International Women's Day Stories - A Perfect Shot

This #InternationalWomensDay we wanted to share the stories of some amazing women within the Armed Forces community here in Greater London. Meet Lisa Ingram from 151 Regiment.

Lisa joined the Army Reserves in 2001 seeking a new challenge, having had no previous military experience.  After attending an Army Insight weekend, Lisa questioned her own ability and initially was unsure whether to proceed with her application to join.  Encouraged by the Army recruiting team, Lisa accepted the challenge and was enlisted into 151 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps as a diver. With a new found confidence, Lisa successfully passed her basic training course and was awarded top recruit. Learning from this experience and driven by determination to win, Lisa pushed on completing her trade training, obtaining her LGV licence categories including C+E.

Not long after completing her trade training, Lisa was mobilised as part of Operation TELIC and deployed to Iraq. She spent four months at Basra Palace with 19 Mechanised Brigade, where her tasks included driving around southern Iraq as part of the Motor Transport Section. On completion of her tour of duty, Lisa returned to her Reserve Regiment completing various Career Leadership Management Courses and simultaneously enhancing her trade skills further.  Once reaching the top of her trade, Lisa went on to gain instructor qualifications in Skill at Arms, Land Navigation, Battlefield Casualty Drills and completed the Defence Train the Trainer Course. As a leader in leadership, she embraced a new challenge, joining the Recruit Retention Mentoring Team, seizing the opportunity to pass on her knowledge.  

Lisa soon developed a keen interest in shooting.  After becoming top shot at the Regimental Skill at Arms competition, she joined the Regimental shooting team. Within her first year shooting, she was within the top 50 Army Reservists competing at Bisley. With practice she was soon within the top four and achieved second place. As a top Army shot, Lisa was selected to represent the Army Reserve Operational Shooting Team.  She competed in numerous international competitions as part of a winning team and won the RLC Corps Operational Shooting Competition on four occasions.

Meeting every challenge as an Army Reservist, Lisa has deployed on exercise to Italy, taken part in adventure training, including expeditions to Kenya and more recently to Nepal reaching Everest Base Camp. When asked about her experiences Lisa said   “As a female in the Reserves you might feel you have to work harder and be better than the guys. But it's just about being the best you can be and pushing yourself to your limits. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve and how far you can go when you do that. I've gained so much from my time in the Reserves and I like to think that I have given something back too”. Lisa has become good at managing her time.  When not taking part in military at the weekend, she works as a Lab manager for Imperial College London.  Lisa also is pretty good at managing her work / life balance, enjoying family life with her 11 year old daughter Poppy and partner Russel.  In 2019 Lisa was awarded the Queens Volunteer Reserve Medal for exemplary meritorious service to the Reserve Forces. She was soon after promoted to Troop Sergeant.