Attached for the entirety of deployment is Information Operations specialist Lt Cdr Jim Martin, a former regular in the Royal Army Medical Corps and now a Pupil Support Teacher from North Ayrshire in Scotland. On his third deployment, Jim has previously supported operations in Afghanistan and completed a 9 month deployment with the Combined Maritime Force, in Bahrain. Reservists such as Lt Cdr ‘Nick’ Carter, and Lt Tom Pinfold, Media specialists, joined later in the deployment to provide an additional support for a two week period.
Amongst the newest Reservists on HMS Albion, gaining experience for their STOM B qualifying course, are Sub Lieutenants Sam Beardmore, aged 25, Michael Greatorax, 25, and Julian Fairclough, 38, from the Amphibious Warfare specialisation.
Julian, a Civil Servant in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said “I enjoy the challenge of doing something different and being part of a close knit team. My fiancée doesn’t enjoy me being away but she supports what I do.” Julian is due to be married in September.
Winston Churchill said, ‘The Reservist is twice the citizen’.
