Wing Commander Jackie Wren, Senior People Officer, British Forces Cyprus HQ
At the heart of the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command's global presence are our overseas bases, playing a fundamental role in protecting the UK and maintaining regional security is British Forces Cyprus.
Wing Commander Jackie Wren’s role as the Senior People Officer in the Headquarters covers every aspect of our deployed personnel’s lives; from pay and allowances, to welfare and safeguarding, housing, education, childcare, and youth services.
She has spent two years transforming life for Defence families at our base, supporting thousands of service personnel, Civil Servants and families, including around 2,000 service children.
Wing Commander Wren has concluded her assignment with British Forces Cyprus, she reflected on the challenges, but also the privilege, to be at the heart of supporting those who make Defence work overseas.
Creating an assignment of choice
When I arrived in Cyprus as SO1 J1 I knew I was stepping into one of Defence's busiest overseas communities. From the outset, I wanted to ensure that life in Cyprus would be more than just acceptable; it should be rewarding, supportive, and a genuine assignment of choice.
Over the past two years, my team and I have focused on strengthening the "overseas offer," creating conditions where families feel valued, and personnel can focus on their duties knowing that their loved ones are supported.
This work has not always been glamorous, but it has been vital. By supporting our people and their families we will continue to strengthen our ability to project and protect the UKs interests overseas.
Supporting Defence's overseas community
Together with colleagues in CSOC and the wider Ministry of Defence, we have driven forward significant policy improvements to the people offer. Among them: new allowances developments, aligning childcare and nursery services more closely with the UK offer, and leading the overseas trial of modernised housing and support entitlements for long-term relationships.
That trial has enabled 123 families to accompany their partners to Cyprus over the last 18 months, families who previously would not have had the chance to share the assignment.
Investing in the next generation
Education and youth services have been another cornerstone. Partnering with Defence Children's Services, we safeguarded high-quality schooling, nursery and childcare provision, giving parents the confidence to focus on their demanding roles knowing their children are safe and benefiting from a quality education.
I have also been privileged to oversee the BFC Youth Service, supporting year-round clubs and holiday programmes that brought our young people together. One highlight was launching the annual Young Star Awards with British Forces Social Work Services, celebrating the achievements of our children and recognising their resilience and success.
Alongside this for adults, the community education programme has flourished, offering a wide range of education, training and personal development opportunities that continue to be widely used and deeply appreciated.
A foundation for future success
Looking back, I feel proud of what we have achieved against a backdrop of high operational demands. None of this would have been possible without the commitment, professionalism, and creativity of my team. Their work has delivered real improvements that touch daily lives across British Forces Cyprus. As I leave, I do so with gratitude for the people I have served alongside, pride in the changes we have made, and confidence that the foundations are in place for even greater progress in the years ahead at one of Defence’s most vital strategic bases.
Our people are the lifeblood of CSOC – a dedicated force of 26,000 specialists stationed at over 130 sites worldwide. From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our specialists are ready to fight across all domains to protect the UK.
Our specialist operators are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t.
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