South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation
Trust, (SECAmb), is committing to further strengthening its
relationship with the armed forces.

Many SECAmb staff have previously been employed as military
personnel or continue to serve in a voluntary capacity.

The Trust is reaffirming its commitment to work closely with the
sector as the country this week marks Armed Forces Week.

SECAmb signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant in November last
year. The covenant is a commitment to those who serve or who have
served in the armed forces and their families and outlines how the
Trust will support them, officially, as a military-friendly
employer.

The commitments set out in the covenant include promoting SECAmb
as an armed forces-friendly organisation, seeking the employment of
veterans young and old and endeavoring to offer flexibility in
granting leave for service spouses and partners before, during and
after a partner’s deployment.

Last week SECAmb attended an event in Crawley organised by the
South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (SERFCA).

The briefing event is one of five held across the region each
year with last week’s event focusing on the armed forces approach
to diversity, youth and inclusion.

SECAmb Executive Director of Operations Joe Garcia said: “I was
very pleased that we signed the Armed Forces Covenant to
demonstrate our commitment to supporting and linking up with all
sections of the military. This was an important official step to
help ensure that we continue to strengthen this important
relationship.

“In this Armed Forces Week I would like to thank all our staff,
volunteers and their families and friends who have links to the
armed forces. Having served myself prior to my career in the
ambulance service, I would encourage others to consider, if they
are due to end their forces career, whether the ambulance service
could be the right next step for them.”

To read more about the covenant visit the Trust’s website
here:

http://www.secamb.nhs.uk/about_us/armed_forces_covenant.aspx

Armed Forces Day takes place on Saturday 29 June. To find out
more including about local events visit https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/