TWO long-serving members of staff at Okehampton Army Camp held a special celebration this week.
Camp nurse Janet Rattenbury and communications charge hand Ray Jones have both clocked up 25 years at the base.
The post of camp nurse, one of only five in the country, is being phased out because of changes in the law governing medical practice, a move which camp commandant Colonel Charlie Pyman says he 'deeply regrets.'
The colonel said Janet had looked after the health and welfare of thousands of servicemen and women from visiting units and the camp's permanent staff.
'She has played a vital role here and more recently has also been involved instructing first aid as well as being the equal opportunities officer,' he said.
'Ray's role has been equally important, because he has made our communications possible from the days when the moor was mainly used by the Royal Artillery, to the requirements today of safety and range control.'
Although radio and mobile phones have replaced line communications, in many areas there were still parts of the moor where communications could not be guaranteed and therefore line was still essential, said the commandant.
He started as a general labourer in 1977 and worked up to charge hand.
In 1987 both he and colleague Colin Hutchings were awarded a certificate of commendation for escorting a group of 30+ young people off the moor during the Ten Tors expedition, in the worst weather conditions since the challenge began.
Janet, meanwhile, said her first days as a young camp nurse were terrifying, having to deal with every situation that came through the door with no doctor to back her up.
'The first unit I came across was a group of Scottish lowlanders from Glasgow and having never worked with the military before it was quite an experience,' she said.
From soldiers with gunshot wounds, to contractors falling off buildings and injuring their backs, to homesick cadets and cases of hypothermia and dehydration, Janet has seen and dealt with a vast range of incidents in her 25 years.
Her training has been ongoing and recently she has trained others in first aid including ex-offenders at the Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation, which she said was a real 'eye-opener.'
Always eager to learn, she even spent her 50th birthday at university.
'I have really enjoyed working at the camp and it always fitted in well with my family life so I have never wanted to go anywhere else,' said Janet.
'I also got used to being my own boss so I don't think I could ever go back to working in a hospital again.'
The nurse from Bridestowe plans to go into the B&B business next year, but added she would have to get out of military mode.
'I am so used to ordering people around that I may have to tone it down a bit,' she said jokingly.