Page 15 - Cadet Review Spring 2022

focused. I can focus on my assessment and ignore the surrounding chaos.
The closest way I can describe trauma management to you is by considering NSPs on a weapon. You know how to do NSPs. If you’re anything like me as a cadet, you can strip a weapon with your eyes closed (literally). To someone that has never picked up a weapon, the idea of making a loaded and unsafe weapon safe is unimaginable. However, if you can do NSPs, you can manage a weapon every time, regardless of what else is happening and what state the weapon is. That’s how I feel about managing traumas.
WHAT ARE YOU PROUDEST OF AS A RESERVIST?
Last year, I received Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant’s award for West Yorkshire. I was nominated due to my teaching within the Army Reserves during lockdown as I helped develop innovative training methods during our weekly virtual training sessions. Many of our Reservists had never delivered online training before, so I helped them develop their presentations and gave them tips for presenting online. It was a complete honour to win the award. I definitely felt like I shouldn’t have been there as I was only doing something I enjoyed. That said, it was probably one of the biggest honours of my life, let alone in the Reserves.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A WORK-LIFE BALANCE?
I think that I enjoy my busy life because I give my work 100%, but I don’t think about work when I
get home. I think about how my day has been as I head home but try my best to do other things when I get home. As I plan my schedule, it can be easy to plan many workdays. Therefore, I always schedule non-workdays too.
I have many hobbies and try to ensure that I
am outdoors as much as possible. I enjoy hiking
and even hiking up mountains alone when I need some ‘me’ time. I started running more during the pandemic, especially when we needed to exercise close to home. I enjoy escape rooms and my friends and I have done most escape rooms in Leeds. Before
The cadets can play a massive part in your future. I can honestly say that it gave me many friends and skills that made me who I am. I don’t think I would beadoctorifI hadn’t been a cadet.
the pandemic, I tried to visit different countries regularly, so I swapped this for learning how to skydive later in the pandemic. I’ve realised I’m not very good at skydiving, but I really enjoy it!
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL CADETS?
The cadets can play a massive part in your future. I can honestly say that it gave me many friends and skills that made me who I am. I don’t think I would be a doctor if I hadn’t been a cadet. The ACF developed my skills as a team player, a leader, and a teacher.
It also gave me many smaller skills; I would never work with un-ironed clothes or dirty shoes, and I hate being late. The varied people you meet in the cadets will support you in your next steps.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOURSELF WITHIN TEN YEARS IN THE RESERVES?
I really enjoy my career within the Army Reserves, and I would recommend it to everyone. I plan to remain with the Reserves for the next ten years onwards as it is a huge part of my life. Many of the people I have met in the military will be lifelong friends.
My future within the Army Reserves is at a crossroads. Although I am a medical officer, I started to work in roles where I support the development of other soldiers, such as combat medical technicians. I hope that in the future, I will be able to focus more on the development of others within in the Reserves, but in a position where I still maintain my clinical role.
Before I joined, I had never heard much about the Reserves, but I would strongly recommend cadets considering this as an option later in life. Reservists can assume roles similar to their regular careers or consider doing something very different. Most positions you could hold as a regular soldier can be held as a Reservist in the army, navy, or air force.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE?
I explain my military, clinical, and education roles on Twitter. If you want to find out more, my Twitter handle is @aimeecharnell
Learning to skydive
With the Lord-Lieutenant in October 2021
receiving my award
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