For many people, one career would be more than enough. But Captain Linda Cassidy of 102 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) has shown how a military career and running a business can not only coexist but also complement each other.
Now 43 and based in Cumbria with her husband Joseph and daughter Lilly, Linda has successfully combined army life with entrepreneurship – and built two careers around her passions.
A family tradition of engineering
Engineering runs deep in Linda’s family. “I come from a family of engineers. Both my grandparents worked in ammunitions as engineers during World War Two, so the REME was an obvious choice for me,” she says.
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Drawn to the opportunities the army offered, she joined the regulars straight after completing her GCSEs at 16. “I didn’t really want a normal 9-5 and loved the idea of gaining a trade whilst getting paid to travel and meet new people,” Linda recalls. “The army seemed the natural choice, having been in the army cadets, and it gave me the opportunity to get an apprenticeship in an area in which I was interested.”
Throughout her time in the regular army, Linda earned both her REME artificer qualification and an engineering degree – achievements she counts among her proudest.
“I wasn’t very academic at school, but my time as an apprentice in the army made me realise I was more intelligent than I had given myself credit for. I remember my technology teacher laughing at me when I told him I was joining the army as an electronic technician. But I believe the army has a great way of bringing out the best in its soldiers.”
Alongside technical training, Linda also developed leadership, management, teaching, IT, health and safety, fitness, and language skills. “We love continuous personal development in the army, and you are supported in any additional courses you would like to take. The army even pays towards a course of your choosing each year, the same for both Regular and Reserve Soldiers.”
From Regular to Reservist – and entrepreneur
After 17 years in the regular army, much of it spent posted to Germany, Linda decided to step back to focus on her young family. She transitioned to civilian life but stayed connected to the forces by joining the army reserves when her husband was posted to Catterick.
Flexibility was key. “The Reserves is such a flexible organisation, I can choose which weekend training events I can attend around my business and family life and can take on additional specific tasks during the week.”
Outside the Reserves, Linda launched her own business: LillyPad Swimmers, a swim school named after her daughter. Teaching all ages, Linda’s business quickly grew, and she now employs other swimming instructors to allow her the flexibility to balance military, business and family commitments.
“My army career gave me the skillset and the confidence to set up my own business and for it to succeed,” she says. “Communication skills and time management have been critical here, as well as organisational skills, self-discipline and the mentoring and development of my staff. Discipline and problem solving are two other important skills that I have developed throughout my army career and have assisted me throughout my transition into civilian life.”
Linda now also works part-time on an additional duties contract supporting recruitment in her unit – another example of how she blends her skills across both careers.
Life at full speed
A typical day for Linda can involve everything from leading swimming sessions to planning military and engineering training. “I can go from singing swimming songs in the pool and splashing around with babies, to teaching older children to swim and developing their water confidence and skills, to planning military and engineering training for my company of soldiers all in one day.”
Balancing so much, especially as a single parent during the week with her husband now posted to Warminster, can be hectic – but it’s clear Linda thrives on variety and challenge.
Throughout her career, Linda has taken full advantage of the army’s adventurous training opportunities. Her experiences have taken her from the deserts of Iraq during Operation Telic 7, to the training grounds of Canada, to mountaineering in California, scuba diving in Thailand, skiing in Bavaria and windsurfing in Italy. She even trained as a swimming instructor with the army, a step that would later launch her civilian career.
A future full of ambition
Linda is proud of the range of opportunities she seized. “Although I trained as a REME Engineer, I have also been able to branch out across my career and take on roles in teaching, continuous improvement and empowerment, recruiting, media, and safety risk management to name but a few.”
The confidence the army gave her is something she values deeply. “I am more confident and outgoing than I would have been had I not joined the army. It has given me the attitude that anything is possible with a little bit of hard work and determination. I am not afraid to face new challenges.”
Looking ahead, Linda hopes to promote to Major and eventually take on a sub-unit command appointment. As for her career highlights so far, she points to the incredible adventure training experiences, completing her artificer training, commissioning as an officer – and, of course, meeting her husband during their first posting to Germany.
“All the amazing adventure training opportunities would have to be on the list. Completing my artificer training course and more recently, commissioning. Definitely all the incredible people I have met along the way, and the friends I have made. Oh, and I should also mention meeting my husband during my first posting to Germany when we were both Corporals.”
