Steven's Story

Joining the military and serving in the Royal Signals

Steve was focused on joining the military from an early age and following in his father's footsteps.

At 16 he moved to Bradford to join the British Army.

"I was very isolated in Bradford, but I’d always had a military career in mind and that became the focus.

"Growing up in Wiltshire I used to watch the Hercules landing at Salisbury Plain.

"Royal Signals has been something of a family trade – my father, uncle and cousin Sean all served with them."

How service impacted Steve's life at home

As a Radio and Systems Operator, he travelled widely for exercises to locations including Poland, Canada and Germany.

But having married at an early age, the amount of time he spent away from home began to impact his relationship.

"I married very young and because I was away a lot, it wasn’t working out and it caused a lot of stress.

"I left the Army to see if I could resolve things, but the relationship fell apart."

Steve served for six years in the Royal Signals before the pressure of a failing, long-distance relationship forced him to quit the military.

The challenges of transitioning to civilian life

Steve considered going back into the Armed Forces but eventually decided to try and build a career outside of the military.

Having served in the Army for over six years, he found this transition difficult at times.

"I was at a loose end when I left the Army and found the transition to Civvy Street quite a challenge at first.

"I did security and bar work, but I had been looking at other options and found out that there was a high demand for truck drivers, so I approached the RBL for help.“

Getting support finding a new job from the Royal British Legion

After approaching the Royal British Legion for support, we helped Steve explore a career in truck driving and get a HGV licence, before he secured a role with a local authority.

"The RBL paid for my entire course of HGV driving lessons.

"But In the end, I got a job with the local authority, so although I don't use the qualification for my work now, it was great to know RBL were there for me at a time when I needed them."

Finding a job can be one of the hardest parts of leaving the Armed Forces.

Whether there’s a need for careers advice, to retrain, to set up a business or to find a job, RBL offers practical support and help accessing specialist employment services.

Giving back through the Poppy Appeal

Having received employment support from RBL, Steven volunteered as a collector for the Poppy Appeal and is regularly joined by his partner, Kimberley, and their six-year-old daughter, Ivy.

" I am a collector for the Poppy Appeal because I really felt I wanted to give something back." says Steve.

"As a family, we love to collect for the Poppy Appeal," adds Kimberley.

"We collect at Tesco, and Ivy loves setting up the stall. This year she wants to set one up at school, too, and she’s inspired some of the other pupils to get involved.

"Whenever I’m on the poppy stall I try to encourage younger generations who maybe don’t feel a strong connection to the Armed Forces community. My dad and my grandfathers all served, right across the three services.”