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.