Martin brings his RN experience into the classroom

Marine engineering/manoeuvring room training instructor Martin Claydon is happiest when he is teaching and mentoring Royal Navy students at the Astute Class Training Service at HMNB Clyde. Over the last nine and a half years Martin has been encouraging the next generation of sailors in the classroom and, by using the Astute Class Training Service’s state of the art simulators, has given hundreds of trainee sailors hands on experience of the kind of tasks they will need to know inside-out while on operations, drawing heavily on his experience of naval nuclear propulsion systems gained on board the Astute Class.

It’s all about experiencing how trainees evolve as part of the learning process for Martin and being a part of the process that produces ‘sea ready’ sailors. As a former Category A Watchkeeper with the Royal Navy Submarine Service, Martin knows first-hand the benefits that high quality training can bring.

In a normal day Martin will spend between three and six hours working with trainees in the manoeuvring room training on simulator-based activity or in the classroom for some more traditional learning. When he’s not face-to-face with his students he’s either catching up on paperwork or carrying out upkeep, reviews or modifications to the courses.

Martin looks back proudly on his involvement with one of his biggest challenges – designing a Reactor Control Indication Maintainers course. This 18 day course is jointly delivered by the Astute Class Training Service and the Post Design Support Facility in Raynesway, Derby and called on all of Martin’s experience and skill to get over the line.

As an employee of Babcock, Martin enjoys the stability of working doing regular hours on shore in Clyde, whilst retaining his connections with the Royal Navy. Working at HMNB Clyde brings some unusual perks including access to a range of great sports facilities and a dry ski slope. Babcock is committed to the Armed Forces and offers special paid leave to employees with a reservist obligation.