Martine McNee

When Martine McNee from Glasgow joined the Army aged 21, she believed it would be a career for life. Sadly, after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Martine’s dreams were cut short.

After feeling lost and unhappy at leaving military life behind, Martine, 54, found hope through The Open University (OU) Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund. 

She shares how achieving a First-Class Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Combined STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is giving her a second chance at a fulfilling career.

“I very much saw my life in the Army as a lifelong career as I enjoyed it so much,” says Martine. 

“Since 1994, I served in a specialist communications unit and was posted around the world in places like Bosnia, Croatia and Iraq.”

It was while serving that Martine started to struggle with her health and would sometimes drop items without reason or feel unsteady on her feet.

“I thought it was just tiredness, but then I started to get numbness in my fingers and had increasing difficulty in dismantling and loading weapons,” she says.

“Then one day my legs suddenly gave way under me and I crumpled and fell in the street. I underwent all kinds of fitness tests and was seen by a neurologist. In January 2018, they confirmed my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.”

A life-changing illness

Only ten minutes after her diagnosis, Martine received a call to say she was being put forward for a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Sadly, she would never be able to achieve this career goal.

“My diagnosis was a huge blow,” Martine shares. “I understood what it meant for my career and everything I loved about serving the Army. 

“I could only fulfil the promotion if I was deemed medically fit and in April 2020, I reached a mutual decision to be medically discharged from the Army.”

Martine admits that she felt incredibly sad to leave the career, friends and Army community she had always known. 

Feeling lost, she joined support groups for veterans dealing with MS, which is where she was encouraged to apply for an Open University scholarship.

Designed to support veterans like Martine, the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund (DVSF) provides free access to study and specialist support so that veterans injured during or due to service can rebuild their lives outside of the military.

Martine describes feeling ‘overjoyed’ the moment she learned she had been accepted for a scholarship and would soon become a university student. 

“I was metaphorically jumping around my living room,” she says.

Being awarded an OU scholarship was an absolute godsend. The support and motivation from the OU was amazing and I had my own personal support advisor.”

“I can honestly say that being awarded an OU scholarship was an absolute godsend. 

“The course exceeded my expectations. It’s given me massive new life skills, confidence and self-belief. 

“The support and motivation from the OU was amazing and I had my own personal support advisor,” she adds.

Martine combined her flexible OU degree with a Ministry of Defence government communications job. 

As well as taking her studies on some work trips – to military training areas and naval shipyards – Martine fitted them around big projects.

Finding confidence and a new career

Now a proud OU graduate, Martine has embarked on a Masters degree in Practical Ethics at the University of Oxford. 

This includes the study of medical and artificial intelligence ethics, mental health and disability ethics, and, of particular interest to Martine, environmental ethics.

“The OU modules I studied on the environment and the impact we are having on it have led me to radically change my attitude to how I live, and the direction I would like my career to go,” says Martine.

I am looking at science communications about climate change, with the credibility of my OU qualification.”

“I am looking at science communications about climate change, with the credibility of my OU qualification.

“I would like to communicate achievable changes that people can make to their everyday lives, which could have lasting and positive improvements for our environment.

“I would also like to involve myself in lobbying the government for improvements in environmental laws and protections.”

Life-changing scholarships are only possible thanks to the generosity of donors. To everyone who supports the OU’s fundraising, Martine has the following message of thanks:

“I’m eternally grateful to the OU’s donors for giving me a fresh chance and purpose in my life. 

“If you can, please keep giving so that more disabled veterans who have served this country and come back damaged can be given the same opportunity.

“It’s a fantastic way of building back veterans’ self-belief and getting them back to the workplace.”