After years in the farming industry, Scott Spavins decided to plough a new furrow in the British Army.
Scott, aged 29, now a Trooper with The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeths’ Own), decided to take the leap from his hometown of Brinkworth, near Swindon and join the military in 2022. It was something he’d been thinking about doing since he was 18.
Upon completion of his initial training, Scott wanted a hands-on role and became a reconnaissance soldier who gathers battlefield intelligence with the regiment, which he joined as he liked the look of its distinctive skull and crossbones motto.
I have a strong family background in the forces, following my stepdad’s career in the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and my grandfather’s time in the RAF.” Having finally followed his dream he encourages anyone thinking about joining the Army to ‘just do it’
Having finally followed his dream he encourages anyone thinking about joining the Army to ‘just do it’.
Day-to-day, Scott can be found in the tank park, maintaining military vehicles and weapon systems. He also fulfils a range of trade, military, and physical training exercises.
“During my time in the Army, I’ve built skills including signals, military first aid, driving different vehicles, gunnery and basic operating skills in a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environment,” he says.
Scott has faced many personal challenges in his short Army career, such as his fear of heights, completing high ropes obstacles during basic training. He has also been surprised by the camaraderie that Army life has given him.
He said: “There is a friendly atmosphere, it’s professional but relaxed. Officers are highly visible and have a genuine interest in individual soldiers and their ability to progress.”
In the future, Scott aspires to be a crew commander as well as getting involved in trials and development, testing out innovative technology and incorporating it into specific roles. However, in the short-term he is looking forward to a potential deployment to Poland later in the year.
He said: “It’s an experience you won’t get anywhere else and if you like it, you’ve got a career with so many options and routes to choose from.”
“I would say it’s given me a lot more structure to my life and I do feel like I’m part of a community now. Working on the farm was far more solitary whereas now everything I do is part of a group of people. “I’ve been thinking about joining the Army since I was 18 but never seemed to get to it. The Covid years were a bit of an incentive but also, I just realised I wasn’t really going anywhere on the farm. I wasn’t getting any more respect from the boss I worked for despite the long hours I was doing. So finally, I did it.”