Reservist swaps recruitment job for operational tour – plus a pool – in Cyprus
A British Army recruiter has swapped job fairs and office work for an operational tour with the United Nations in Cyprus.
Corporal Tinker said the Op Tosca deployment was very different to his job back home in Yorkshire.
The reservist with 8th Battalion, The Rifles ordinarily works as a recruiter helping people join the Army, but now commands other British peacekeepers patrolling the Green Line buffer zone.
"It definitely throws you out of your routine," Cpl Tinker told BFBS Forces News.
"I've been a reservist for 15 years. I've done operational tours before so it's a bit of an old hat for me."
But this particular deployment offered something a bit different.
"It's the first time on an operational tour I've had a swimming pool," he said. "It's very nice in this heat."
Doctors, police officers and retail workers
The 33-year-old section commander said deploying with the Army was a new experience for most of the unit – which comes with a big responsibility.
"I've got young riflemen and privates going on patrol now and it's just two of them, so they're responsible for the patrol," he explained.
Around 220 personnel have deployed with 8 Rifles for Op Tosca 45, including reservists from across 19th Light Brigade including 2 Royal Irish, 6 Scots and 3 Royal Anglian.
"We're really excited to be here," said Lieutenant Colonel Neil Watson, Commanding Officer 8 Rifles.
"We've got people from a broad range of professions, from a doctor general practitioner to police officers, prison officers, people that work in retail.
"It gives them the opportunity to experience life as a regular soldier."
Taking over Op Tosca
The Rifles took over Sector 2 from 39 Engineer Regiment with a simple flag-raising ceremony, plus a handshake between the commanding officers symbolising the transfer of authority.
The deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean is a long-standing British commitment to preserve peace on the island.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus has spent 60 years preventing more fighting between Turkish and Greek Cypriots.
"The bread and butter of this operation is maintaining military stability," said Captain Freddie James, 8 Rifles' adjutant.
"That'll involve the reservists of all ages and ranks being out on patrol in the buffer zone and making sure there's no military advantage being gained on either side."
It's the first time the regular officer has deployed with soldiers from the Army Reserve.
"Deployments are rarer and rarer in the modern British Army," said the 28-year-old from Ilkley in West Yorkshire.
"I'm really happy to be able to come out here and work alongside reservists."
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