Darren Knight is one of three Defence Relationship Managers (DRM) for the West Midland RFCA (WM RFCA). Darren has worked for the WM RFCA for two years. His role consists of building relationships between industry and Defence.
“One of the first steps in establishing that relationship is through the Armed Forces Covenant, which is one of the main areas I work on. Another key part of my role is supporting employers who employ members of the Armed Forces community.”
For Darren, Armed Forces Day is all about celebration. We all learn from an early age that Remembrance is about honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country and the values we stand for. Armed Forces Day, however, is more about celebration – raising awareness, showing appreciation, and recognising those who are currently serving, particularly those on active duty.
20 Years In The Army
Before his civilian career, Darren served in the Army for more than 20 years.
“It’s been both an honour and a source of pride. I started as a Cadet and joined the Army at the age of 16 through the Junior Entry scheme. I completed just under 24 years of full-time service, and when you include my 17 years as a Reservist, the entire journey has been one of honour and pride. For me, it has been an absolute privilege. My service has made me the person I am today – loyal, hardworking, dedicated and, perhaps most importantly, humble.”
There are many different types of Reservists. Some are former Regular personnel with reserve recall liability, but what we celebrate during Armed Forces Day and Armed Forces Week are those who are actively serving. Reservists play a full part in that.
The UK Armed Forces maintain a relatively small Regular force, so active Reservists are essential in supporting their Regular counterparts. Although they serve part-time, they undertake the same training and can be mobilised to perform the same roles, participate in the same exercises, and deploy on the same operations as Regular personnel.
“Because Reservists serve part-time, they also need full-time employment. When we talk about employers, we’re talking about organisations that employ Reservists, but also service leavers, veterans, military families, strategic Reservists, and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, all of whom play a vital role within the wider Armed Forces community.”
“That’s why supportive employers are so important. Good support starts with having policies in place that recognise and assist these individuals. At the most basic level, when an organisation signs the Armed Forces Covenant, it pledges to support the Armed Forces community. This could include offering additional leave for Reservists or providing flexibility for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers so they can carry out their volunteering commitments.”
The Employer Recognition Scheme
As organisations progress through the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), which is Defence’s way of recognising employers that go above and beyond, they build on these commitments. This might include offering up to 10 days of paid leave for active Reservists to complete their annual training commitments, or providing greater flexibility for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers around their work responsibilities.
Employers gain access to highly disciplined individuals with strong leadership skills.
“As someone who left the Regular Army 17 years ago, I didn’t fully appreciate the value of leadership in civilian employment until I experienced workplaces where managers had little formal leadership training and had simply learned through experience.”
Members of the Armed Forces community bring proven leadership qualities.
“One of the standout attributes for me is their ability to adapt and perform during periods of change. They are accustomed to operating in complex and demanding environments, which makes them resilient and highly effective when facing uncertainty. Another key quality is their moral and physical courage.”
Darren works with major organisations that directly support Defence, but also engage with hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses that demonstrate their support through the Armed Forces Covenant and the Employer Recognition Scheme.
“It is an absolute pleasure to serve as a Defence Relationship Manager in the West Midlands. More recently, we have seen the launch of the West Midlands Regional Defence and Security Cluster (RDSC), creating further opportunities for businesses across the region to engage with and support Defence.”
Celebrating Armed Forces Week
“Members of the Armed Forces community are often humble about their service, but whenever you have the opportunity, please take a moment to thank them. I encourage everyone to simply say: Happy Armed Forces Day.”
