Breakdown Services

Name: Kevin Wright

Rank on Exit: Cpl

Years of Service: 15 Years

Qualifications Gained: NVQ3 Engineering Maintenance

Having served in the REME for nearly 15 years, specialising as a Class One VE/VM, Cpl Kevin Wright left the Forces this February as ‘I wanted to spend more time with my family and to try a new challenge.’ He gained a host of civilian qualifications during his time in uniform: Engineering Advanced Modern Apprenticeship; NVQ3 Engineering Maintenance; NVQ3 Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering (Fitting and Assembly); NVQ3 Engineering – Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance; City & Guilds Certificate in Basic Engineering Competences General Engineering; City & Guilds Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Competences; City & Guilds Certificate in Electrical and Electronic Craft Studies Part 3; SVQ2 Transporting Goods By Road; and Institute of Motoring Industry Approved Vehicle Electrician. In addition, he achieved driving licence categories A, B, BE, B1, C, CE, C1, C1E and FKP, and says that the training or experience gained during his Service career that he is now finding useful in civilian life includes ‘discipline, the ability to work alone or as part of a team, working to tight schedules, and the ability to work on a wide and varied range of vehicles and equipment, as well as in unusual and difficult environments’.

He found his CTW helpful in preparing his CV and understanding interview techniques. His first civilian job on leaving the Forces was as an RAC patrol technician – a job he has now been doing for four months. It involves ‘attending emergency and routine breakdowns, assessing the situation quickly, while keeping the member(s) in a safe environment at all times, attending to customers’ needs and getting them and their vehicle to a safe location, then attempting to fix the vehicle with the use of a well-kitted-out patrol vehicle and trusted repair-and-go garages’.

In terms of the positive aspects of his new job, he says: ‘I like helping the customer and seeing the relief as you fix their vehicle and watch them drive off safely. I enjoy working face to face with the public and meeting people from all walks of life, plus I get to spend a lot more time at home with my wife and kids.’ In addition, ‘The salary is good and, the more you apply yourself to the job, the more you get out of it in the wage packet. Opportunities for overtime are good, too.’

Published July 2011

Name: David Maloney

Rank on Exit: LCpl

Years of Service: Over 5 Years

Qualifications Gained: RAC Automotive Technology Workshop

David served in the REME for just over five years, specialising as a VM and leaving as a LCpl in May 2002 ‘due to unpredictable overseas postings as I was planning to get married’. Civilian qualifications gained during his Service career include City & Guilds level 2 in Motor Vehicles, and driving licence categories A, B, C and C+E. In addition, he says that the training or experience gained during his Service career that he has found useful in civilian life includes ‘vehicle mechanic training, first aid, orienteering, fitness, leadership, teamwork, initiative, discipline, maturity and professionalism’.

During resettlement he attended the RAC Automotive Technology Workshop, which he says was ‘extremely useful as it got me up to speed with modern vehicle electrical and mechanical systems. After I completed the course, positions were available within the RAC, however these were not local to where I had chosen to live on leaving the Army, so I joined another company. At a later date, though, the RAC was advertising locally and I applied for the position of Rescue Patrol, in which I was successful. This was largely due to the training I had received from the RAC on my resettlement.’

He has now been doing this job for three and a half years and says that it mainly involves ‘attending all makes of motor vehicles that have broken down for numerous reasons at roadside or residential addresses. My aim is to repair the vehicle at the roadside or, if this is not possible, recover it to a place of repair – in either circumstance, the customer’s safety is a priority. This is especially important as a major part of my role is customer satisfaction and maintaining customer relationships.

‘I enjoy the daily challenge of the job, and meeting new people, as well as the satisfaction I receive from my role. My home life is much more settled now, and my work/life balance has really improved.’ In addition to such personal benefits, he concludes: ‘The RAC operates a bonus scheme via which salary can be significantly increased due to good performance.’

Published July 2011

Breakdown Services - Case Studies