Iain Baxter

Employer: The Army (4 Battalion REME)
Area of work: The Army
Qualifications: BEng electrical engineering, Royal Military College of Science – Cranfield University

8.00 am

I arrive at work, check my inbox and start work. I’m the commander of Forward & Recovery Platoon – 55 recovery and vehicle mechanics in the Royal Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). My platoon is unusually large because a lot of mechanics are away on operations and I’m in charge of those in three different trade groups who are not currently deployed. I often meet with the platoon seniors to discuss and solve any issues or problems.

10.30 am

Every morning we have coffee in the officers’ coffee room – I’m the most junior officer so it’s my responsibility to keep everything stocked up. This provides a chance to discuss matters informally, so I might tell colleagues about something that’s coming up or get advice from more senior officers.

12.30 pm

I eat lunch in the Officers’ Mess if I can, though I sometimes work through lunch. If I have time in the afternoons, I’ll go out with the platoon to watch their work and take part in training – pulling trucks out of ditches with the recovery mechanics or ‘turning spanners’ with the vehicle mechanics. I arrange regular platoon socials, including paint-balling and go-karting.

3.30 pm

We have physical training three times a week and Wednesday is sports afternoon. I usually go kayaking as I’m trying to get my instructor’s qualification. I’m heavily involved in adventurous training – I’ve been on mountaineering, sailing and kayaking expeditions and I’m organising the battalion ski training camp.

5.30 pm

I officially finish work at 5.00 pm but I often work a bit late because I’m new and I have a large platoon to keep track of. A lot of my work involves socialising and sport – I get paid for having fun! I usually spend my evenings with the other officers in the Mess.