The Transition: From Military Career to Desk Job
My time in the British Army lasted just a bit under eight years. While I initially loved every moment of it, the rigors of military life, combined with personal disruptions, eventually led me to a career shift that, ironically, involved more desk work than I encountered during my military days.
Initial Dreams and Reality
When I enlisted, I was on a 22-year engagement with twelve months' notice if I decided to leave after two and a half years. Initially, joining the Army was everything I had dreamed of. The camaraderie, the structure, and the endless opportunities for advancement all aligned perfectly with my aspirations.
Yet, fate had other plans. An injury prematurely ended my front-line career, relegating me to a less forward position where I felt unfulfilled. Despite being in the top tier of my peers in terms of promotion prospects, I found myself in a role that I deemed unexciting—a WO2 or WO1. I decided to leave the Army with a plan to find a more fulfilling civilian life.
The Unforeseen Path
Meeting someone and getting engaged led me to give notice. However, the relationship didn't work out, and I withdrew my notice. A deployment to Iraq followed, along with a couple of medals for my service. Finally, I turned in my MoD 90 and was back as a civilian. I was unsure about what civilian life would bring but knew that a desk job wasn't the ideal career path for me.
A New Career and Desk Work Returns
Over a decade after leaving the Army, I found myself back at a desk, albeit in a very different context. My current career, in the adult industry, might seem ironic, but it’s a return to something I did off the books during my military days. This time, however, the desk work component is just as predominant, maybe even more so.
Ironically, my current career demands more desk time than my military service did. While the initial excitement of the Army was engaging, the reality of desk work in the Army was less compelling. In contrast, my current job involves more desk work, but with the added benefits of staying active through regular workouts and the minor discomfort of hot lights for a few hours.
The Irony of Life
The twist in my story is that while military life offered an active, hands-on experience, my current career reverts me back to a high amount of desk work. Being in front of the camera is more akin to being in front of a computer in terms of the duration required in the workspace, but with a vastly different setting and role.
So here I am, back to a desk job, but in a career I find meaningful and fulfilling. The transition has been a journey of growth, resilience, and redefining what success means to me.