Now that 2025 has come to an end, it’s time to pause, reflect, and look back at what this year has meant for our community. Not as a platform or organisation, but as people who understand service, transition, and the mix of pride, frustration, and uncertainty that comes with both.
This year was about showing up. Doing the work that matters. Supporting people across the military, blue-light, and wider service community as they navigate life during and after service. Progress was steady, intentional, and driven by purpose.
That is exactly why this community exists.
What We Built Together
2025 saw the launch of The Ops Con Membership, giving individuals real ownership over their development while strengthening the wider community.
Membership is more than discounts on training, equipment, and professional support. It contributes directly to a training fund that creates subsidised and fully funded opportunities for those who might otherwise miss out. The more members we have, the greater the collective impact.
We also chose the Afghanistan Veterans Community as our charity of choice, because supporting people after service is just as important as the work we do during it. Alongside this, we partnered with organisations we trust, who understand the responsibility of working with this community and deliver training and support properly, without shortcuts.
Securing SFJ accreditation at our Battersea Power Station base was another key milestone, enabling us to deliver recognised, credible training from a place that reflects the standards we expect.
Where We Put the Work In
This year was about outcomes, not announcements.
· We fully funded a place on the Ronin SA Close Protection Course, removing the financial barrier and supporting one of our own to take a meaningful step forward.
· Our free CV Writing Competition translated years of service into something employers could understand, leading directly to interviews and employment.
· We delivered a member giveaway worth over £1,000, quietly and without fuss, because sometimes support is best handled that way.
Remembrance. Respect. Responsibility.
This year’s Remembrance Sunday was more than a quiet moment of reflection. It was a gathering of shared history, connection, and meaning. Our founder, Fraser, and Sergeant Major Scott Cox stood alongside the Afghanistan Veterans Community in London, walking together not into battle this time, but into remembrance as comrades united by experience. Their shared steps marked more than tradition; they represented remembrance, resilience, unity, and the power of community when it is nurtured and supported.
Last year, around sixty veterans and family members marched past the Cenotaph with the AVC. This year that number grew to seventy-five, a visible reminder of how support and connection can strengthen those who have given so much.
Remembrance for us is not just about honouring the past. It is about how we choose to support those who are here now. It is about building community, creating opportunity, and making sure no one carries the weight of transition or loss alone. It is why integrity, respect, and community are not simply values we reference, but responsibilities we act on every day.
What Really Mattered
The people. Always the people.
The messages that say, “This helped,” or “I didn’t realise I needed this until now.” The private conversations that stay between us. The moments when someone found clarity, opportunity, or support because this community was there.
It was the small wins, the acts of quiet kindness, the doors opened for someone unsure of their next step. It was the shared learning, and the reminders that transition is rarely straightforward and never meant to be walked alone.
This community is built on lived experience, shaped by those who have served and the families and friends who carried that service alongside them. What really mattered this year wasn’t the milestones themselves, it was the people behind them and the difference it made in their lives.
Looking Ahead to 2026
We are not slowing down. Next year, we will continue building, refining, and creating opportunities where they are genuinely needed.
Here’s what we have planned for early 2026:
· Ops Con Courses Launch at our London Headquarters, providing high-quality, practical training for members.
· Level 3 Emergency First Aid (SFJ Accredited) – 1-day course on 19th January, giving essential skills to act confidently in any emergency.
· Close Protection Familiarisation Day – 24th January – a hands-on introduction for those interested in the close protection world but not yet ready to commit to a full CP course, as well as for those already qualified who want to gain experience, network, and hone their skills. It’s a space to see different perspectives, learn from others, and develop without pressure or prejudice.
These events are just the start. We will continue to expand opportunities, deliver training, and provide support that genuinely makes a difference.
Thank You
None of this works without you.
Your trust, support, and willingness to be part of something that looks after its own is what keeps this community moving forward.
As we step into 2026, we also take a moment to remember why The Ops Con exists: to provide a space where those who have served are supported, connected, and equipped for the next chapter. A place where experiences are shared, lessons are learned, and progress is built together.
It’s also about family, the loved ones, partners, and friends who carry service alongside those in uniform. This community extends to them too, because none of us do this alone.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for backing it. And thank you for keeping us motivated to keep raising the bar.
Here’s to a strong, connected, and forward-moving 2026.
By the community. For the community.
