Role: Second In Command For The Army Recuitment Team
Company: The Army
Track Record: Sergeant Lindsey Deal joined the army in May 1997 and completed her basic training at the Army Apprentice College, Arborfield. She is a communication system operator in the Royal Signals, having been deployed on operations to Kosovo and Iraq
Tell us about your day:
6.30am:
“Mornings in my household are pretty manic so the routine definitely needs to be timed to military precision. I have a little girl who is two and half-years-old so mornings consist of getting her ready, fed and then dropping her off at nursery for 7.30am,” says Sergeant Lindsey Deal.
7.35am:
“I live in Lisburn and commute to Belfast and depending on traffic, I generally arrive in the office for around 8.15am. This gives me a few minutes to gather myself before the workday begins.
8.30am:
“We kick off our morning with a parade, check everyone is in attendance and then start the morning’s physical activity. This normally consists of a 45-60 minute run or circuit training and once we’re finished, we have an hour or so to get showered and have a break before starting into work.
10.30am-5.30pm:
“Due to the nature of the job, I may be needed or situated throughout any of the army offices. For example, this week I am acting as female cover for a course in Ballykinler so I am staying at the barracks while my husband looks after our daughter.
“A typical day normally consists of managing the daily tasking of the 22 soldiers within the Army Recruitment Team. I make sure all the soldiers have the correct educational qualifications and enrol them on to courses in the Army Education Centre so they can progress and enhance their personnel development.
“I am also responsible for organising a range of training and personal development courses. We offer courses such as a nine-day pre-training course for those entering the army and a five-day work experience course for students, in Ballykinler Barracks.
“A lot of students or potential recruits have never spent time away from home so the courses are a great way to introduce them to life in the army and what is expected of them. The courses are intense and include day-to-day activities such as the shotgun range, NATO obstacle course, indoor dismounted close combat trainer range, team building exercises, physical training and a basic 24 hour exercise sleeping out in the field.
“Part of my job is to ensure all the appropriate paperwork has been filed and that the accommodation, food and facilities have been scheduled – so effective time management and organisational skills are definitely the key to a successful day.
Next week Sergeant Deal is part of the team assisting with the Armed Forces Careers Exhibition at Kinnegar Barracks, Holywood. The exhibition, which takes place on October 13 and 14, will showcase the variety of full and spare time career options the Army, Navy and RAF have to offer, both as an Officer and as a Soldier.
“The careers exhibition in October is a great way for those interested to get an insight into our world and find out about the many career paths the Armed Forces have to offer,” she says. “For me, there was never any doubt what career I would go into – from the age of 12, I always knew I wanted to go into the army. I don’t know what it was that initially attracted me to the role but I just couldn’t picture myself doing anything else.
“Two days are never the same and still after years in service, the fast paced, ever-changing environment keeps me on my toes!”
5.30pm:
“If I’m lucky, most days I would be already on my way to pick my little one up from nursery and if traffic’s on my side I should be home by 6pm.
6.00pm:
“Now the evening madness begins! My husband and I get our daughter fed, bathed and put her to bed – and as every parent will know, this isn’t as easy as it sounds.
9.00pm:
“Once the bedtime struggle is over, I pack our bags, get everything ready for the following day and then it’s time to unwind. After catching up on each other’s day, we watch a bit of TV or if nothing’s on, listen to music.
11.00pm:
“Finally, if I’m not too tired, I try to read a bit of my book before I surrender to sleep.”