A former soldier turned Public Services tutor at Solihull College & University Centre will be deployed on an operational tour in January.
Dan Darby, 41, from Birmingham will mobilise with his regiment for 3 months pre-deployment training before deploying on a 6-month operational tour called Op Tosca. The tour is a UN peace keeping mission in Cyprus and involves patrolling the boarder that runs through Nicosia to ensure the safety of locals and help maintain peace between the Turkish Cypriot’s military and the Greek Cypriots military.
There has been a recent breakdown in peace talks between the two sides, and whilst there has been no major conflict for some time, tensions are now on the rise again.
Dan, who has worked at the College since 2012, teaches on the Public Services course full time but is still operational and still required to serve when the call comes.
He states: “Having served with both the military and the police, it’s a real pleasure to be able to work with young likeminded people and help them in their journey to a similar career in the Uniformed Public Services. Being on an operational tour allows me to put a sense of reality to the subject by reflecting on actual experience.”
The College recently received the military covenant silver award and was recognised by the Ministry of Defence for their support to the Armed Forces. The College supports Dan’s leave of absence and will be holding his position open for his return.
