Not necessarily someone her classmates might have guessed would go on to have a career in the Royal Military Police, the British Army’s experts in policing, investigations and detention, nor that she would who has played a key role in serious and high-profile inquiries, conducting investigations both within the UK and overseas. But that’s the thing about stereotypes and assumptions – you can underestimate people.
There’s a ton of evidence that negative stereotypes about women and girls – and assumptions about what they can and can’t do – which undermines our confidence and creates all kinds of blocks and barriers in every area of our lives. While not confined to traditionally male environments like the armed forces, the effects can be felt very intensely in such environments, especially when ingrained cultures and behaviours mean that comments or incidents have often been explained away as being ‘banter’.
Ady’s the first to say that the military has done (and continues to do) a huge amount to address inequality, diversity and inclusion. However, over the years she’s experienced all kinds of challenges – being told that she’d only won an award because she was a female, being judged for how she looks, feeling “put down” by erroneous assumptions about her physical strength and stamina (which led to her ignoring what turned out to be a career-limiting injury), and a lack of understanding about the strengths, gifts and talents that she, and other women, bring to the role. All are soldiers first and foremost, but soldiering requires so much more than brawn and aggression, the stereotypical characteristics often perpetuated by the media.
In addition to a steely determination, Ady brings an analytical mindset, calmness under pressure and a strong desire to set an example. Her compassion and warm nature have enabled her to build rapport and trust with vulnerable people, including women and children – highly valuable skills when it comes to military policing, where a person may find themselves dealing with vulnerable victims and witnesses, including those who have encountered gender-based crime, whether this be conducting investigations in the UK, or deployed overseas.
Sometimes the exclusion faced is inadvertent – for example, whilst working away from her Unit, Ady has often been the only, or one of only a few females. Frequently accommodated away from the larger group(s) of males, work plans have been changed or colleagues have decided to socialise, but messages have (totally innocently) not been passed to her or other females, meaning that timings or instructions have been missed. Whilst such oversights appear small, the consequences can be significant.
Ady is proud to serve. In addition to acknowledging the work the Army is doing and the unswerving support that she receives from the organisation, and in particular her Regiment, Ady credits The Girls’ Brigade, and its selfless and inspirational leaders, with helping her develop the life skills, values and confidence to “do the right thing on a difficult day” as well as the courage to be herself. She joined as a youngster of ten years of age and having moved groups whenever she has relocated with work (finding an extended family of fantastic women wherever she has gone), she is currently a leader at 8th Portsmouth, where she inspires others and helps the girls develop the skills and confidence to live life to the full.