WATCH: GB News editor shares how he is supported in his military service as an RAF Reservist

GB News

A GB News breakfast editor has spoken about how his employer supports his military service as an RAF Reservist, marking Armed Forces Reserves Day.William Mayrick, who serves as Breakfast Assistant Editor at GB News and Flying Officer in the RAF Reserves, has balanced both roles for over six years."I commissioned as a media officer last year, but I've been in the RAF Reserves for the last six and a half years. GB News, as my employer, gets involved in all of this they support me," Mayrick told GB News.The media professional brings his civilian skills to his military role whilst benefiting from leadership training.The broadcaster has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating its commitment to supporting military personnel."They've signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a commitment to supporting those within the Armed Forces. That means we get a number of days' leave specifically for military duties, and we're also allowed a bit of flexibility with our working hours to accommodate when we're needed by the RAF. "WATCH THE CLIP ABOVE FOR MORE

Transcript

00:00But our assistant editor, Will Myrick, is here as well.

00:03Looking very well, sir. And the uniform is what?

00:07This is my RF uniform. So I commissioned as a media officer last year,

00:11but I've been in for the last six and a half years.

00:12Yes. Now, GB News, as an employer, gets involved in all of this and they support you.

00:19Tell us about the role that somebody's employer could have in all of this.

00:24Yes. So GB News signed the Armed Forces Government,

00:26which is a commitment to supporting those within the Armed Forces.

00:30So for us, they give us a number of days of leave.

00:32They also allow the fact that we can kind of have slight flexible working

00:36in terms of to be able to meet the moments when we're needed with the RAF.

00:40So for me, when I'm needed for my reserve work,

00:43they're able to allow me to have those weekends to go and do that.

00:47So, yes, it's brilliant.

00:48And I then go away and do a number of different training weekends across the year.

00:53And then also there are a number of different taskings as well,

00:55which my squadron need me to go and do.

00:57So I take my skills from my civilian job in media,

01:00in media training, in photography and film.

01:03And that's also becomes beneficial to the RAF.

01:05Now, Will, you've been producing this programme this morning.

01:07I mean, you've been involved in this.

01:09And I must say, when I see him in his uniform, I see a different person.

01:12You weren't wearing that when you came in today and sitting in the gallery

01:15and you've got changed into.

01:17Do you become a different person in uniform?

01:20I think there's a level of responsibility which is different.

01:25You are, particularly as well, commissioning last year,

01:28I found that it helped me really develop my leadership management skills.

01:32Think about, OK, you could be in charge of a flight of people and what you do.

01:37And so the training that I've gained through that,

01:41I think, has really helped me develop as a person.

01:43And that's also, both things help.

01:46So I can bring the media skills to the military and help that.

01:49But then also going through some of the world-class leadership training

01:55that they can put me through has then also helped me in my civilian role

01:58in terms of coming here and saying how can I best manage people.

02:00You get the best of both worlds, don't you?

02:02Absolutely.

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