Forces: Royal Navy
Neil R - AB1
"I would highly recommend doing a Civilian Work Attachment as part of your resettlement process!"
Ex-AB1 Seaman Specialist Neil Rankin served for almost 13 years in the
Royal Navy before leaving in November 2014. Here, he speaks about his
resettlement and how changing his career into the Emergency Services was
the best choice he made.
Tell us about your Service career
“I
served for 12 years and 8 months as a Seaman Specialist in the Royal
Navy. I was responsible for sea survival equipment, sea boat coxswain
and the replenishment whilst at sea. I enjoyed many aspects of the
military including working with people from all walks of life.”
“While
I was in the Navy, I gained a first aid qualification, which I have
found particularly useful in my new job with the Emergency Services. I
also gained valuable experience in dealing with all kinds of people and
being in dynamic situations.”
How was your resettlement?
“I
attended a CTW in Plymouth, which I found very useful at helping me
structure a CV together. At the workshop, they also helped me learn to
read between the lines of job adverts. During my resettlement I attended
the NEBOSH General Certificate 1, 2 and 3, NEBOSH Environment 1 and
NEBOSH Fire 1 OMS via ELCAS. I found these courses very well run and
although they are not directly relevant to my new role, they provided
further learning, and will look great on my application to University
when I decide to attend for a Paramedic qualification.”
“I
attended two Civilian Work Attachments during my resettlement. The first
was with Manchester Metropolitan University in their HSE team. This CWA
gave me a good insight into the work of a HSE in a civilian
environment. For my second CWA, I undertook four observational shifts
with North West Ambulance Service. These were with an ambulance crew and
with a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle, which gave me a great
insight to the workings of the ambulance service and helped me prepare
for the application and interview stage of the recruitment process. I
would highly recommend doing a Civilian Work Attachment as part of your
resettlement process!”
What are you doing now?
“Since
January 2015 I’ve been training as an Emergency Medical Technician 1
with the North West Ambulance Service, having the contact being passed
to me by the RFEA. My main job roles are providing pre-hospital care and
transport of urgent care cases to hospital in the Manchester area and
helping support paramedics in pre-hospital care.”
“Luckily the
ambulance service provides all the training for the job, but it was
mandatory to hold a C1 category of my driving licence, which I had
already gained.”
What advice would you give other Service leavers?
“Your
Career Consultants are there to help you, so use their guidance as much
as possible. I had great input from my CC when filing out application
forms and sending them down to her prior to submitting them to the jobs
so I could get advice.”
“Civilian Work Attachments are
invaluable. They can confirm what career path you wish to take and gives
you a great introduction to life in the civilian world. It also gave me
a great opportunity to speak to frontline staff about the ups and downs
of the job.”
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