Ishbel had experience with the University Officers Training Corps (OTC) and the Territorial Army (TA) before she joined the WRAC in 1985. She had trained as a pharmacist at university and it was only after graduating she considered joining the army. She recalls Crusade Eight as the first major operation she worked on alongside the local infantry unit. Ishbel describes how in this role, aside from escorting VIPS, most of the women would take on administrative work. She was then posted to C Company in Grangemouth as a Platoon Commander and comments on the changing atmosphere surrounding women's treatment in the early 1980s. Ishbel also describes how in the OTC and the TA women were afforded more opportunities, such as weapons and armed combat training, whereas the WRAC were only just introducing weapons training. From this point Ishbel underwent a series of role changes within the army; she traveled to Sandhurst, Catterick, Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and London where she completed her Masters in Administration. At Porton Down, she revisited her pharmacist experience and worked with scientists to develop pharmaceutical and technological military defences. Ishbel went on to become an Adjutant General in Bosnia, the Balkans, then a Lieutenant Colonel in Cyprus and a medic in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Reflecting on the WRAC, Ishbel feels that it gave her the grounding to begin her wider military career. An inspiring interview, we thank Ishbel for her incredible stories and for being a trailblazing woman.

John Juby completed an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker before he was called up as a National Serviceman at 20, serving as a corporal in the Royal Norfolk Regiment in Korea. After initial training, he was sent to Korea, celebrating his 21st birthday en route. His journey to Korea included a stop in Hong Kong, where he had a chance encounter with his uncle, a Royal Navy officer. In Korea, he was part of the pioneer platoon and looked after the Korean porters who introduced him to local food, often lacking in hygiene. During his time in Korea, John Juby had various experiences that left a lasting impact. One of the most harrowing aspects of his service was dealing with the casualties, including his school friend, Roy MacDonald, who was killed by a mortar round. He also experienced the stress of friendly fire incidents and the harsh realities of war. Despite these hardships, he maintained a sense of duty and camaraderie with his fellow soldiers.