Armed Forces Week- #ReservesDay

Today marks Reserves Day as part of Armed Forces Week, designed to highlight and recognise the valuable contribution Reservists make to our Armed Forces!

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military. In Greater London we have over 4,500 Reservists. The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel nationally, and as such are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, particularly providing capability in specialist areas such as medical and cyber.

However, the contribution they make to our Armed Forces often goes unrecognised. As such an annual Reserves Day was created to highlight and recognise the valuable contribution Reservists make to our Armed Forces.Reservists are everywhere, but you might not know it. Today we highlight just some of the amazing Reservists that are right here in London. With support from their employers they are able to excel in both their military and civilian careers. Reservists are vital to the nation's Defence capability, they train and are deployed alongside their regular counterparts.

Find out more and read our Reserves Day case study report on just some of London's Reservists and the amazing work that they do. This year we spoke to reservists from all three services to find out how they had been involved in the national reponse to Corona Virus.

#ReservesDay is an opportunity for the UK to celebrate our Reserve Forces and a day for Reservists and their employers to show pride in their service. Though we are now celebrating virtually there are still plenty of ways you can #ShowYourSupport today:

Reservists, why not ‘ZoomInUniform’ today?

While the office seems like a distant memory and many of us are still working from home, why not celebrate Reserves Day and wear your uniform at home or to ‘work’. Take selfies from your home office or while video conferencing with your colleagues! Remember to tag us in your social posts (@GLRFCA) and use the hashtag #SaluteOurForces.

Join Commander of the Maritime Reserves, Mel Robinson for a Reserves Day virtual update

You are invited to join a 30 minute update this Reserves Day, 24 June, from 11:30am to 12:00pm on Zoom. As well as a thank you to all the supportive employers, this is an opportunity for you to ask questions and receive a real time update from the Royal Navy Reserve. The meeting will be open to all members of the Maritime Reserves and Employers. Registration details for these online events have been shared by RNR training units. Reservists are warmly encouraged to sign up & to extend the invitation to their employers.