognition reception, hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on Tuesday, attended by over 100 Reservists and their employers including National Express, the Scottish Ambulance Service, HSBC, Vodafone and BT among others.

This year also saw the 1000th signatory from the private sector to the Armed Forces Covenant which promises flexible and supportive commitment to reservist staff.

Minister for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel, Mark Lancaster, said:

Reservists are a vital part of our Armed Forces and make a massive contribution to operations in the UK and overseas, including UN peacekeeping operations, to which they bring an incredible variety of skills and experience.

And just as important are the knowledge and skills they gain from the military which they take back to their employers. All our Reservists give up their time to serve their country and it is an honour to celebrate the work they do.

Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, said:

Reserves deliver critical operational capabilities for Defence every day, across the globe and across the range of operations. Integrated with their Regular counterparts, as part of a Whole Force, they do an incredible job. We are indebted to these men and women who give up their spare time to serve the nation.

Reserves Day is an opportunity for all to recognise and celebrate both the work of the Reserve Forces and each individual. We are extraordinarily proud of our Reservists: it is important we tell them, and show our gratitude on this day.”