After 19 years of Army service, Sam faced significant health challenges and uncertainty about her future. With support from the Army Benevolent Fund and its partner charity, The Poppy Factory, she has retrained as a barber and is now building a new career.

Sam served for 19 years in the Royal Logistic Corps, reaching the rank of Sergeant and working as a highly skilled military chef. During her career, she deployed on operational tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, taking on increasing responsibility as she progressed through the ranks.

Reflecting on her service, Sam says, “Teamwork is what keeps you going.” She particularly enjoyed mentoring junior chefs, supervising teams in demanding environments, and supporting others.

Sam’s interest in the Army began at a young age. Growing up in Northamptonshire, she was inspired after attending the Royal Tournament in London with her father. “This sparked my interest in the Army”, she says. With a passion for cooking already established, she joined the Army at 17, starting her training at Pirbright before completing her chef training in Aldershot.

“I found training demanding and I felt a great achievement at my Passing Out Parade. All my family came; it meant a lot to me”, she says.

Sam left the Army in 2015 and had considerable mental and physical health challenges, including complex PTSD, which prevented her from considering employment for a number of years. During this period, she began to consider a new direction and, having cut hair for family and friends over the years, decided to pursue a career in barbering.

With funding support from the Army Benevolent Fund, alongside the Royal Logistic Corps, Sam was able to undertake professional barber training. Recognising she would benefit from additional guidance, she was also introduced to The Poppy Factory, a partner charity that the ABF regularly funds.

With encouragement from her Employment Consultant, Andrew, at The Poppy Factory, Sam built her confidence and developed a clear path forward. At first, Sam found the transition to civilian employment challenging. “Our initial meeting was a turning point for me”, she says. “Andrew was giving me support to consider my future. I knew I wanted a career change and to focus on becoming a professional barber.”

Over 16 weeks, Sam completed her barber training, combining hands-on learning with independent practice. She qualified in January 2026 and has since begun working with clients, developing her skills further.