A Royal Sutton Coldfield resident, and Army Reservist, has gone viral on social media after sharing news about receiving a special recognition medal from the military.

Captain Jay Singh-Sohal VR tweeted a photo in uniform holding up the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal (VRSM), and a message:

Jay Singh-Sohal VR

@JSinghSohal - Dec 3

 On almost 12 years to the day since I joined the @britisharmy I’m deeply honoured to receive the VRSM. Proud to serve my country in uniform! Thank you to my family & friends who’ve supported my Reservist career all these years, through the good times and hard

The post has since gone viral on social media, receiving half a million impressions, more than 10.000 likes and hundreds of comments welcoming the recognition on Twitter, including from MPs, veterans, celebrities and senior military officials.

The VRSM is a special recognition awarded to Army reservists who accrue a decade of continuous service.  Recipients earn the right to carry the post-nominals "VR" after their name.

Jay joined 55 Military Intelligence in Stourbridge in 2009, and has during his reservist career served on Operations against ISIS and in countries including India, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Italy and Germany.  In 2020, during the COVID emergency, he voluntarily mobilised for the Army's response to the pandemic during Op Rescript.