YOUNG people looking to improve their future career options are being invited to consider joining the Army Reserves.

Reservists work with the army on a part-time basis and can work in wide range of areas.

Hundreds of people across the county have already been trained up to work alongside the military from the light infantry to medics such as radiographers and are reaping the benefits in civilian life.

RAF Benson Station Commander Group Captain Simon Paterson said: "As we come to the end of the GCSE exam period, many will be looking at future career options and the Reserves can offer the best of both worlds – a traditional civilian career and a career with the Armed Forces.

"The Reservists at RAF Benson are an incredible asset to us; deploying on operations and exercises around the world alongside their regular counterparts and making a real difference.

"The transferable skills that being a reservist in the Armed Forces provides are fantastic; from leadership and project management to vocational skills such as logistics and catering."

Open evenings will be held tonight at Edward Brooks Barracks in Abingdon and the Army Reserve Centre in Banbury.

These will offer the chance to speak to army reservists, look at vehicles and equipment army reservists are trained to use and demonstrations from the Waterloo Band and Bugles.

Rifleman Angus Cockle of the 7 Rifles in Abingdon, 25, from Witney, said: "I always wanted to join the army from a young age but got into full time work.

"About two years ago I went along to an open day which was really great and helpful, now I am fresh out of training after completing the Combat Infantry Mans Course.

"It has really helped build my confidence, I work in retail so it has helped my confidence with that by being put in situations where you have to think for yourself or speak publically for example.

"As well as helping with fitness, learning skills that you can transfers to civilian life and meeting a really great bunch of people."

Captain Rick Fletcher of the 7 Rifles, which has 106 army reservists, added: "It is about raising awareness about the reserves and the opportunities across Oxfordshire.

"People can come along and talk to reservists, hear about the financial benefits and talk about the type of training that goes on.

"We have some reservists that have just come back from Milawi and guys that have just been deployed to Kenya so it is quite an active time at the moment.

Open evenings will run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in both Abingdon and Banbury and a celebration of those signed up as Army Reservists is also being supported for National Reserves Day on September 8 when RAF Benson will be among many encouraging to wear their uniform to work.

For more information see army.mod.uk/officer