Bricklayer Samantha Dickson has become The Yorkshire Regiment’s first female reserve infantry soldier since the role became open to women in 2018.
After completing the challenging Combat Infantry Course (Reserve), the 34-year-old from Horbury, Wakefield, has fulfilled two long-held dreams. The first was to join the Army and then to become an infanteer.
New recruits
Samantha is one of nearly fifty new soldiers to have joined as reserves with the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (4 YORKS) over the last year.
She said: “Being the first female in 4 YORKS to pass the combat infantry course is a real achievement. It pushed me to do more, especially in the fitness tests.
“I really love being in the outdoors. My work and free time activities like hiking and horse riding meant that joining the Army was a natural fit.
Joining the infantry
“Working with the other soldiers really makes me work harder and pushes me forward, but that is the same at work where I am a bricklayer working with my dad and cousin.”
Reflecting on her basic and infantry training, she said: “The best parts were the days spent in the field at Catterick, it was brilliant and really confirmed joining the Infantry was the right decision.”
Looking forward, Samantha is preparing to deploy as part of a Force Protection Platoon in November and spend three months in Kenya with fellow infantry soldiers from 4 YORKS.
“It will be a challenge being away from my close knit family, but they understand, as do work. I fully intend to work hard and whilst there I am looking forward to the adventure training package, going on a safari and climbing Mount Kenya.”