A member of East Anglia RFCA has been appointed to Professor of Veterans & Families Studies at the Veterans & Families Research Hub, part of the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research at Anglia Ruskin University.
Wing Commander Mike Almond QVRM AE MRAeS DM FRCP VR was invited to apply for the post based on his clinical research background, his experience as a Reservist and his involvement with the Veterans Advisory Pensions Committee.
Mike also sits on the Essex County Council Civilian Military Partnership Board and the steering committee of the Colchester TiLS service which eases the transition of regular serving personnel with mental health problems into the community and the NHS.
Alex Cooper, Director of Forces in Mind Trust Research Centre at ARU said: “We’re very excited to welcome Mike to the FIMT Research Centre. He brings with him huge experience as an academic of note, as a clinical doctor and an active reservist.
The Veterans & Families Research Hub was created as part of the Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research at ARU.
In 2017 the FiMT sponsored the university to run the Hub to carry out research; ongoing projects include translating the findings of recent research commissioned by FiMT into plain language insights that can be practically applied and understood by organisations that support veterans and their families.
The Hub is hosting its inaugural annual research conference on 11th October at which delegates can discuss the challenges and opportunities impacting on research into veterans and their families from the perspectives of academics, policy makers and service providers. Tickets can be booked at: https://www.vfrhub.com/event/forces-mind-trust-research-conference/
Mike has also been a Reservist since 1977. His most recent deployment is this summer to South Sudan. He has three current reservist roles: SO1 Med Reserves, which is designed to support the policy, manning and deployment of the RAF Reserves medical component. Secondly as a Consultant at RAF Henlow in the Aviation Medical Clinical Service seeing aircrew with medical problems with the aim to keep them flying. Thirdly, supporting the RAF Aeromedical Service of TMW (Tactical Medical Wing) at RAF Brize Norton.
He’s been mobilised four times, serving on operations in the Gulf twice as an aeromedical evacuation officer and in Afghanistan as a physician in Camp Bastion. As OC 4626 Sqn then based at RAF Lyneham, Mike was a member of the local RFCA board. After having left that Sqn and whilst living in Essex as Reservist, he kept in contact with the RFCA and offered to represent the RAuxAF at county level.
We’re very grateful to Mike for being a East Anglia RFCA member, aiding us in our efforts to support the wellbeing of veterans and their families in the region. He said: “The RFCA helps veterans and families by ensuring the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant is upheld in the local community, including local government, health care providers and local business.”