A New Chapter with the Royal Naval Reserve

I’ve always had an interest in the military. When I was young, I was fascinated by fighter jets, I collected fact files on war planes and dreamed of being a pilot. That dream was cut short when I was told the RAF didn’t allow female jet pilots and that you needed 20/20 vision, which I thought I didn’t have after having corrective eye surgery when I was in my early years of primary school. Ironically, years later an eye test for the Royal Naval Reserve proved I do indeed have 20/20 vision!

In my late teens I wanted to join the Territorial Army, but my mum persuaded me not to. She’d seen news reports of TA soldiers captured in war zones and couldn’t bear the thought of sending me off to war. So I let it go, but the interest never really disappeared. I carried it with me, through the films I watched, and my fascination with military machines and jets.

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Sailing Prepared the Ground

It wasn’t until much later that my sailing career opened the door again. Offshore sailing tested me in ways I’d never expected, long passages with little sleep, living with bare essentials and enduring all the elements. It gave me confidence, resilience, and a taste for pushing past my limits.

“Don’t do the everyday, everyday”

When I saw the Naval Reserve advert with the strapline “Don’t do the everyday, everyday” it really resonated. I spend most of my working hours behind a desk at home. The Reserves felt like the antidote, something active, purposeful, and bigger than myself.

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Attestation Night

On 5th March 2025, I took my attestation and swore my oath of allegiance. Standing there that evening, officially a Reservist, felt surreal. Just a few months earlier it had been an idea I was toying with, and now it was real.

“This moment represents commitment, challenge, and growth, stepping into a world of discipline, teamwork, and service beyond myself.”

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The Challenges

First Hurdle - The Application Process

I applied to join the Royal Naval Reserve in September 2024, and even the application itself was a challenge. There was an aptitude test, eye test, DBS check, government security clearance, medical records check, and an interview to get through before I could move on to the MedFit. It was a lengthy process, but it gave me a real sense of what lay ahead and the chance to make sure this was truly what I wanted to do.

MedFit

The first big test was the MedFit at HMS Caledonia. It included a full medical, an interview with a military doctor, and a timed 2.4k run. Six laps of a gravel track, in biting January wind, with no smart watch to check my pace, it was brutal.

I surprised myself by finishing in 13 minutes 17 seconds, well under the required time.

PES Test

More recently, I passed my Personal Employment Standard test. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done: dragging, lifting, and carrying incredibly heavy weights against the clock. After the first round I honestly didn’t think I’d make it to the end, but somehow I did. That feeling of scraping through while my ship mates spared me on is what being in the Navy is all about, the determination to succeed and support from your commrades.

Courage on the Drill Deck

At a drill night I was unexpectedly asked to be class leader. With no practice, I had to fall the class in and report to the officer in front of the entire ship’s company. I was nervous, shaky, and embarrassed as I stumbled through it, but my shipmates helped me, and afterwards we laughed about it.

“In the Navy, if you’re asked to do something, you have to do it. You can’t hide, and you can’t say no. As uncomfortable as it was, it’s helping me overcome my fears.”

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Early Training Weekends

First Unit Training – HMS Eaglet

The first real taste of naval life came a few weeks after my attestation at HMS Eaglet, my home unit in Liverpool. From 11–13 April, I joined my fellow recruits for an Initial Naval Training weekend designed to help us progress through our task books and immerse ourselves in naval routines.

The weekend mixed learning with teamwork. We tackled a scavenger hunt that had us sourcing everything from kit items to an ironing board, and our quick thinking earned us victory. We learned about Operational Law and the RNR’s command structure, took part in drill practice, and ran a leadership exercise simulating a plane crash rescue under pressure.

Beyond the structured training, what stood out most was the support from the training team and ship mates. By the end of the weekend, I felt a stronger connection to the traditions, responsibilities, and camaraderie of the Naval Reserve.

Recruit Development Weekend at HMS Raleigh

In July I attended my first Recruit Development Weekend at HMS Raleigh. Driving a van for the first time just to get there felt like a challenge in itself. The weekend was full-on, parade drills, mess deck standards, kit maintenance, team-building tasks. It pushed me in new ways, but it also left me feeling proud and excited for what’s to come.

“What a weekend! I conquered some big fears… it was full-on but so rewarding. Feeling accomplished, grateful, and excited for what’s ahead.”

And then there are the moments of inspiration, like touring HMS Exploit, a coastal patrol vessel, and realising this is just the beginning of what’s possible.

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Deeper Meaning

This journey has also connected me with my family history in ways I didn’t expect. In July, I visited the National Memorial Arboretum with my unit, HMS Eaglet. It was part of a series of Battlefield Tours designed to educate and inspire, and it gave me a chance to carry my grandad’s dog tags and stand before the memorials engraved with the very units he had served in: the Polish First Corps in Scotland and the 1st Independent Parachute Brigade.

“It felt like more than coincidence. It’s given me a deeper sense of purpose and pride in my own decision to serve.”

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Looking Ahead

What I hope to gain from the RNR goes beyond training. I want to become stronger, more confident, and a better leader, not only here but also in my sailing and civillian life. I want to progress with seamanship qualifications and be ready to make a difference where it matters, whether that’s humanitarian work, serving and protecting, or inspiring others to chase their dreams.

For me, the Royal Naval Reserve isn’t separate from my sailing, it complements it. Both are about discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Both are about stepping into challenges that shape who I am. And both remind me that I am part of something bigger.

And together, they feed directly into my civilian life. The confidence and resilience I build at sea and in uniform strengthen how I show up at work, lead my team, and tackle situations that once felt daunting. They also shape the way I live at home, keeping me grounded, healthier, and more appreciative of the freedoms we have. Sailing and service are teaching me lessons that reach far beyond the deck or the drill square, and into my everyday life.

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