Reserves Day 2019: SAC Lee Jackson’s story
I joined the Fire Service in 1993 and have attended many incidents, gaining a vast amount of operational experience and range of qualifications throughout my career. I currently hold the rank of Watch Manager, in charge of the blue watch at Ilford Fire Station in east London.
I am responsible for incident command, team management, training and development, creating partnerships and educating the public and businesses within the community.
I joined the RAF Regiment Reserve six years ago. I wanted a new challenge, a release from work, and felt my life experience and the skills I have learnt in the Fire Service could be used within the various situations the regiment finds itself in today.
I am currently a TRIM (Trauma Risk Management) Team Leader, training to become a TRIM instructor for the RAF. I have deployed on operations to the Middle East and exercises within the same region, flown in a Typhoon, as well as working closely with my regular counterparts on many occasions.
Both vocations benefit from the skill sets I have learnt in the other. Being a reservist makes me a better leader within the Fire Service; likewise my role as a watch manager helps me aid and develop the new Gunners within our squadron. Both jobs humble me and make me realise what I have in my life, and how bad the world really can be.
I am also a resettlement point of contact for regular service personnel wishing to pursue a career within the Fire Service when they leave. This is something I have set up locally with regular squadrons I work with, and is my way of giving something back to the service.
I am extremely proud of both jobs I do, the teams I work for and the opportunities they have given me, developing me as a person, a Dad and employee, but none of this would be achievable without the support of my family and the London Fire Brigade, to which I am truly grateful.
