Finding Her Happy Place: Alecia Jackson’s Story of Success on the Ice

For AS1 Alecia Jackson, two ambitions have shaped her life: serving in the Royal Air Force and playing ice hockey. Today, she is fortunate enough to be doing both.

An Intelligence specialist by trade, a goalkeeper by passion and now an RAF Central Fund Ambassador, Alecia represents the very best of sport in the RAF.

Her journey demonstrates how sport can build confidence, develop skills, create lifelong friendships and provide an important balance alongside Service life. Her story is not simply about trophies and achievements. It is about finding a community, discovering something she loves and showing how sport can help people grow both personally and professionally.

Finding a sport that felt right

For Alecia, ice hockey became the sport she had always been searching for. “It is such an exciting sport,” she explains. “It is fast, challenging and there is always something happening. The best thing is that I do not even realise I am exercising because I am enjoying myself so much.”

Before discovering ice hockey, traditional fitness had never really appealed to her. “I have never been someone who enjoys going out for a run, and I never really found a sport I connected with. When I stepped onto the ice, it was completely different. I found something I genuinely loved.”

Before joining the RAF, Alecia began playing with a community team in Telford, where she met members of the RAF Ice Hockey Association. That introduction gave her an insight into military life and the opportunities available through Service sport. “I had always wanted to join the military, but I was not completely sure which Service was right for me.

Meeting people through ice hockey gave me the chance to see what RAF life was really like. I saw the teamwork; the friendships and the opportunities people had outside of their day jobs. It showed me the RAF was about so much more than just your role.” When Alecia joined the RAF in 2023, she quickly became part of the RAF Ice Hockey community and has remained involved ever since.

A goalkeeper’s mindset

Goalkeeping is one of the most demanding roles in sport. The pressure is high, decisions must be made quickly and mistakes can be costly.

For Alecia, that challenge is exactly what makes it rewarding. “You have a lot of responsibility, but you also have the opportunity to make a real difference. You might be standing on your own in the crease, but you are still part of a team. Everyone relies on each other, and everyone has an important role to play.”

That mindset reflects many of the qualities required in her RAF career as an Intelligence specialist. “You have to stay calm and focused when things do not go according to plan. Whether that is at work or on the ice, you have to be able to reset, learn from what has happened and move forward.”

Ice hockey has also helped Alecia develop confidence in communication. “I am naturally quite a quiet person, but being a goalkeeper has really helped me find my voice. I can see the whole rink, so I have to communicate clearly and make sure my teammates know what I am seeing. That confidence has carried over into my everyday work as well.”

More than just a game

For Alecia, the greatest value of ice hockey is not just found in competition. It is the positive impact it has on her wellbeing. “It is my happy place,” she says.

“After a busy day, stepping onto the ice gives me the chance to switch off. I am not thinking about anything else that has happened during the day; I am just focused on the game. “That balance is really important. Being able to do something you enjoy means you can come back refreshed and ready to give your best again.”

The sport has also helped Alecia build friendships that extend far beyond the rink. “Some of the people I have met through ice hockey will be friends for life. The RAF is such a big organisation, and wherever you go you often find someone you know through sport. That sense of belonging makes a huge difference.”

Success built on teamwork

Although the goalkeeper can often be the focus of attention, Alecia is quick to highlight the importance of the team around her. “I might be the person in the net, but without the players in front of me doing their jobs, I would not be able to do mine. That is what makes ice hockey special. Everyone has to work together, and everyone’s contribution matters.”

The RAF Ice Hockey Association has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with both the women’s Pumas and men’s Aces establishing themselves as successful and competitive teams. For Alecia, one of the highlights of her time with the team has been winning successive Inter Services titles alongside her teammates.

This was wonderfully demonstrated with the RAF’s victory over the Army at the 2026 Inter Services Championship in Sheffield, where Alecia made a string of crucial saves as the Pumas prevailed 4-3 in a thrilling encounter to retain their title. The continued success of RAF Ice Hockey reflects the commitment of everyone involved and continues to inspire more Service personnel to get involved.

Supported by the RAF Central Fund

Ice hockey is a sport that comes with significant costs. Players require specialist protective equipment, with goalkeepers needing some of the most expensive kit on the ice.

This is where the support provided by the RAF Central Fund plays an important role. Through the Sports Lottery, Alecia receives an annual grant towards replacing essential equipment and continuing to take part in the sport she loves. “The support makes such a difference. Ice hockey is expensive, from the equipment to the ice time, so having that help means a lot. With goalkeeper equipment, you often have to prioritise what needs replacing first, so the grant really does help keep you on the ice.”

As an RAF Central Fund Ambassador, Alecia is proud to highlight the difference the charity makes across the RAF community. “The Sports Lottery is not just about winning prizes. It directly supports people being able to take part in sport, whether that is at grassroots level or competing at the highest level. It gives people opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Alecia has experienced the winning side herself. “I had only been in the RAF for a couple of weeks when I signed up at Halton and ended up winning £100. It was a great surprise and a lovely introduction!” Her message to others is simple: “Get involved. You never know where it might take you.”

Opportunities beyond the rink

Sport is one of the many ways RAF personnel can experience opportunities they may never have imagined. Through RAF Ice Hockey, players have travelled across Europe and even visited Canada, the home of the sport.

“Playing ice hockey in Canada is something many people will never get the chance to experience. It makes you realise how special Service sport can be.” The sport also brings together people from every rank, trade and background. When you are on the ice, everyone is working towards the same goal and you see a completely different side of people. Sport has a great way of breaking down barriers.”

Alecia understands that trying a new sport can feel daunting, particularly for those who lack experience or confidence and her advice is simple. “Just give it a go. You do not have to be an expert, and you do not have to know everything straight away. Everyone starts somewhere. You might discover something you never expected to enjoy. You might find a new hobby, new friends or even a community that stays with you throughout your career.”

Looking back, Alecia never imagined that a sport she discovered as a teenager would lead her to represent the RAF, win titles and become an RAF Central Fund Ambassador. “If I could speak to myself at 13, watching other people play, I do not think I would ever have believed that one day I would be playing at this level and sharing my story. It just shows you should never be afraid to try something new.”

Alecia Jackson’s journey is a reminder that RAF Sport is about far more than competition. It creates opportunities, builds confidence, strengthens teams and helps Service personnel thrive. For Alecia, ice hockey has become more than a sport. It has become her community, her passion and her happy place.

Watch Alicia’s interview via our Instagram below.