Black History Month: Stories of Service and Success

In this special episode of the West Midland RFCA Podcast, we're marking Black History Month with two fascinating conversations exploring achievement, opportunity, representation and the power of perseverance across our Armed Forces community. First, we speak to Colonel Angela Notice, the newly appointed County Commandant of Warwickshire and West Midlands (South Sector) Army Cadet Force. From joining as one of the first female cadets to rising through the ranks to lead the County, Angela reflects on her remarkable journey, the lessons she's learned and the importance of inspiring the next generation. Then, we're joined by British Army Medical Analyst Melissa Forrester-Frame and Lance Corporal Keenan Oculi to explore the Army Apprenticeship Programme, their personal experiences and the opportunities it provides. We discuss the importance of support networks, the Army Multicultural Network (AMCN), the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and why recognising and celebrating Black achievement remains so important. Together, their stories highlight the value of opening doors, overcoming challenges and creating opportunities for future generations. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:37 – Interview with Colonel Angela Notice, County Commandant of Warwickshire and West Midlands (South Sector) Army Cadet Force 09:27 – Interview with Melissa Forrester-Frame and Lance Corporal Keenan Oculi 09:37 – Introductions: Melissa and Keenan's backgrounds 12:57 – What is the Army Apprenticeship Programme? How Melissa got involved 15:12 – Keenan's experience with the programme 17:12 – The importance of support networks when learning 19:27 – Melissa's support network 23:17 – Melissa explains the Army Multicultural Network (AMCN) 26:12 – Keenan discusses the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 28:12 – Melissa's experience 31:39 – What would winning mean to Keenan? 33:17 – Why continuing to celebrate Black History Month matters 39:19 – Advice for those facing career setbacks because of their background 44:06 – Final reflections and closing remarks Links West Midland RFCA Cadets Cadet Force Adult Volunteers WMRFCA LinkedIn WMRFCA Instagram WMRFCA Facebook Enjoying the West Midland RFCA Podcast? Help us reach more listeners by following the podcast on your favourite platform, sharing episodes with your network and leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. You can also explore our growing archive of conversations covering cadets, reservists, employers, volunteers and the wider Armed Forces community. Listen and review on Apple Podcasts Hosted and produced by Tom Kwei Music by Alex Cottrell