Staff celebrated during an event at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Staff from a mental health service for armed forces veterans joined a celebratory event at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to recognise the achievements of Army reservists

Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, veterans and their families.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the providers of the service in the East of England, and also employees Army reservists.

Staff were among those invited to the recent event at RMAS Sandhurst, where organisations had the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of their employees who have successfully completed military training at the academy and been commissioned as an Army Reserve Officer.

David Powell, Op COURAGE Regional Lead East of England, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity to meet other employers who, like us, employ reservists within their workforce.

“We discussed and looked at the benefits that reservists bring to the workforce and how we as employers can support them.”

The event was hosted by Deputy Commandant for Reserves Forces, Colonel Phaedra Maclean. Employers and Army personnel discussed how reservists and ex-military staff gain training and confidence that can support them in other roles.

They also discussed how ex-military staff have the opportunity to learn how to build effective teams and develop individual leadership skills gaining qualifications which are transferable, nationally recognised and accredited.

David and his team were given a tour of the unit and watched a group of reservists preparing for their passing out parade.

You can find out more about the service on the Op COURAGE page.