National Inclusion Week: Major Mandy Islam
Major Mandy Islam, Staff Officer (SO2) for the ‘Defence People with Significant Illness’ project shares her thoughts on inclusion within defence.
I have been undergoing treatment for cancer for the best part of 4.5 years and I am still actively employed in my place of duty, continuing with a career that I feel is worthwhile, and hopefully leading to promotions that suit my talents and potential.
I joined the army when I was 16 years old. Before that I was an apprentice Hairdresser and Beauty Therapist — so joining the Army was a huge change, swapping max factor for cam cream and lovely girly dresses for a one size fits all uniform. Nevertheless, it has served me very well and I am now 22 years into a very awesome career.
My current role is really quite fast. It encompasses everything from looking internally — how can we write policy that best supports the Armed Forces and its people who have chronic conditions and/or any form of disability.
I am also the chair of defences CANDID (Chronic Conditions and Disability in Defence) network. The network is there to provide support to members of the UK Armed Forces and members of the service family who may be experiencing a chronic condition — so a life limiting illness, a life changing illness or disability. We also support those people who are caring for either someone in the service with one of those conditions and service personnel who perhaps have someone within the family with one of those conditions.
My favourite thing about the Armed Forces to date, has got to be the job I’m in now. Looking at how we can support people with life changing/ life limiting conditions and carers is hugely fulfilling. It is diversity an inclusion at its core. Recognising people for who they are in their entirety and allowing them to come to work in their whole selves.
We do not care where someone is from, we don’t care what they look like and we don’t care whether there is a challenge, perceived, real or otherwise. We are a family who really want to bring people in to be the best that they can be and to deliver in support of the bigger team. We are there because we believe in the military family.
I think one of the big things from that for me is the whole thing about bringing you whole self to work. Cancer is part of my life. I have a life changing, potentially life limiting illness, but I am not the only person. If I were to share anything, it’s a case of, the Armed Forces will support you when you are in a situation like this and I suppose I am walking proof of that.
