Many of us would say that having one career is ‘quite enough thank you!’ But ex-regular soldier turned Army Reservist, Captain Linda Cassidy from 102 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) based in County Durham, has proved that combining a military career with running a business can really work, with each complementing the other.
Captain Linda Cassidy
Captain Linda Cassidy
Captain Linda Cassidy
Linda, 43, who lives in Cumbria with her soldier husband Joseph and daughter Lilly, explains how this successful combination got underway:
“I come from a family of engineers. Both my grandparents worked in ammunitions as engineers during World War Two, so the REME was an obvious choice for me.
I didn’t really want a normal 9-5 and loved the idea of gaining a trade whilst getting paid to travel and meet new people
"I joined the Regular Army straight from school after completing my GCSEs at 16.
"The Army seemed the natural choice, having been in the Army Cadets, and it gave me the opportunity to get an apprenticeship in an area in which I was interested.”
During her time in the Regular Army, Linda completed her REME Artificer course (Artificer: Highly skilled at working on electronic, electrical, electro-mechanical and/or mechanical devices.) and gained an Engineering Degree. Two qualifications she ranks among her greatest achievements:
“I wasn’t very academic at school, but my time as an apprentice in the Army made me realise I was more intelligent than I had given myself credit for.
"I remember my Technology teacher laughing at me when I told him I was joining the Army as an Electronic Technician. But I believe the Army has a great way of bringing out the best in its soldiers.”
Leadership and managerial development skills have been an integral part of training and have been ongoing, add that to all the additional training she has received over the years, including teaching qualifications, computer IT skills, Health and Safety Training, Military skills, fitness, and languages too:
“We love continuous personal development in the Army, and you are supported in any additional courses you would like to take. The Army even pays towards a course of your choosing each year, the same for both Regular and Reserve Soldiers”
“My Army career gave me the skillset and the confidence to set up my own business and for it to succeed,” Linda explains.
“Communication skills and time management have been critical here, as well as organisational skills, self-discipline and the mentoring and development of my staff.
"Discipline and problem solving are two other important skills that I have developed throughout my Army career and have assisted me throughout my transition into civilian life.”
Posted to Germany for much of her career, Linda left the Regular Army after 17 years to have her daughter. She tells how her life and new career in civvy street has been complemented by her Army career:
“I joined the Army Reserves on return to the UK when my husband was posted to Catterick. The Reserves is such a flexible organisation, I can choose which weekend training events I can attend around my business and family life and can take on additional specific tasks during the week.
"I now own and run a Swim School called LillyPad Swimmers, named after my daughter, teaching swimming lessons to all ages. I also employ other swimming teachers, so I can be flexible with the hours I put into the Army Reserves. This has meant I have been able to accept a three day a week additional duties contract to assist with recruiting in my unit.”
For Linda, no two days are the same and life at times can be quite hectic as a single parent during the week, with her husband serving full time, and now posted to Warminster:
“I can go from singing swimming songs in the pool and splashing around with babies, to teaching older children to swim and developing their water confidence and skills, to planning military and engineering training for my Company of soldiers all in one day."
The career roadmap has taken Linda from the heat of Iraq, deployed on Operation Telic 7, to the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada and to Germany.
She has taken part in ultra marathons, completed Nijmegen Marches, been mountaineering in California, scuba diving in Thailand, skiing in Bavaria and windsurfing in Italy. She even trained to be a swimming instructor with the Army which set her on the path to her civilian career.
Linda reflects on how the Army gave her the opportunities to develop and train:
“Although I trained as a REME Engineer, I have also been able to branch out across my career and take on roles in teaching, continuous improvement and empowerment, recruiting, media, and safety risk management to name but a few.
"I am more confident and outgoing than I would have been had I not joined the Army. It has given me the attitude that anything is possible with a little bit of hard work and determination. I am not afraid to face new challenges.”
Looking to the future, Linda would like to promote to Major and hold a sub-unit command appointment. And career highlights to date, what would they be?
“All the amazing adventure training opportunities would have to be on the list. Completing my Artificer training course and more recently, commissioning.
"Definitely all the incredible people I have met along the way, and the friends I have made. Oh, and I should also mention meeting my husband during my first posting to Germany when we were both Corporals.”
The British Army is recruiting right now to fill 10,000 jobs across the UK with more than 200 roles to choose from, covering everything from frontline combat and cyber security to helicopter pilots, chefs, and support roles. If you’re aged 16 to 50, and if you want to find out more about a career in the Army, click here: British Army
