BARNSLEY East MP Stephanie Peacock is donning her fatigues to learn more about the armed forces.
Stephanie has not been considering a sudden career change she is taking part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS), a year-long course that gives parliamentarians the opportunity to learn about the armed forces by spending time with service personnel.
The AFPS will see Stephanie, who has already spent several days at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, visiting army bases, observing forces on deployment and spending time embedding with different units.
Stephanie said: “As a proud supporter of our armed forces, it’s a privilege to be taking part in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.
“It’s a great opportunity to spend time working with the army in particular, and learn more about the crucial issues facing our armed forces and those serving in them. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in over the next year and seeing first-hand the vital role our armed forces play.”
The AFPS was set up in 1989 by former Conservative MP Sir Neil Thorne, and aims to improve the quality of debate on military issues by giving those involved first-hand experience of the armed forces.
Those involved undertake 22 days of service, and are granted honorary ranks within the branch of the armed forces in which they complete the scheme.
