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Reconnecting Britain with its Armed Forces

1st February 2011

Private Dave Hill, of 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, sustained an injury to his leg whilst in Afghanistan in 2007 and was in recovery for two years. During this period, he spent time at the Armed Forces Career Office in Colchester, went skiing with "Battle Back" in Bavaria and spent 11 months on an internship with Skill Force. All of this gave him the time, space and personal confidence to consider his long-term future, as it was apparent that his prospects with the Army were limited by his injury.

From an early age, Dave had been interested in Large Good Vehicle (LGV) driving, but hadn't realised it was an option until he met an ex-driver who told him that many trucks now have automatic gearboxes. Working with his Welfare Officer, Capt. Lee Jay, Dave investigated local haulage companies in Suffolk, with the objectives of increasing his knowledge of the industry and to confirm whether driving was the right career option for him.

Following a successful meeting with Chris Abbott, the Operations Manager at James Kemball Limited, Dave started his placement in September 2010. He initially "rode shotgun" with other drivers to gain experience and familiarise himself with practices and procedures, received on-the-job training and spent three weeks driving different makes and models of LGV to assess the impact of his injury on a day-to-day basis. Dave then moved to driving on his own, spending nights away (sleeping in his truck), and building up his general experience.

Dave said, "everything I've done since being injured has helped me prepare for the future. Rather than going out there with nothing behind me, I've been able to explore my options and adjust to a normal life. It's great that I've had this placement opportunity."

Chris Abbott commented, "Dave appears to be coping well with our requirements, he is enjoying the role, and will be offered permanent employment at the end of his placement."

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