Very few soldiers get to visit the Brigadiers office (unless it’s an interview without coffee!) and even fewer civvies get to see the inside of his workplace. But one dependent was given the unique opportunity of shadowing the Commander RESG Brigadier John Wolsey for the day. Petra Graham won the chance to ‘Be The Boss For The Day’ after she bid and won the auction item at BFBS’s last ever Wireless for the Blind Appeal back in early December

Petra – the Dependent Council Representative for Herford – was treated as a 1 star guest and her programme for the day was tweaked to reflect that rank. Escorted throughout by GSM WO1 Pete Gentles and chauffeured in the staff car by Martin, her first agenda of the day was a to sign the official visitors book at HQ RESG. Following a coffee and briefing of the day’s events, it was a quick tour of the headquarters and then off to her next appointment at the QM’s department RSU for her uniform issue.
Modelling the latest Combat 95 jacket, a very fetching crew helmet and more importantly her Brigadiers rank slide she was whisked off in one of the Military Police’s ‘blues and twos’ to visit the RMP detachment and the Defence Fire Station. The rest of the morning was taken up by MATT training, a visit to Windsor School – where both Brigadiers were kidnapped as part of Rag Week – and then a well-earned respite in the RSU Sgts Mess for lunch.

Modelling the latest Combat 95 jacket, a very fetching crew helmet and more importantly her Brigadiers rank slide she was whisked off in one of the Military Police’s ‘blues and twos’ to visit the RMP detachment and the Defence Fire Station. The rest of the morning was taken up by MATT training, a visit to Windsor School – where both Brigadiers were kidnapped as part of Rag Week – and then a well-earned respite in the RSU Sgts Mess for lunch.

The afternoons schedule was just as full-on; patrolling with the Rheindahlen Security Force and a trip to TFSU(G) in Ayrshire Barracks to play with the ‘big boys toys’. And 1 of those toys was a Warrior; which Petra "gave a bit of welly" around the compound and nearly knocked some sense into 2 bulletin staff sat taking photos in the back.
What did Petra think of it all? "It’s been brill. Can I get one of these from Father Christmas? …I’ve had a fantastic day; thank you to everyone who was involved… It's a shame I’m too old to join up now!