E2 (Operational Commitments Establishment) posts offer Army Reservists the opportunity to serve beyond traditional Regimental Duty appointments. These roles exist across Army Headquarters, formations, specialist units and wider Defence, allowing Reservists to contribute their military and civilian expertise in a broad range of challenging appointments.

 

 

For junior officers, an E2 post can be an excellent way to broaden professional experience, develop new skills, expand networks and gain a deeper understanding of how the Army operates beyond the unit level. E2 appointments often provide exposure to strategic, operational and specialist areas of Defence that may not be encountered within a Regimental Duty role. This wider experience can strengthen your professional profile, enhance your understanding of the Army as an institution, and help prepare you for future leadership, command and staff appointments. Whether you are looking to develop as a leader, apply specialist civilian skills, build your network, or gain experience outside your cap badge, an E2 role can be a rewarding opportunity that complements your Army Reserve career.

 

 

 

HEAR FROM

 

Maj Lewis Hartman, SO2 Too Good To Leave (TGTL), Personnel Directorate, Army HQ

 

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

 

 

Maj Helena Roberts

SO2 Army Reserve Secretariat, Career Management Operations, Army Personnel Centre

 

Career Army Reservist who was employed in all the standard unit employments before finding a niche as SO2 MS (Res) at HQ 42 Inf Bde and HQ NW. Deployed on Op TELIC in 2004/5 and Op TOSCA in 2012/3. Prior to taking up a FTRS (full time Reserve service) appointment as SO2 Firm Base Plans with HQ NW in 2018, she juggled a busy civilian career as a Highway and Drainage Engineer with Reserve Service and family responsibilities. Since Nov 24 she has been employed as SO2 Army Res Sec at APC and has been able to utilise her general experience as an Army Reservist coupled with her previous MS experience to deliver Army Reserve E2 Maj and Lt Col Appointment Boards, grading boards (formerly known as Pink List and Beige list) and coordinating the loading of ACSC(R) and ICSC(LR).

 

Maj Dave Jones, SO2 Operational Commitments Establishment, Army Personnel Centre

 

Maj Jones is currently employed as SO2 OCE in APC and generates a third of all Army Individual Augmentees to Operations at home and abroad along side the Land Operations Command in Andover. He has deployed with 2 Ranger to many parts of Africa bringing relevant operational experience to the role. He has also served in a wide range of appointments spanning 16 Brigade, Rangers, Commando Training Centre, AFC(H) and now the APC. 

 

Maj Tom Hamblin, SO2 Recruitment & Engagement, HQ Land Special Operations Force 

 

Tom Hamblin commissioned into The RIFLES in 2010, before joining 4^th Battalion as they re-roled to Mechanised Infantry. He commanded a Rifle Platoon on exercise in Kenya and Canada and on operations in Afghanistan (HERRICK 18). Shortly thereafter he did a stint at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick before returning to 4 RIFLES as Reconnaissance Platoon Commander. A staff role in HQ (SJC) preceded his attendance at Staff College on promotion to Major. Tom joined 77^th Brigade in 2020 and is now SO2 Workforce Plans and Recruiting/Engagement in HQ LandSOF.