What army training brings to my role as an insurance broker
Our Managing Director served in the Army Reserve for 4.5 years while at university and went on to officer training at Sandhurst following graduation.
After the tempo of physical training caused the onset of chronic compartment syndrome in all four compartments of both lower legs, he was honourably discharged at the end of his first term. His unexpected discharge, due to this lifelong mobility-limiting chronic-pain condition, was initially very hard to manage. Childhood dreams and ambitions were thwarted, leaving him unsure of how to proceed outside the Army.
Finding a Career Path
After working as a canoe instructor and archaeologist without a permanent base, Richard was keen to secure an office job to better manage his condition and arrange hospital appointments. He applied for a call centre role at Zurich and was offered a position.
Applying himself diligently, he impressed those he interacted with day to day. When he moved to the North East, one of the brokers offered him a role in their organisation. This is where his love for insurance began. Eight years later, he launched his own brokerage, leading the organisation to achieve chartered status in 2019.
Skills Gained from Army Training
In this interview, Richard reflects on the value his army training brings to our organisation:
"Despite serving in the Army a much shorter time than I had hoped, I remain very grateful for the opportunities I had and the skills I developed which I use every day. Leading and managing people and resources is a key part of army life. The skills, opportunities, and training I had on discharge were unparalleled for most people of a similar age or experience. I encourage new veterans to capitalise on this."
Key takeaways from his Army experience include:
Objective Setting & Focus – The Army drilled him to be clear on what he wanted to achieve and to focus on achieving objectives without distraction.
Communication Skills – Most of his Army time was in intelligence roles: gathering, collating, presenting information, briefing teams, and debriefing. This directly translates to insurance broking, where a broker must translate complex information between insurers and clients.
Technical & Soft Skills – Skills developed both formally and informally in the forces show why veterans are highly skilled and in demand.
Supporting the Veteran Community
"My time in the Army has left me with a chronic pain condition but also a wealth of skills and experiences I’m hugely grateful for. I would have loved to continue my service, but I am content with the journey I’ve travelled. Now I’m keen to support other veterans in making the often difficult transition into civilian life. Society doesn’t always recognise the skills and experiences we can offer, or how to support a smooth transition. I want to help change that."
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