To celebrate Reserves Day 2026 (Wednesday 24th June) we’re sharing the experiences of reservists serving in our region.
Introducing Air Specialist (Class 2) (AS2) Skinner, a Reservist RAF Regiment Gunner based at RAF Marham.
What is your role as a reservist?
As a Gunner in the RAF Regiment, my role centres on force protection – defending air assets and operating in potentially challenging environments. It involves working as part of a disciplined, close-knit team to secure locations, conduct patrols, and respond to potential threats. It’s a demanding but rewarding role that requires resilience, teamwork and the ability to adapt under pressure.
What inspired you to join?
I spent much of my childhood on RAF bases, as both of my parents served full-time. When I reached school leaving age, I had the urge to join myself, but wasn’t sure if it was the right path at the time.
I’d always felt like I’d missed the opportunity, until I discovered more about the reserves. Realising I could still serve alongside my civilian career gave me the push I needed, and I decided to give it a go.
What is your day job, and how do you balance it with your reserve service?
In my civilian role, I’m a Cybersecurity Technical Consultant. Day-to-day, I work with organisations to improve their cybersecurity posture – helping them protect against a wide range of threats. My focus is on ensuring they are not only well protected, but also able to respond effectively and recover quickly if the worst happens.
Balancing this with reserve service requires discipline, good planning, and clear communication, but it’s very achievable. Having the support of my employer makes a big difference and allows me to commit fully to both roles.
While my cybersecurity knowledge doesn’t directly translate into my role as an RAF Regiment Gunner, the skills I’ve developed through service – such as resilience, teamwork, leadership, and the ability to perform under pressure – have had a real positive impact on my civilian career.
What has been the highlight of being a reservist so far?
I’ve been able to do things you’d never experience in a typical civilian career. It’s still early days for me, but if I had to pick one highlight, it would be the opportunity to work with weapons – something completely outside my normal day-to-day role.
Another major highlight has been the people. There’s a real sense of camaraderie and the opportunity to operate as part of a close-knit team in demanding environments, and you build strong bonds very quickly.
There’s also a genuine sense of achievement in pushing yourself physically and mentally, and in contributing to something bigger than yourself.
What would you say to someone who is considering joining the reserves?
If you’re considering it, I’d encourage you to take that first step. You don’t need to have everything figured out or be at peak fitness from day one – I certainly wasn’t! You just need the right mindset and a willingness to challenge yourself.
If it’s taught me anything, it’s that it’s not too late to join. It’s been a chance to push myself outside my comfort zone and do things I never would have experienced otherwise – and that’s something I’d recommend to anyone.
Thank you to AS2 Skinner, on Reserves Day 2026, for representing the RAF Reserve in East Anglia!
For more information about joining the RAF Reserves, visit the RAF website.
