Emma, Former British Army Movement Controller and now military charity professional, discovered Reading Force during a particularly challenging time for her family. Having served in the Royal Logistic Corps between 2005 and 2014 — including several operational tours — she and her husband, a serving Royal Navy Warfare Officer, are raising two children, aged 9 and 12. Like many military families, they balance life between postings, separations, and the everyday juggle of work and parenting.
Here, she shares how Reading Force became a meaningful part of their family life.
“Over the winter months, our family took part in Reading Force, creating a scrapbook together during a particularly challenging time. My husband, a serving member of the Royal Navy, was on medical leave following an injury. As a military family, we’re no strangers to time apart, it’s part and parcel of service life. But suddenly finding ourselves all together, navigating the uncertainty of his recovery, brought its own set of challenges.
In the midst of fear and upheaval, Reading Force offered us something simple yet powerful: a shared story. Sitting down each evening to read a few pages together became a comforting ritual, a moment of calm and connection. The scrapbook gave us a creative outlet to reflect on what we’d read. The children loved drawing pictures, and we all contributed our thoughts. It became a space where we could process, laugh, and bond, not just as individuals, but as a family.
What stood out to me most was how Reading Force supported not only our children’s literacy and imagination but also helped my husband reconnect with family life in a meaningful way. As a devoted and loving father, he has inevitably missed many milestones due to the demands of service. This initiative gave him a chance to be present in a new and engaging way, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.
It also had a personal impact on me. Like many parents juggling work, family, and the general busyness of life, I often found myself reaching for my phone at the end of the day. But through this experience, I’ve become more intentional about making space for my own reading. Now, I try to put my phone down and read a few pages of my own book before bed, this is a small but meaningful shift that’s brought me a sense of calm and reconnection with something I used to love.
I also want to highlight the vital role Reading Force plays in supporting veterans. Too often, the word ‘veteran’ conjures up images of older generations, perhaps those who served in the Falklands or earlier conflicts. But I’m in my 30s, thriving in a new career, raising children, and supporting my husband as he continues to serve. Veterans today are diverse, dynamic, and still very much part of the Forces community. Reading Force recognises this and provides resources that are relevant, accessible, and deeply appreciated.
Our experience with Reading Force has been more than just reading books, it’s been about healing, reconnecting, and finding joy in shared stories. I wholeheartedly recommend it to other families, whether they’re navigating separation, recovery, or simply looking for a way to come together.”
We’re so grateful to Emma for sharing her family’s story. Having transitioned from the Army to a fulfilling civilian career, she now continues to support the Armed Forces community through her work with a military charity — a wonderful example of how service and connection take many forms.