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Emma-Couper

A veteran interview with

Emma Couper

Captain Emma Couper did two tours of Afghanistan including a deployment with 3 Para on the inaugural Helmand Tour in 2007.

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About Emma Couper

Emma Couper, a distinguished British Army veteran, reflects on her extraordinary military career, also sharing her insight on the role of women in the military.

Inspired by her travels during a gap year and an encounter with members of the Sheffield Officer Training Corps, Emma joined the Manchester OTC, setting the foundation for her service. Her early training in infantry tactics prepared her for future deployments in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Emma’s career began with a posting to Germany with the 7 Transport Regiment, followed by her first operational deployment to Bosnia, where she was instrumental in transporting essential equipment and supplies across the region. Upon returning to Germany, she was promoted to Regimental Signals Officer, further honing her expertise as a Tank Transporter in Fallingbostel. By 2000, she joined 4 Battalion REME, beginning preparations for the complex realities of deployment to Afghanistan.

In 2002, Emma served at Camp Souter in Kabul, undertaking both humanitarian and intelligence roles that involved building trust with local communities to assess perceptions of British forces. During this deployment, she experienced her first direct encounter with the Taliban. Her subsequent postings included Iraq and the demanding Helmand Tour with 3 Para in Afghanistan, where she faced heightened security risks, including intense foot patrols in the volatile Sangin Valley. Following this, she remained with the Parachute Regiment as HQ Company 2nd in Command before returning to Iraq in 2007.

On her return from Iraq, Emma was promoted to Major in 2008 and attended a rigorous nine-month career course, during which she began reflecting on her future in the Army. As a female officer in a predominantly male environment, she faced challenges, competing for roles as a female officer in a male-dominated environment, often needing to prove her worth, while navigating subtle discrimination.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Olivia Hannam

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Emma Couper

A veteran interview with

Emma Couper

Emma-Couper

Captain Emma Couper did two tours of Afghanistan including a deployment with 3 Para on the inaugural Helmand Tour in 2007.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Couper, Emma. A Veteran Interview with Emma Couper. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/emma-couper/. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
APA Style:
Couper, E. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Emma Couper [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/emma-couper/
Chicago Style:
Couper, Emma. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Emma Couper. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/emma-couper/
Harvard Style:
Couper, E. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Emma Couper. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/emma-couper/ (Accessed: 15 July 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Couper, E. A Veteran Interview with Emma Couper [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2025 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/emma-couper/
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