Staff Sergeant Angelique James joined the Army in 2003 from Jamaica after a friend recommended it as a career.
A big draw for her was the opportunity to play sport: “I have played several sports in the Army but basketball has been the main one. We won the Army Championships in 2008 and I even met my husband through military basketball!”
It has not all been plain sailing though – Staff Sergeant James has not played basketball for the Army since 2016 due to a mixture of parental leave and injury. “I suffered a hip injury and began to worry I might be discharged, but the Army’s healthcare and rehabilitation support got me back on track.”
Military rehabilitation courses are usually residential. A service person is taken through a dedicated programme of training alongside the provision of expert medical care to provide a focus solely on their health rather than trying to juggle their day job with getting back to full fitness.
Even when back at her unit, Staff Sergeant James felt supported: “I had great support from work. The Army physios and doctors enabled me to get to a place of recovery and I’m now pain-free.”
Staff Sergeant James now works in helping units maintain their injured soldiers’ capabilities and support them back to fitness. “I run the Defence Recovery Education Training course, where subject matter experts teach commanders how to manage an injured soldier from day one, so they know what to do before a soldier becomes injured.”
As she reflects on two decades of service, Staff Sergeant James aims to be promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) and further her military career.
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Army Engagement: https://jobs.army.mod.uk/engage/