East Midlands Army Responders

28/06/2026

🇬🇧OUR PEOPLE 🇬🇧

Yesterday was Armed Forces day.

For the team it was moment to reflect and celebrate the incredible work and contribution they have to the security of the United Kingdom.

When wearing an ambulance uniform the background of our team members is often not known, but behind every Co-Responder on the team is a soldier, sailor or aviator who serves their nation with pride.

Here on Facebook you often will see us supporting the East of England Ambulance Service in our spare time but the images captured below show some of our “day jobs”.

The job roles vary between each Military Co-Responder but behind all them different roles are people with a huge amount of responsibility who sometimes sacrifice the “Norms of life” whether it be it due to demanding training exercises, operational deployments, humanitarian support or simply standing ready to defend the United Kingdom and our allies.

Their military careers shape the professionalism, resilience and leadership we bring to every ambulance shift and as a team we are incredibly proud to represent both the Armed Forces and the NHS, bringing military values of courage, discipline, respect, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment into every community we serve.

26/06/2026

🇬🇧ARMED FORCES WEEK🇬🇧

“Our Team”

Today’s “Our Team” is AB Connor Williams.

Connor has been on the team for numerous years is currently our Welfare lead as-well as our diversity and inclusion Officer. This sees him provide Crew welfare and TRIM plus liaising with service personnels Chain of command to support their welfare needs.

Connor started his Military career as a British Army dog handler serving in 1MWD for a number of years before transferring last year to the Royal Navy where he now serves as a Medical Assistant.

Connor served in numerous roles while he was in the British Army. This included being a Squadron Handler at 1MWD, Serving at RM Poole assisting with the Operational training of the Dogs used on Maritime Counter terrorism Operations before returning to 1MWD where he spent the remainder of his time working in the Motor transport department looking after Grey fleet (Military Blue light vehicles) before departing on his Medic training after transferring to the Royal Navy Last year.

As a Navy Medic Connor has a wide range of experience and medical training in both Pre-Hospital and Hospital setting’s. Connor has recently spent sometime working in theatres at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and is shortly due his next posting.

Connor this week achieved ROSC on a PT while responding to a GOODSAM in Plymouth after being down there for Work.

A statement for the Clinical Team Lead in SWASfT said “The incident involved a public cardiac arrest, in extreme heat, of a 46 year old male. The incident instigated a response from yourselves via GoodSam, 2 x paramedic DCA crews and an Operational Commander from SWASfT, as well as Critical Care Paramedics from the HEMS team and the police.

Your support on scene was invaluable, especially given the challenging weather conditions of extreme heat.

From the outset, you demonstrated a calm, composed and highly professional approach, integrating seamlessly with the ambulance crews on scene. Your willingness to assist and take direction greatly contributed to the overall management of what was a very challenging situation.
You provided practical help during the resuscitation, including multiple rounds of CPR, assisting with ventilations with an airway adjunct in situ, the use of the defibrillator (Zoll) and also assisting with manoeuvring the patient onto a stretcher and then into the ambulance. Your teamwork, discipline, and measured approach did not go unnoticed and were greatly appreciated by all involved. The crews were especially grateful for your assistance. With your help, it enabled them to commence Advanced Life Support, administer drugs and gave them the capacity to consider causes of the arrest and ways to rectify, if possible.”

This statement highlights the life saving work that Connor provides on a daily basis. It’s also is a testament to his character and ethos.

Connor is just one of many Military Co-Responders that volunteer their time to give back and provide unwavering support and resilience to the NHS while being able to utilise skills and the military mindset.

BZ Connor ⚕️

25/06/2026

🇬🇧ARMED FORCES WEEK 🇬🇧

“Our Team” -

As we recognise the efforts of our volunteers in the run up to Armed forces Day we start by highlighting Kieron.

Lance Corporal Kieron Buchan has been on the Team since 2024 and has provided many hours to the community.

In his “day job” Kieron is a Recovery mechanic within the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Kieron has recently been awarded the Kings Commendation for Bravery in the Kings Birthday Honours list 2026.

A letter from Colonel IS (lain) Wallace OBE ADC CEng FIMechE REME reads

“On behalf of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, it is my great privilege to congratulate you on your award of a King's Commendation for Bravery (KCB) in the King's Birthday Honours List 2026. This is a huge honour and reflects the pride and value the Army has in your important work over the years.

Your award recognises your exceptional courage and selfless action in intervening in a violent knife attack while off duty. Displaying remarkable bravery and disregard for your own safety, you subdued the attacker and administered lifesaving first aid to the victim under extremely challenging conditions. I have no doubt, your decisive intervention likely saved a life, while your professionalism in supporting the subsequent police investigation ensured swift justice. Your actions were nothing short of exceptional and exemplify the very highest standards of the Corps and the Army's values and serve as an inspiration to all.

Please take the time to celebrate your award with your nearest and dearest. They will undoubtedly have provided you unwavering support to you upon which you have been able to make such an important contribution to our country.

Many congratulations once again.

Arte et Marte.”

When we spoke to Kieron he said “It’s both an honour and a privilege to receive this recognition and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken the time to acknowledge my actions.

Whilst I have been recognised individually, the response itself was very much a collective effort involving the emergency services and all those who later attended the scene. I am simply thankful that I was in a position to act and provide immediate care when it was needed most.

The British Army instils its soldiers with the confidence, discipline and training to respond without hesitation in the face of adversity and those values remain with us regardless if at home or deployed overseas, whether that’s in or out of uniform.

I also have the privilege of volunteering as a Military Co-Responder with the East of England Ambulance Service, where I continue to develop and apply those lifesaving skills in support of the communities we serve.

Finally, I would like to thank my family, friends, colleagues and teammates for their unwavering support. I am deeply honoured by this recognition and hope it serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared to help others whenever the opportunity arises.”

Operations Manager Jack said “On behalf of everyone within the Military Co-Response, I would like to congratulate Kieron on this truly deserved recognition.

Having had the privilege of both working operationally with Kieron but also as his direct line manager, I have seen first hand the professionalism, humility and unwavering commitment he brings to every tasking. His actions on the day reflect exactly the qualities we see every time he volunteers with our team.

This award recognises one extraordinary act of bravery, but it is also a testament to the character Kieron demonstrates every day, both as a British soldier and as an EEAST Military Co-Responder. We are incredibly proud to have him as part of our team and congratulate him on this honour and we look forward to welcoming him back from his Operational deployment in September”

“Our Team” posts over the next few days will continue to highlight members of the team and the work they do leading up to armed forces day 🇬🇧

25/06/2026

The Team 🇬🇧

We are made up of Service men and women from all three services.

The majority of the team are Regular personnel from the British Army however we are Tri-service and have active members from both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

We also have a handful of Reserve personnel on the team.

We come from a wide background of Trades, job roles and Regiments.
19 to be precise across the North Cambs Team.

Across the next few days we will post some of the Teams “day jobs” and why they choose to Volunteer with EEAST as Military Co-Responders.

24/06/2026

On Reserve Day, we recognise and thank the dedicated Reservists serving within the East of England Ambulance Service and our Military Response Team.

Many of our colleagues balance demanding frontline ambulance roles with service in the Royal Navy, British Army, or Royal Air Force Reserves. They bring a wealth of military experience, leadership, resilience, and specialist skills to the communities we serve every day.

As Reservists, they play a vital role in supporting the UK’s defence and security, standing ready to assist both at home and overseas when called upon. Whether contributing to national resilience, humanitarian operations, disaster response, training exercises, or supporting military operations around the world, they represent the very best of public service.

Their commitment demonstrates the strong partnership between the NHS and the Armed Forces community. By serving in both uniform and healthcare roles, they help strengthen the nation’s preparedness while delivering exceptional care to patients across the East of England.

Today, we thank all Reservists for their dedication, professionalism, and service to both the NHS and the Armed Forces. Your contribution makes a difference locally, nationally, and globally. ⚕️🇬🇧

23/06/2026

As Armed Forces Week begins, we're proud to show our support for the individuals who make up the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families.

The Armed Forces community is reflected throughout Magpas Air Ambulance. Members of our team bring valuable experience and perspectives gained through military service, and they regularly work in environments that mirror the high-pressure, high-stakes conditions familiar to military medics.

As a formal sign of our support, Magpas Air Ambulance signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021, and went on to become the first air ambulance charity in the UK to receive the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

Keep an eye out throughout the week as we share more on the work we’re doing to strengthen our growing partnership with the Armed Forces, and join us in celebrating the individuals who work tirelessly to keep us safe.

Armed Forces Day

19/06/2026

We have dispatched a large number of resources, including the air ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team, to a major incident on the railway line south of Bedford. We encourage people to avoid the area.

Further updates will be provided in due course. Please only call 999 in an emergency.

15/06/2026

VIEW FROM THE CREW:

Today Libby, who’s currently serving in the Royal Air Force got the chance to take to the Skys with MAGPAS after completing a job with their clinicians who travelled into ED via Road ambulance.

Libby has worked within the Trust for a couple of years now, starting on the RAF Marham team and recently moving to ourselves following her Operational deployment on Op Shader.

Libby has recently completed her FREC 4 course completely free through the trust and is now looking to progress onto doing her L3 CERAD when the opportunity arises.

This is all part of being a Volunteer Military Co-Responder ⚕️🇬🇧

06/06/2026

⭐️Volunteers’ Week ⭐

As serving members of the UK Armed Forces, these volunteers dedicate their spare time to supporting EEAST and the communities we serve. Drawing on military training, operational experience and a commitment to public service, they provide an additional emergency response capability.

Often arriving before other resources, Military Co-Responders deliver immediate patient care when it matters the most.

The resilience, leadership and rapid decision-making developed through military service translate seamlessly into the pre-hospital environment, helping to improve patient outcomes and support the wider emergency services response.

This Volunteers’ Week, we thank every member of the Military Response Team for their dedication, professionalism and continued commitment to serving both their country and their community ⚕️

02/06/2026

The recent death of a British soldier in Northern Iraq serves as a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by those who wear the uniform and commit themselves to serving others.

As Military Co-Responders, we work alongside serving personnel, veterans and emergency services colleagues daily who understand that service is more than a job. It’s a commitment to stand up when others need support most. While the circumstances and environments may differ, there is a common thread that runs through all forms of service: exposure to risk, trauma, loss and the realities that many will never witness or experience.

Every call, every welfare concern, every crisis intervention and every deployment carries an unseen weight. Behind every uniform is a person who has chosen to put duty before themselves and often at significant personal cost.

So as a team, we pause to remember a British soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.
We honour their sacrifice and extend our deepest condolences to their family, friend and Regiment.

May we never lose sight of the courage, dedication and selflessness shown by our Armed Forces personnel every day.

Lest We Forget. Til Valhalla. 🇬🇧

It is with deep regret that we can confirm that a training accident occurred in northern Iraq on Sunday 31 May 2026 in which a service person from the British Army died.