GETTING a taste of life as a Reservist saw staff at an Immingham company swap lifejackets for guns.
Employees at DFDS left the docks behind for wild moorland in a special exercise run by the military.
They took part in a demanding three-day challenge held at the Catterick Training Area, which involved launching a search and rescue mission for an RAF-downed pilot, abseiling down a sheer drop and crossing a water course to erect a Navy signal.
The exercise, called Merlin Executive, was organised by employees who also serve as Reservists in the Navy, Marines, Army and RAF in the area.
Anthony McDonald, shift manager at DFDS, said: "The whole exercise was enormous fun, although incredibly tiring as well!
"The environment and challenges you're thrown into are extraordinary, and you learn so much – about yourself as much as the leadership and teamwork skills.
"The soldiers around us were simply superb – they looked after us brilliantly, and gave us all an experience we'll remember for the rest of our lives."
Colleague Helen Taylor said: "I loved every minute, not only because of the sheer fun we had, but also the self-confidence it gives you and your capabilities, especially your capacity for leadership, communication and teamwork.
"Even more importantly perhaps, it highlights the type of training that's available through the Reserve Forces and the value those skills provide to employers. Everyone should give it a go."
The exercise saw nearly 100 staff from organisations across the region taking part, all of whom were mixed up and split into teams before carrying out a range of tasks and missions.
A spokesperson for the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association (RFCA) in Yorkshire and The Humber said: "The exercise was a great success and enjoyed by all.
"But there's also a serious side to the whole event about the benefits a Reservist can bring to employers.
"The training they receive is the same as the Regular Forces, and besides this preparing them for mobilisation to places like Afghanistan, it also provides them valuable skills in business – motivation, self-discipline, confidence, communication, teamwork and leadership to name just a few.
"We want to encourage employers and employees to consider what the Reserve Forces have to offer, and this is one very exciting way of doing that."
Click here for more information about the role of Reservists or to find out about becoming an adult volunteer in the Cadet Forces
