Major Nicola Turrell joined the Army in 2008 after completing a degree at the University of Leeds. Her first posting was to 16 Regiment Royal Artillery, which specialises in Ground-Based Air Defence. Her early career included service in the Falkland Islands and an operational tour in Afghanistan managing an Urgent Operational Requirement Surveillance and Target Acquisition network. Following the birth of her first child, she left Regular service for a period of parental leave before taking up a Full Time Reserve Service post on Programme CASTLE, a talent management transformation programme.