From Aircraft Technician to Engineering Surveyor

What did you do and where did you serve when in the forces?

I served as an Aircraft Technician Mechanical in the Royal Airforce for 15 and a half years. I was based mainly at RAF Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton as I worked on C130K & J Hercules, and Tristar.

At the start of my career I was posted to RAF Lyneham on a busy first line squadron with the Hercules and was very lucky to travel a lot (some good, some bad) Italy, France, USA, Canada, Iraq and Afghanistan to name a few. On promotion, I went to Brize Norton for three years on 216 Squadron; at the time the primary task for the squadron was to maintain the airbridge between the UK and Afghanistan. It was during this time I completed my HND in Mechanical Engineering.

After taking a career break to travel I returned to Brize Norton on the 33 Eng Sqn with the Hercules fleet. I worked in the Data, Documents and Media centre and travelled to the USA, Canada, Afghanistan, Greece and the Falkland Islands before leaving the RAF in 2015.

Why did you apply to become an Engineer Surveyor?

I had attended a couple of CTP job fairs and had spoken to the team on the British Engineering Services stand. I left them a copy of my CV as it was a job I was qualified and capable of doing and played well to my skill set. It also sounded like it would be interesting as I would be using my engineering skills and knowledge to inspect a variety of plant and equipment. I was asked for a phone interview and later attended a face to face interview in Manchester, following that I was offered the job.

What feelings did you have whilst going through the process?

It was a big step leaving the forces. I had joined at 17 and had spent my whole adult life in the forces. Within days of leaving the RAF I’d been offered 2 jobs and decided to go with British Engineering Services because of everything they offer. British Engineering Services recruit from the forces a lot and half of my intake as a new starter were ex forces. The training and support is excellent and they knew how to bring the best of your previous experience out.

What skills do you use that the forces gave you?

I completed my HND in Mechanical Engineering whilst in the forces, and that knowledge coupled with my experience within my trade have been used daily. British Engineering Services also value the soft skills that you develop over a career in the military, including motivation, communication, efficiency, problem-solving, adaptability, teamwork and professionalism. As I’ve now moved into a management position I will be making full use of all of these, and my leadership skills. Most ex-military personnel have these qualities and they are exactly what employers are looking for.

Any other key points – things you wish you had known, things that were challenging, things that went well?

I wish I had known sooner that there are companies out there that value their engineers’ end experience. There are exciting opportunities and it’s not as scary as you imagine leaving the forces and the support is excellent. I don’t regret my time in the RAF and it is thanks to them I’m as well equipped as I am for the outside world.

I was concerned about working on my own after being part of a team for so long but quickly realised that, although you’re working on your own most of the time as an Engineer Surveyor, you are never truly on your own there is a whole support network behind you, from diary planners, to unit leaders, technical specialists and other surveyors there to help.