Resettlement success

Graham S - Lieutenant Colonel

“There is life after the services. You are a useful asset and can bring a lot of life skills and experience to any profession. Make use of the life skills that you have.”

Background
Ex-Lieutenant Colonel Graham S left the Army in late 2010, having served for 33 years in a variety of roles, including as a helicopter pilot and Squadron Commander, Staff Officer in 5 Airborne Brigade and Headquarters, Northern Ireland (HQNI), Team Leader, Training Officer and Operations Officer in Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG) and Defence Attaché (DA) to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Graham enjoyed the wide variety of the job and the opportunities afforded by his military career, including the chance “to meet with and work with Service people from a very different background to mine and to learn about their aspirations and lives” along with “working with high level military and diplomatic officers on an international stage.”

During his career, Graham studied for a BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) with the Open University, and also obtained a Diploma in Russian and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law, so felt well equipped when leaving the Army.

Resettlement
As part of his resettlement training Graham attended a Career Transition Workshop (CTW) at RRC Northolt, and says that the workshop was very helpful, finding the CV and letter writing advice of particular use, along with the sessions on interview techniques. Additionally, Graham attended a Financial Aspects of Resettlement (FAR) briefing, plus with Insight to Management Consultancy and Business Start Up workshops.

With his plans to move into teaching firmly in place, Graham completed the Cambridge Certificate of English Language Teaching for Adults (CELTA) course at International House in London. He says, “this is the ace of qualifications for teaching English as a foreign language. Without this qualification – no job.”

Prior to starting his current role, Graham completed three months as a volunteer teaching English at a private school for disadvantaged children in Kathmandu, Nepal (pictured). He thoroughly recommends the experience to other Service leavers, saying, “be a volunteer and get as much experience as possible in the field of work that interests you as it embellishes your CV. So much better than sitting around job searching. Think outside the box and do something that may not be in your comfort zone. You may well be surprised how rewarding it is.”

Outcome
This invaluable experience undoubtedly helped in securing his job as a teacher at the Capital School of English in Bournemouth, where he teaches foreign language students who range from extreme beginners to proficiency level. Graham found the role on a respected English as a foreign language job search website, www.TEFL.com and had a positive experience when settling into the role, saying that “the School gave a very good induction and teachers are regularly observed by senior staff. Constructive comments are made and every assistance is given, and continues to be given, to new and inexperienced teachers.”

When asked what advice he would pass on to other Service leavers, Graham says “There is life after the services. You are a useful asset and can bring a lot of life skills and experience to any profession. There is a lot of respect out there for those who have served in the armed forces and our ability to get on with things, organize ourselves and plan ahead as well as deal with changes to any plan. Make use of the life skills that you have.”