Name: Julie Porter

Rank: Major

Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)

Date joined: 2005

Length of service: 15 years

Why did you decide to join the military?: I decided to do Pharmacy at University but quickly realised that I didn't enjoy the course that much and didn't really want to become a shop Pharmacist. I then showed an interest in joining the military because it offered a diversity of careers. I initially walked into the RAF careers office to ask if they commissioned Pharmacists and they didn't but they did point me in the direction of the Army office. I immediately agreed to join up, did my four years at University followed by my pre-registration and then officially joined straight up after that. 

What was your reason for leaving the military?: It was a medical discharge due to a recent diagnosis of Scheuermann's disease (curvature of the thoracic spine) which gave me more and more pain as I got older. I was struggling to do day-to-day military tasks. 

How did this injury/illness occur?: It can be caused by a trauma to the spine but I can't recall this happening to me so it was put down to my genetics. 

When and how did you hear about OCF?: Through the Personnel Recovery Unit that I was attached to in the latter months of my military career in 2019. My Personnel Recovery Officer had found out about OCF and asked if I was interested in golf and I said yes.

Had you ever played golf before your first event?: I've only been playing for two years. I had played hockey prior to that and decided that when I left the military I would do something a little bit different. I picked up a golf club and found that it was good fun - I guess the rest is history. 

What has been your experience of OCF so far? What do you take out of the events that you attend?: OCF has been absolutely amazing. I've just attended my third event in Scotland and I look forward to it every year. The people are amazing and so inclusive. I'm generally the only female that turns up but I don't worry about turning up and being in a male dominated environment. 

Throughout lockdown OCF were on emails, organising so many activities and just being really supportive, knowing that lockdown would effect mental health and vulnerable OCF beneficiaries. It's been amazing and I hope to stick around OCF for as long as possible. 

''I would love to help to bring more females on board at OCF and assist in anyway I could because it's just a fantastic sport.''

Would you recommend golf to fellow female veterans?: 100%. If you've never played the game before or are just thinking about it, give it a shot. I would love to help to bring more females on board at OCF and assist in anyway I could because it's just a fantastic sport. 

How has golf improved your overall mental well-being?: It's absolutely amazing. You can play on your own or with a group of people and it's just a break away from everyday life. I've got two children and I can get away for an hour and a half and play 9 holes and I just feel so much better afterwards. It get's you out the house, exercising in fresh air and it is brilliant for mental health. 

What do you hope to gain from OCF in the future?: My aim was to join a club, get my handicap and start competing in various competitions. I actually did that four weeks ago and joined a small club called Binny Golf Club in West Lothian and got my first handicap of 22. I got this on a Thursday, played a competition on the Sunday and won it. My handicap came down to 21 and I played another competition the following Sunday and won that as well! Winning these competitions would have been my long-term aim but coming quite early on is a good thing and gives me even more confidence moving forward. 

Julie's progress has been incredible and we are so proud of her. We hope that her story can inspire more female veterans to take up the game of golf as both a hobby and a tool for rehabilitation.