A NEW role has been created to improve engagement between the reserve forces and cadets and employers and local communities.

The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) for Yorkshire and the Humber, which supports the wellbeing of the region’s reserves and cadets, has appointed Zena Wynn-Jones, 43, as its head of engagement for the organisation.

She joins the senior management team, based at the association’s York headquarters, with responsibility for running the communications and employer engagement teams.

The additional role and resources being invested in engagement by the RFCA has come about in part as a response to the Ministry of Defence’s need to recruit and retain military reservists, which are civilians who volunteer in their spare time to become fully trained military personnel.

To sustain a reserve force of the number the ministry has recognised the importance of having the support of employers and the wider community.

Similarly the cadet movement which also relies on volunteers, benefits from the support of adult volunteers’ employers and the wider community.

Ms Wynn-Jones, who lives in York, said: “Reservists are not only intrinsic to our country’s defence, they also often make very good employees.

“Training they receive in their military jobs enhances their leadership, communication and team working, among many other skills, and vice versa the military can gain from specialist civilian skills – such as IT, engineering and medical services.

“But there are still too few employers aware of the benefits reservists and cadet volunteers can bring to the workplace, and to society as a whole.

“I’m delighted to be taking on this new role and looking forward to spreading the message that employing reservists and cadet volunteers is good for business and good for society.”

Ms Wynn-Jones previously served as an officer in the Royal Navy for 18 years, during which time her deployments included disaster relief on the island of Montserrat and Iraqi anti-air operations, as well as engagement roles closer to home, before joining the RFCA seven years ago as its head of communications.

Anyone who would like to find out more about the benefits reservists and cadets can bring, should contact the RFCA on 01904 623081.