Reserves Day and Armed Forces Day 2024

LJMU is recognising both Reserves Day (Wednesday 26 June) and Armed Forces Day (Saturday 29 June) as part of its continued pledge to support the Armed Forces community under the Armed Forces Covenant.

Reserves Day recognises the Reserve Forces for their outstanding contribution to the country and the skills that reservists can bring to civilian employment, such as in higher education.

At LJMU, there are staff and students who are members of the Reserve Forces. Under its Military Veterans and Reservist Policy reservists are supported to carry out their duties alongside their work and there is also enhanced support for partners while their partners are away on deployment.

Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the people who make up the Armed Forces community, from current serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.

Both days are part of Armed Forces Week. Throughout the week the LJMU website and on-campus digital screens will signpost people to find out all of the ways that the university is coming together to better support the Armed Forces community. From working more closely with those leaving the military who are interested in studying at university to collaboration on research and charitable endeavours that look to offer a voice to veterans and bring about positive change.

LJMU’s Armed Forces Champion, Dr Gus Ryrie, said: “LJMU signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021 and since then we have been able to work more closely across the university, and with partners, to further our commitment under that pledge.

“Together we are providing enhanced staff and student support to those from the Armed Forces community; creating better pathways and awareness for veterans of routes into higher education; building and strengthening partnerships with organisations that work with military personnel, their families and veterans; pursuing cross-faculty research and knowledge exchange opportunities; and sharing good practice across all aspects of the university as well as with key decision making bodies and the wider general public.”

LJMU’s support for the Armed Forces community

LJMU signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021. Since then, it has appointed its first Armed Forces Champion and formed a cross-university Armed Forces Steering Group, which brings together colleagues across all factions of the university to drive forwards everything from research to HR policy development, all with the aim of better supporting students and staff from the Armed Forces community and creating positive change for the community across the UK.

In May 2023, LJMU gained silver status under the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in acknowledgement of its work being undertaken in support of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Find out more about LJMU’s pledge to the Armed Forces community.