# BWSMAGAZINE
A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP?
We sat down with Stephanie Jackman, Deputy Commander( Reserves) of HQ 51 Infantry Brigade and HQ Scotland to discuss her life, career and the importance of a good night’ s sleep.
The British Army has always been a part of Stephanie’ s life. Her father was a Major in the Army and growing up she moved around with the family. Born in Northumberland, she attended an all girls school in Suffolk, then studied at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology and is now settled in a small village near Biggar in South Lanarkshire.
With her father pushing for her to join the army she rebelled against it as a young woman, wanting to try other things. Previous jobs included working for a Seed Merchant, in recruitment consulting, in the mobile phone industry( before the boom), before settling on the Electricity Industry – none of which really challenging her quite sufficiently.
That all changed when an unexpected run in with a Territorial Army( TA) presentation whilst out on a hen night and the promise of a free beer, meant that the next day she was on a minibus to an assessment centre for selection to be an officer. This was at aged 25, slightly older than the usual new recruit!
A passion for travel coupled with a love of people meant that the very career she had rallied against, turned out to be the perfect one for her. In the 28 years she has been a part of the Army, she has excelled during her career and recently received an MBE in 2017 for her work on reviewing career management policy for Army Reserves.
My entire life is made up of things I never expected I would do
While talking to Stephanie, her enthusiasm comes through in everything she does especially the changes that she can make to help inspire others and build their confidence. She sings the praises of the Army Cadets, the British Army’ s Youth Organisation, demonstrating her firm belief that incorporating a bit of discipline, routine and fun into a child’ s life is what makes a positive difference to them and she sees this regularly at first hand. Some Cadets have even saved lives in the Community due to the First Aid training they have received.
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