Attention! Roger's uniform marks special day (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Attention! Roger's uniform marks special day

9:17am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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THE regular suit and tie were swapped for a brigadier’s uniform when Dr Roger Hood went to work at Fujitsu – but it was business as usual.

The defence adviser and corporate strategist at the Basingstoke headquarters of the defence and national security business, on the Viables Industrial Estate, is also a member of the Territorial Army where he is known as Brigadier Roger Hood.

And last Friday, Dr Hood wore his TA uniform as part of the now annual Uniform to Work Day for the Reserve Forces.

In the TA, he is the Assistant Divisional Commander, based at the Army’s 4th Division Headquarters, in Aldershot where he deputises for the commander, covering a geographical area from Kent to Cornwall.

He welcomed the opportunity to wear his uniform to work and said: “The aim of the day was to promote awareness of the TA and other reserved forces, and to remind the public that the TA is among us and the links between the civilian workplace and the Army.”

Due to the nature and customers of Fujitsu’s business, Brigadier Hood did not seem out of place in his uniform.

He said there are many benefits for individuals being in the TA and for employers too.

“TA personnel gain leadership skills and specialist expertise which serve them well in their civilian jobs,” said Brigadier Hood.

Having worked at Fujitsu for three years, he was quick to point out that the other companies he has worked in over the past 30 years have not been defence businesses.

Brigadier Hood said: “Luckily, all of them, both large and small, have recognised the benefits of perhaps having a stronger leader, coming to better and quicker decisions with a lot of energy.

“If I’m mobilised during my military role overseas, then the company is fully supportive of that, as a lot of employers are.

“We are very lucky in this country as most of the employers – I would say over 90 per cent – are particularly supportive of their reservists going away on duty.”

Following a fast-track recruitment campaign launched in January, the number of people volunteering to join the TA has increased.

Brigadier Hood said: “The war in Afghanistan hasn’t affected recruit- ing, but what it probably has done is change the type of person joining as everybody recognises the likelihood of them being deployed.

“So we are very honest with all recruits coming in and say there is a very high probability they will be required to be away from their work for almost a year and be sent overseas for about six months.

“At a time when about eight per cent of soldiers serving in Afghanistan are members of the reserve forces, Uniform to Work Day is a chance to support those currently on operations by drawing attention to the fact that they have come from jobs in the civilian workplace.”

Brigadier Hood’s interest in the military began while at Cambridge University in 1975 where he joined the Officer Training Corps. He gained his officer commission after passing through the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 1981. In subsequent years, he commanded a variety of units and by 2003 he became the First Colonel TA of Theatre Troops, responsible for one third of the TA.

He has been honoured for his TA work, receiving the Territorial Decoration in 1991 and the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal in 2001 and bar in 2006. He served as Aide de Camp to The Queen for three years, after which he received the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal in 2006.