Good Afternoon and Thankyou for your question.

Diversity and Inclusion are absolutely paramount in the British Army and is taken very seriously.

The British Army is rapidly evolving and we now have a huge variety of different people from all walks of life. This is continuously improving the army as a whole and providing a variety of skills and so much more. It is incredibly important to us that we make sure to welcome anyone whom joins and create a positive work environment for them. This is important in any job, but even more so in the Army. The reason for this is because if one person does not feel accepted and like they can be who they are, then it will effect the overall combat effectiveness of the army as a whole, and failings in that can have absolutely detrimental effects for our people and beyond.

We have a number of policies and guidance in place to help people if they feel they have been treated unfairly for whatever reason, and thankfully it is rare that such circumstances arise. Not only is this the case because of such policies and guidance, but also because us as serving soldiers want to create the best possible working environment for all, and to make sure that everyone can have a place in our Army.

I've served alongside a lot of people, all of whom have come from different backgrounds that have shaped the person they are today, but we all share that common ground which we can all relate to, and that’s being a soldier. Of course, personal identity is incredibly important, and something which is encouraged and celebrated across the British Armed Forces, but the way we see each other, is such that we would never expect someone to act in a certain way, or to have extra opportunities just because of their background, religion or race. This is demonstrated by the Army’s zero tolerance attitude towards all forms of harassment and bullying in order to make sure our people are protected from any of this.

One of the Army's recruiting campaigns recently mentioned the tag line "This is belonging", and i tend to interpret part of it as belonging to a group of people whom all have a mutual respect and understanding. This stems from the British Army's values and standards.

Courage
Discipline
Respect for Others
Integrity
Loyalty
Selfless Commitment

Lawful
Appropriate behaviour
Total professionalism

These values and standards we live by, are a code which, as soldiers, we can belong to, and one we know that each of us will hold. Therefore, i know that the respect i show to my colleagues will go both ways. We have annual training on these subjects too, so that if there are any discrepancies or lack of understanding, then we can discuss it and understand them even further for everyone’s benefit.

Not only do we work alongside different people within the Army, but part of our job is to work with other nations everywhere in the world. These Diversity and Inclusion standards must be adhered to at all times in this capacity too, and that is why we hold such a high reputation among other nations for the way we conduct ourselves, which is a testament to the work our soldiers do whilst overseas and on operations.

I could go on, but hopefully this answers your question sufficiently. To put it simply, the Army is absolutely committed to providing a safe and positive work environment for all. Setting the example for everyone

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

25 April, 2022 09:20