Carmarthenshire County Council is celebrating its Armed Forces personnel and reservists during Armed Forces Week.

The week of June 24-29 is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up this community: the troops currently serving, service families, veterans and cadets.

The Armed Forces Day flag was raised on Monday, June 24, at Llanelli Town Hall, thanks to the Llanelli Veterans Association.

The flag will also be flown at County Hall and Ammanford Town Hall from Friday, June 28, until Monday, July 1, to celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 29.

The county council also commemorated Reserves Day on Wednesday, June 26.

For this special day, Hayley Edwards, Armed Forces liaison officer, shared her experiences of her roles both in the Army Reserve and her civilian career with the council.

She said: "My journey over the past 30 years in the Army Reserve, including three years of full-time service with the Regular Army, has profoundly shaped who I am and how I contribute to both my military and civilian communities."

Her military career has taken her on operational tours and exercises worldwide including in the USA, Falkland Islands, Germany, France, Kosovo and many more countries in Europe.

Ms Edwards added: "By trade I am a professional logistics officer and commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1995.

"The role of a logistics officer is very varied, rewarding and carries the responsibility for the planning and delivery of supplies, kit, equipment and personnel, across the theatre of operations."

Currently, she works at the Army Headquarters in Wales, where she undertakes a non-logistics role as a military-civilian integration officer.

She said: "In my civilian role, I lead the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant across West Wales.

"My primary responsibility is ensuring the Armed Forces Covenant is understood and implemented effectively."

Back in July 2022, the council pledged to guarantee that those who serve, or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated with the respect they deserve.

This initiative can be explored further on the council’s website.

Further proof of the council’s commitment is that, in 2023, it was one of only 17 Welsh employers to receive the prestigious Silver Employer Recognition Scheme award for its support to the Armed Forces Community.

Ms Edwards added: "As a serving reservist, I am hugely fortunate to have the unwavering support of Carmarthenshire County Council.

"Balancing my civilian and military roles is both challenging and rewarding.

"My job within the council is incredibly fulfilling, allowing me to make a tangible difference in the lives of the Armed Forces community."