Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service awarded for services to armed forces community
The fire service has been recognised with a silver award
Hampshire and Isle of Wight's Fire and Rescue Service has been recognised with a silver award for their service to the armed forces community.
The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards.
They're awarded to organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
Shantha Dickson, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight's Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The silver award is a great honour for the Service, recognising the support we provide to those from the armed forces community.
"Coming from a military background, it is so important to me that we do what we can to support those leaving the armed forces, and we are proud to say that many of our own people have joined us having served with the navy, army or RAF."
FireFORCES works to bring together all the work within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight's Fire and Rescue Service that involves armed forces communities both internally within the service, as well as within communities.
These include veterans, reservists, cadet leaders and families of those serving in the armed forces.
Luke Holdcroft, a former naval and current reserves officer and now crew manager at Winchester Fire Station and chair of the HIWFRS FireFORCES staff network group, said: "We recognise the vital role of the armed forces, and the valuable contribution they make to our defence, communities and the civilian workplace.
"This led to us signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2015.
"We know that many of the skills trained and developed within armed forces roles, are transferable to the various roles across the fire service.
"The area we cover is unique in having all three services in the area, and one of the largest populations and highest concentrations of the armed forces community.
"These are our communities and we need to ensure we understand them and deliver the best service."