We Salute You!

In a week celebrating our Armed Forces, we speak to two women who serve as reservists

- Claire Saul

A round one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel are made up of men and women who serve in the Reserve Forces.

In peacetime, Reservists balance their civilian life with military service, giving up spare time to train, support and supplement full-time military personnel to protect the security of the nation in Britain and overseas.

They can currently be found in operation in locations as diverse as Iraq, South Sudan and Cyprus.

Nicola Bolt is an optometrist in civilian life. As a Reservist she works with 4624 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

“I joined the Reserves back in 1997. I’d heard about the exciting activities of the Territorial Army (TA) while working as a Scout leader and finally acted on my interest several years later, joining the TA to work for several years at RAF Brize Norton.