Tony Lewis left the RAF as a Warrant Officer in 2021 after serving for more than 38 years. Having worked through the ranks from Aircraftsman to WO, and then transitioning to management and supervisory roles, Tony decided it was time for a career change and registered for support with Career Transition Partnership.
"The camaraderie, lifestyle, training courses, security and opportunity to travel were all elements of the RAF that I thoroughly enjoyed."
Resettlement
During Tony’s early resettlement he managed to attend a 3-day Career Transition Workshop (CTW), as well as additional follow-on CTP workshops:
"Meeting my CTP Career Consultant, getting access to online information, networking with people in a similar situation and understanding the transferable skills I brought to the table were all brilliant elements of the CTW.
"My CTP Consultant was always available for a chat and she pointed me in the right direction with a number of applications. She always kept me updated and kept me on track to meet timeframes and deadlines.
"I attended the Housing Briefing and an online Financial Briefing. The information and advice provided was really useful and I wish I’d done the Financial Briefing much earlier in my journey."
Unfortunately, like so many others, Tony’s resettlement was then impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This meant that some elements of his support were put on hold, but he was still able to make progress thanks to the support of his Career Consultant and the CTP website:
"Unfortunately I was unable to attend any vocational training courses. However, after a talk with my CTP Consultant, I applied for and was granted a 1 year extension on my resettlement, meaning I can complete any outstanding activities as things return to normal.
"I did manage to attend an online CTP Employment Fair which helped to show me that military personnel are well-regarded in the civilian world, and that I possess many desirable, transferable skills.
"I made the most of MyPlan, the Regional Employment Briefs and the Industry Sector Briefs – all of which helped me remain focused on what I wanted to achieve during my resettlement journey."
Successful Outcome
Tony is currently working as an Avionics Systems Manager for British Aerospace Systems in Saudi Arabia:
"I’m responsible for the integration of new equipment for use on various aircraft platforms in an Engineering Authority role. The initial settling in period was rather slow and frustrating, but I am now enjoying my new role."
Advice
As his closing words of advice to fellow Service leavers, Tony explains:
"Start to plan as early as possible and put your resettlement first. Believe in yourself – you’ll be sought after once you leave the military because of your training, work ethic and all the transferable skills you possess.
"And be sure to consider every opportunity that comes along."