Assessor Joins the Army Reserves After Inspiration from College’s Armed Forces Covenant Signing
Bournemouth and Poole College’s signing of the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2025 has had a profound impact on one of its own staff members. For Electrical Assessor, Nathan Wood, the event served as a catalyst for his decision to re-join the British Army – this time as an Army Reservist.
Prior to joining the college, Nathan completed his GCSEs and started his working career at Sainsbury’s. He then joined the British Army at 18 as a Royal Engineer, where his trade was as a communications specialist, serving for four years. During this time, he volunteered for the all-arms commando course, where he successfully passed arduous training to earn the green beret and commando dagger. Following his military service, he worked in security and later trained as an Electrical Apprentice in 2014. Having qualified as an electrician, he returned to Bournemouth and Poole College as an Assessor and now works alongside some of his former lecturers.
Nathan said: “I have been inspired to join the Army Reserves because I want to contribute meaningfully to a mission larger than myself while maintaining my civilian career. I am drawn to the sense of camaraderie, service, and resilience that the Army embodies, and I believe the Reserves provide the ideal balance between serving my country and continuing to grow personally and professionally. By joining, I hope to challenge myself, build valuable experience, and make a positive impact through dedicated service and feel it is my duty to help for those who are unable too.”
Shortly after the Covenant signing, Nathan submitted his application to join his local reserve unit, 6 Rifles Reserve Unit on Wallisdown Road. He completed the required, cognitive tests and medicals, followed by a weekend selection at Pirbright, near Fleet in Hampshire. This involved a fitness test, teambuilding exercises, and a thorough medical.
On completion of his training session, Nathan was invited to Dorchester Reserve Camp to undertake his ‘Attestation’ pledge, He said: “One good thing was they let me keep my old service number and I also did my ‘Oath of Allegiance’. Remembrance Day this year was very poignant for me and the day that I took my Attestation.” He adds, that: “I still have some distance learning to do. My Phase 1 Training is provisionally booked for March 2026 to do basic Soldiering. This involves weapon handling tests on the rifle, patrolling, soldering, marching, and watch/guard duties. After that, I will go on to do advanced Soldiering training. The Battle camp is a solid course for two weeks held at one of the training areas for the Army, and once I’ve passed that, I’d then officially be a member of the platoon.”
If Nathan progresses further in his role in the Reserves, he’d be interested in training as a part of the mortar crew, GPMG (General purpose machine gunner), and eventually a cadre to get promoted. He said, “It’s early days but we’ll see what’s available to and grab any opportunity I can to enhance my skills.”
Nathan said of joining the Reserves: “I feel really proud to be a part of the Army Reserves, my fitness tests and my cognitive tests came out really well. I achieved the max they let you go to which is 9.9 on the bleep test at Pirbright which is the requirement to join the parachute regiment. (Nice to know I’ve still got it.) They recently changed it to a 2km run instead of the bleep test. I also scored 68 on the cognitive test and a score of above 60 enables you to get any job within the Army which is very pleasing. The signing of the Covenant really kickstarted this, and it’s given me fresh enthusiasm for all that the Army do.”
