WHEN Karen Thomson left Teesdale School in 1991, she walked into the Army careers office in Darlington and never looked back.
Now Major Thomson, she has come home. She is the new community engagement officer based at Catterick Garrison. She is assigned to 4 Brigade Light Combat Team & Headquarters North East.
In the intervening years, she has served all over the world as a regular and reserve soldier.
She has been involved in operations and adventurous training in places including Nepal, Gibraltar, Germany, Poland, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kosovo, Iraq, France, America and Kenya.
She said: “I am thrilled to be back home. When I left school I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I walked into the Army careers office and I’ve never looked back.”
She initially trained as a linguist at the Army Apprentices College in Harrogate and then as an officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.
The British Army is the largest apprenticeship employer in the UK, offering 200-plus opportunities in a wide variety of roles, from cyber experts to chefs, engineers and veterinary technicians.
Major Thomson added: “The Army is a fantastic employer; I would not have had similar opportunities or such a varied career path anywhere else. I would encourage all young people to consider a career in the Army. We work hard but we play hard too, and there are endless opportunities for education, travel and sport.”
There are Army-organised events throughout the year. To find out more, get in touch https://lintr.ee/army_engage
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