Rotherham student dons her uniform to take part in military training

A NURSING student swapped clean wards for a muddy training ground when she joined British and Dutch officer cadets on a demanding exercise.

Jess Beaumont (21), a second-year adult nursing student from Rotherham at the University of Sheffield, is a member of the University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC) and this summer took part in Exercise Fallowlands Resolve in the Netherlands.

The exercise brought together more than 200 British officer cadets and 130 Dutch cadets from Defensity College for two weeks of demanding military training.

Officer cadets trained in mixed British and Dutch platoons throughout the exercise which saw Dutch instructors deliver training in live firing, urban operations, trench warfare, and woodland clearance.

During the exercise, cadets carried out platoon attacks in trench systems, casualty evacuation drills, and urban operations in a purpose-built training village.

These activities tested their ability to communicate, make decisions and lead under pressure.

Jess said that the exercise provided an opportunity to put into practice the skills she has been developing through the UOTC and her university studies.

She said: “During the exercise, I was responsible for leading a section and working closely with our Dutch counterparts.

“It was rewarding to put the leadership skills we had learned during training into practice.

“Things do not always go exactly as planned, but that’s where you learn the most.

“You have to adapt, communicate and work together to solve problems, and that’s something I’ll definitely take forward into my nursing career.”

Jess joined the UOTC in her first year after discovering it at a Freshers’ Fair.

She said: “I first came across the UOTC at a Freshers’ Fair and started chatting to one of the soldiers on the stand.

“I’d always been interested in the military and wanted to explore how I could combine that interest with my career ambitions.

“The experience gives you valuable skills and practical experience that are useful wherever you end up working, including in the NHS.

“You learn how to work with different people, communicate clearly and stay calm under pressure.

“Those are all skills that are important in nursing.”

Although she has not yet decided whether to pursue a military career after graduation, Jess says joining the UOTC has already proved worthwhile.

“I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do after university,” she said.

“I might join the Army Reserve, I might join the Regular Army, or I might concentrate entirely on a civilian career.

“Whatever I decide, the UOTC has been a fantastic experience.

“It gives you opportunities to challenge yourself, build your confidence and develop skills that will help throughout your career.”

Lt Col Simon Pollitt, commanding officer of the Yorkshire Officers' Training Regiment, said: “Our mandate is leadership development.

“University is a unique period in a person’s life, a time when young people are discovering who they want to be.

“Alongside their studies, we provide an opportunity for them to explore what kind of leader they want to become, challenging themselves, working with others and developing skills that will benefit them throughout their careers and lives.

“I am incredibly proud of how the students have come together as a team.

“The skills, resilience and leadership qualities we have seen give me great confidence for their future.”