THE Territorial Army recently opened its doors to the public in an effort to encourage new recruits. Visitors got the chance to try on uniforms, watch films of life in the TA, speak to members and learn about employer support and training opportunities. But what does being a TA volunteer actually involve? Major Colin Cromie tells how he juggles his life between his busy dental practice in Blackburn and his TA duties.

MAJOR Colin Cromie knows two types of drill. By day he runs a thriving dental practice with his wife, Sheila, in Accrington Road, Blackburn. At evenings and weekends he takes up his responsibilities with the TA.

He has been a dentist for 10 years after graduating from Manchester University in 1989 with a dental degree and a pathology degree.

He completed a juniors office course in Aldershot four years ago, and was promoted to Major last year.

Colin has been in the TA for the past seven years which he says is definitely something worth doing.

He goes to drill every Wednesday night and he has to do a two-week camp once a year.

During drill nights, volunteers take part in sports and social events and educational classes where they learn skills such as map reading, splinting a leg, or stripping a weapon in the dark.

They also spend two drill nights a month on confidence courses (assault courses) at Holcombe Moor, near Bury.

The 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers) is one of 11 Territorial Army Field Hospitals. Its unit headquarters is in Stretford, with sub-units in Ashton-under-Lyne and Blackburn.

The unit provides medical and surgical support to the regular Army in times of war and national emergency.

They are currently looking to recruit health professionals such as doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Volunteers are also needed to train as medical technicians - a paramedic qualification - cooks, drivers, and clerks.

Colin said: "We have 60 people in the medical unit at the moment and we are hoping to double the volunteers to 120.

"Anybody can be taken in and trained in first aid to paramedic standard."

"I enjoy being in the TA to the full. It is good fun and a great way to switch off.

"This year we are going on a two week camp to Edinburgh and York to build a new training centre.

"We can also go on another two week camp anywhere in the world. The opportunities are definitely there."

As a member of the TA, Colin has to be ready to support the regular army on operations.

He was attached to the regular army at the start of the Bosnia crisis and was involved in manning a field hospital in Germany for two weeks. He treated 260 artillerymen in a week.

Last year he went to Edinburgh, Gibraltar and the Ascension Islands with the TA, which he said was a real adventure.

As well as training he also got the chance to go scuba diving and he says the facilities available are excellent.

Colin says he does not have a problem combining his dental work with the requirements of the TA.

He says that luckily, as his wife is also a dentist, his TA commitments do not interfere with the dental practice at all.

Military training is important to the medical corps as volunteers have to be able to disarm the weapons of soldiers who come into a hospital as patients.

In addition to medical and military training, Colin also has regular physical training sessions where he gets involved in a variety of adventurous training pursuits as well as team and individual sports.

He said: "As far as the TA is concerned we are a close knit family, which is good for morale.

"It is something you can do at the end of a hard week's work and you can go back to work on Monday feeling really revitalised.

"We work together as a team and we get a chance to do a bit of everything when we are abroad."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can contact the TA on 01254 262444.

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