An Angus marine who lost part of his leg when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan has started a scheme to help other injured veterans into employment.
After surviving a blast from a suicide bomb attack in 2007, Lance Corporal Jay Hare suffered life-changing injuries when he stepped on the bomb on his return to Helmand a year later.
He woke up 10 days later at Birmingham’s Sellyoak Hospital to find he had lost his left leg below the knee, his left eye, two fingers and much of his nose and face.
The 45 Commando marine said it took 11 operations, each lasting between four and 10 hours, to reconstruct his face.
“Losing part of my face was actually the worst of my injuries because you lose part of your identity,” he said.
“You are used to looking a bit like your mum and dad and your prominent features are gone and you don’t recognise yourself when you look in the mirror.
“The support I’ve had from the Royal Marines was excellent they were all there for me.
“You pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep moving forward.”
Jay, who was based in Broughty Ferry while serving with the Arbroath marine unit, subsequently became involved with the charity Horseback UK, which helps injured troops regain their confidence through working with horses.
Around 480 service personnel have now attended the ranch in Aboyne which charity founder and former marine Jock Hutchison describes as a chance for them to become leaders again under instruction from other veterans who have also suffered injuries.
The programme has also attracted oil executives who have undergone the training as a management and team-building exercise.
It was through these links that Jay thought of the idea of setting up a scheme to help injured veterans find employment in the oil industry.
He said: “I think the oil industry is one that correlates very well to the military.
“I asked around a few oil companies who said they’d love to help injured servicemen get back to employment.”
The three-day event saw veterans receive a presentation about how the oil industry operates, a talk about how to correctly write a CV and covering letter, a visit to oil premises and a networking evening.