Jim served 10 years in the Royal Air Force as an Aircraft Weapons Technician; 1980 – 1990 and was also part of the Operation Corporate Task Force for 1(F) Squadron Harriers Support team during the Falklands conflict in 1982 being awarded the South Atlantic Medal and Rosette.

After leaving the RAF, Jim spent 8 years unemployed and living as ‘no fixed abode’, drifting around the country and almost died from alcoholism.

20 years ago, he managed to stop drinking and swapped alcohol for education, becoming a Teacher in Adult Education, specialising in Employability and an ICT Lecturer with Newcastle college going on to achieve a BA (hons) Ed and Certificate in Education (Cert Ed), while working full-time and studying during evenings and weekends.

Jim then went on to become the Drug and Alcohol Partnership Officer for Gateshead Council and from there to being a Project Manager for NERAF (Drug & Alcohol recovery) in Gateshead and South Tyneside.

Jim then became a Business Manager in Adult Education working in Health & Social care; training carers, running apprenticeships and teams of assessors for Empire Training Solutions in Newcastle upon Tyne.

After being laid off in 2016, Jim decided to found and establish Operation Veteran, using his own personal experiences, subsequent training and background to develop support systems and provide services to help veterans with the transition from the Armed Forces to Civvy Street.