This webinar will deliver an in-depth update by the TGTL team on recent work that has been conducted with Army Reserve units to identify key issues, opportunities, and agreed actions to support improving the inflow of new and Regular to Reserve applicants. It will be introduced by Maj Lewis Hartman, a member of the TGTL team.

 

The Webinar will include:

Lt Col Tom Shaw, CO 157 (Welsh) Regt RLC, will deliver a case study focussing on the challenges of increasing inflow, looking at how they have tackled the challenge of improving ARes Recruitment at Unit Level. The Title of the talk: ATTRACT Insights and Lessons from a CO’s Perspective, with the following focus areas:

• Attract does not = Recruitment
• Every officer and soldier is a recruiter. ​Each member of the Regiment is provided with a Regt’l key fob with QR code for sign up and detail on the Regt. ​Make it a challenge between individuals and inter-Sqns for the greatest recruitment success.
• Find your Brand. Corporate image and belonging is everything. We are lucky to have a strong Welsh brand and family Regiment ethos to build on.
• Engagement. Formal and informal meetings conducted with local industry/Retail/Education/Emergency Services to maximise engagement and recruitment opportunities.
• A Transport Regt. Attracting from within your Unit trade but not limited to.
• Social Media. Exploit all recruitment opportunities through Social Media.

Maj James Conlon, SO2 Reserve Assurance within DARCAT, will brief on the Directorate of Army Recruiting Capability and Assurance Team (DARCAT)

• Emphasis on supporting, mentoring and sharing good practice to improve Unit Inflow.
• Principal contact point between Capita / National Recruiting Centre (NRC) and recruiting teams within Land Forces.
• Supporting ROSOs, ReMSOs and RRMT on daily basis – from routine questions to governance.
• An update on Op INVECTOR (Reserves)

Col Nick Cheshire, a senior member of the TGTL team, will brief on Intelligence Preparation of the Recruiting Environment (IPRE), followed by the endorsed us of AI tools in recruiting, specifically when reviewing medical issues or concerns against the JSP.

Intelligence Preparation of the Recruiting Environment (IPRE)

• A brief overview of the tool
• How it can be accessed
• The type of use cases that it supports
• Practical applications
• Some screen shots to bring it to life

AI – Policy support starting with JSP 950 (Inflow Medical Standards)

• Introduction and story so far
• Basic desktop CoPilot 365
• Initial set up
• Prompting
• GDPR and anonymisation
• Some worked examples
• Next steps

Q&A will be invited from the participants at the end of the briefings, but dependent on the availability of the speakers and will be confirmed at the start of the webinar.

 

Bios

 

Major Lewis Hartman

Maj Lewis Hartman joined the Army Reserves in 2017, after leaving the regular army with 18 years of service. He joined the Too Good To Leave (TGTL) campaign in early 2025 and has been involved in several projects, mostly in the G4 area:

• Investigating and trying to improve the Army Reserves’ access to Combat Body Armour and associated load carrying equipment
• Administering and delivering the TGTL Project BUSTED FLUSH funding for Army Reserve units’ betterment projects
• Administering the TGTL ongoing webinar series

 

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Shaw

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Shaw joined the 157 (Welsh) Regimental family in August 2024.

 

He was commissioned into the Royal Logistic Corps in April 2005. On completion of the RLC Troop Commanders course, he was posted to the Commando Logistic Regiment RM where he assumed command of the Logistic Squadron’s Technical Troop. Within this tour he completed the All Arms Commando course and became arctic trained in Norway before deploying to Afghanistan on Op HERRICK 5. Post this deployment he was assigned to the Army Training Regiment Winchester as a Troop Commander in charge of training Phase 1 Regular Soldiers.

 

As a young Captain, he was assigned to the 7^th Armoured Brigade in Hohne, Germany as the SO3 Log Sp. During this time, he deployed on Op TELIC 12 as a Future Operations J3/5 planner, and then attached to 3 Commando Brigade as the Liaison Officer for Op HERRICK 14. In 2013 he became the Adjutant of the Allied Rapid Response Corps Support Battalion, which saw him promote to Major and assume the position of OC Headquarters Squadron.

 

Following ICSC(L), he has assigned to DE&S, where he worked as the principle logistics officer for the Chief of Materiel (Land), coordinating the initial VANGUARD support and Defence Logistic Board briefings. He then commanded the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron at RAF Benson, which involved Op TORAL, Op RUMAN, Op NEWCOMBE, BFSAI and UK National Standby response deployments. This was achieved concurrently, whilst relocating the Squadron from RAF Odiham and establishing its new home at RAF Benson.

 

On completion of sub-unit command, Tom joined the PJHQ J1J4 team as the SO2 Europe, Asia and rest of the world J4 operations and plans desk officer, covering Op TORAL, Op FAIRFIELD and the Asia Pacific. The role focused on supporting current operations and contingency planning. Additionally, he assumed the role of crisis COS for Op CARIBBEAN and RAKEFUL. He was then the Regimental Second in Command at 29 Regiment where he promoted and attended Advanced Command Staff College at Shrivenham. His first appointment as an OF4 was a DACOS Future Plans within ARRC HQ preparing for NRF 24 and subsequent transition to Warfighting and STRATRES role.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Shaw is married to Rebecca, and has a handsome thee year old boy called Ellis, 7 month old daughter Poppy, and a black Labrador called Sonny-Bill. He is a passionate Welshman, who loves his rugby, is a keen ocean kayaker, stand-up paddleboarder, road cyclist and enjoys all aspects of keeping fit and the outdoors.

 

Major James Conlon 

Maj James Conlon joined the Regular Army in 2013, posted to ADC Harrogate as a Military Studies Instructor after Commissioning from RMAS. From here he worked as a Learning and Development Officer, supporting 30 AEC in London as well as Trg delivery in Kenya, Belize, Brunei and Canada.

 

In 2018, Maj Conlon left the Regular Army, taking up a position as Housemaster and Teacher of English up to A Level. In 2022 he became Assistant Head of a State School in Nottingham, supporting improvements which saw the school move from 3 x ‘Special Measures’ to being deemed ‘Good’ by OFSTED. In this role he completed an MSc in Education and NPQH qualification for Headship.

 

Within this time Maj Conlon worked as an LDA in the Army Reserve, supporting with Training Design and Assurance projects within RAMS, Defence Transport and 77X.

 

In Jan 2025 Maj Conlon became SO2 Reserve Assurance within DARCAT. Since then, he has visited most Reserve Units in the country, supporting with 2-day Capability Visits and broader 2LoDA assurance visits.

Colonel Nick Cheshire TD VR

Colonel Nick grew up and was educated in the South West of England. He joined the Army Reserve in 1983 and was selected for officer training. He was commissioned into 155 Wessex Transport Regt in 1986 and became Tp Comd in 232 Sqn until the Regt disbanded in 1989 due to Options for Change.

 

Transferring to 131 Ind Cdo Sqn RE (V) he passed the All Arms Commando course and associated Royal Engineer instruction and took command of 300Troop based in Plymouth. In 1996 on promotion to Captain, he transferred to the Int & Sy Gp (V) and on qualification, took up post as 2IC of 26 MI Coy 3 (V) MI Bn based in Bristol. Promoted to Major in 2000 he became the Company Comd. After 9/11 was mobilised on Op VERITAS in support of DIS and various other Govt. depts. On return to 3MI assisted with the planning process to generate 5 MI (V) Bn.

 

Appointed as SO1 LO, CVHQ RA (V) in December 2005, he provided command support to the ARRC & 7 Armd Bde. In 2007 he spent six months working alongside US forces on Op ENDURING FREEDOM in Baghdad, after which was mobilised on Op HERRICK as CO Kabul Support Group, a rare opportunity for a Reservist to Command in a Multi-National environment. In 2009 became LO with 11 (light) Bde prior to taking command of Exeter UOTC in July 2010. Promoted to Colonel as DComd 1 MI X, directing the MI (Res) growth element of FR2020. The role then iteratively morphed into AD ISTAR (Res) in AHQ and finally, Corps Col Reserves (Int) as part of HQ Home Command. Secured next role as AH Army Manning Policy Reserves in DM(A) prior to volunteering for a PJHQ led OCE tour as Comd Op TURUS.

On return conducted some special projects on behalf of DCFA before taking on the role of Comd OTCs and then the Digital Transformation lead for RMAS. Currently on a VeRR contract leaning in to the Training and Digital elements of the Too Good To Leave Programme.

 

After a full career in the NHS/DH/UN is now an independent Management Consultant. Interests include; skiing, running, mountain biking, squash and travel.