After giving eight years to navy as a medical assistant, Jordan Holland is returning because of the emergency that Covid-19 has created. She had left the ranks a year ago to become an artist, but when duty calls our men and women in uniform answer.

Jordan is back as a part of the Royal Naval Reserve. Her work and skills as a medical assistant are going to help support efforts against the pandemic.  

The role played by former soldiers like Jordan cannot be lauded enough. Even as people like her return to try and help, around 13,000 soldiers are out of commission because of circumstances created by the novel coronavirus.

The lady will be operating out of HMS Nelson in Portsmouth. “It’s an unprecedented time for the world, but it’s great to feel like you can do something,” she said.

“It’s fantastic watching all services come together – the NHS, police forces, delivery personnel and shop workers – holding this all together. It feels good to be a part of it and as I was already a qualified Navy medic that seemed the natural area for me to help in,” she continued.

During her time with the navy, Jordan has worked with doctors and surgeons on ships or sick bays. She has also tasted the front line because of her work as a field medic.

Talking about putting her passion for art on hold to return to the Navy, she said: “Art has always been a passion and I left the Navy last year so I could pursue this profession properly as was getting a lot of requests and commissions.”
“I was in the process of re-joining as a Royal Naval Reserve officer – I have always and still do love the navy. You make the best kind of friends, you work so well together – it’s a whole other world. When you leave, you miss the people and the banter. When my interview date was put on hold due to Covid-19. I offered to re-join temporarily to help with the coronavirus as a medic,” she added.

At a time when the UK is getting battered by the pandemic, the work that is being done by front liners including healthcare workers and current and former soldiers is nothing short of heroic.