My Time in the Army Reserves by Vivian Maiden

When leaving school, I thought about either nursing or joining the Army. The Army recruitment advised "complete your nurse training then you can apply for a commission", which I did. During my nurse training I heard about the Territorial Army (TA), thought that sounded a good idea, and I could decide later if I really wanted to join the regulars.

My first annual camp

I Commissioned in Sept 1985, Lt Maiden. I was offered a post with a General Hospital, or the Ambulance train and I chose hospital, as I get travel sickness! I was posted to 304 City of Glasgow General Hospital (V), an 800 bedded hospital. In May 1986 I attended the Junior Officer course at the QATC, Royal Pavilion, under the care of Major Marsh. A couple of months later I was in Germany on my first annual camp with 304 General Hospital (V).

I looked in to joining the regulars a couple of times, the first was after I was promoted to Captain. I was told at the recruitment office I would have another year before I could be a Captain in the regulars, so decided I would give myself one year to get promoted in the NHS, which I did, becoming Deputy Ward Sister. The second time was after working at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for two weeks in 1988, then the following year they came out to do a Hospex with us in Germany.  When I asked how often they did this, many said this was their first time. We completed Hospex every three years. It was then I decided I had the best of both worlds being in the TA.

In 1993, 304 Gen Hospital, 308 Evacuation Hospital, mental health and some other specialist teams merged to become 306 Field Hospital (V) a 200 bedded hospital.

In 2001, it was the year of the USA 9/11 terrorist event.  I had been selected to go on Exercise Saif Sareer 2 with 22 Field Hospital in the October. We reported to 22 Field Hospital HQ and when we were driven out of the camp, a single piper piped us out, I seriously wondered if we were going to Oman or somewhere else! Rest assured we did go on Exercise Saif Sereer, working in the hospital.

In 2002, 306 Field Hospital was involved in another large national exercise, Exercise Log Viper.  A small team and I amalgamated with 22 Field Hospital and for a week I became Matron of 22.

In January 2003 I received my call up papers asking me to report to Chilwell. By the time I received the papers, I had two weeks to sort my life and house out as I did not know when I would be returning. I had been called up to deploy with 33 Field Hospital on OP TELIC 1 as a ward team leader. We started in Camp Coyote in Kuwait where we built the tented hospital. Many TA members were then transferred to Iraq to join 34 Field Hospital who were running the hospital at Basara.

My space at Camp Coyote

I also deployed on OP HERRICK 12B in 2010 as Paediatric lead and Health Care Governance Officer for 34 Field Hospital. It was an interesting post which I loved. It was a total contrast to being deployed on OP TELIC 1 from the accommodation, hospital, and types of patients we received.

In 2008 I was promoted to Lt Col as OC of the Allied Health Professionals Sqn and then subsequent OC posts. In Feb 2017 I became 2IC for the Regiment followed in April 2017 acting CO for the Unit until the new CO took over in Dec 2017. It was a great experience, thanks to an excellent Command team supporting me.

I have now come to the end of my career and after 36yrs and 344 days, I hung up my boots and retired from the Army in August 2022. Throughout my career the key thing that kept me in was friendship. I have friends scattered throughout the UK.  A small group of us became friends on OP TELIC 1, we have met up for a weekend every year since, (except for 2020 due to the Covid pandemic). Next year will be our 20th anniversary.

Lt Col (Rtd) Vivien Maiden