Armed Forces Week is always a moment of pride for us; a chance to pause, reflect, and recognise the extraordinary contribution of the UK’s serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and cadet force volunteers. As a fire and rescue service that has proudly held the Gold Award under the Armed Forces Covenant since 2022, our commitment goes far beyond a badge. It’s woven into how we work, how we recruit, and how we support our communities every day.
Standing Proudly With Our Armed Forces
Our Covenant pledge is simple: we will ensure that those who serve, or have served, are treated with fairness, respect, and understanding. That commitment shows up in several practical ways:
- Walk‑in support sessions – We host regular drop‑in sessions at two of our fire stations, West Ashland & Marlow, offering a welcoming space for veterans to access guidance and navigate support services. These sessions are designed to make sure no one has to search alone for the help they need.
- Guaranteed interviews – Any applicant from the Armed Forces community who meets the essential criteria for a role with us is guaranteed an interview. It’s one of the ways we recognise the exceptional skills, discipline, and leadership that service personnel bring.
- Additional leave for reservists and cadet force volunteers – We know the value of reservists and adult cadet force volunteers, so we provide extra paid leave to support their training and duties. Their contribution strengthens both national resilience and our own organisation.
Lee Carson, Armed Forces Lead, shared;
“Supporting our Armed Forces community is something we are incredibly proud of. The values, discipline and commitment shown by those who serve are the same qualities we rely on in the fire and rescue service. Having served myself, I am especially pleased to champion this relationship with the Forces.”
Marking Armed Forces Week in Our Communities
To celebrate this year’s Armed Forces Week, our teams proudly attended two local flag raising ceremonies in Milton Keynes and Aylesbury. Our connection with local residents, veterans’ groups, and community organisations is important to us. Supporting these events reinforces our shared values of service, duty, and unity.
On 27 June, Armed Forces Day, we will be raising the Armed Forces flag across several of our fire stations. It’s a visible reminder of our ongoing commitment and a tribute to the men and women who protect our nation.
We remain dedicated to strengthening our support, deepening our partnerships, and ensuring that every member of the Armed Forces community feels valued; not just this week, but every week of the year. If you know someone who may wish to attend one of our Walk In sessions, they are hosted monthly at West Ashland Fire Station on the third Wednesday of each month and Marlow Fire Station on the last Thursday of each month.
