Engineering - Mechanical

Name: Robert Buchanan-Brown

Rank on Exit: Cpl

Years of Service: 14 Years

Qualifications Gained: -

Cpl Robert Buchanan-Brown, now 35, left the RAF in 2010 after almost 14 years’ Service, seeking a ‘new challenge’ having specialised as a Weapons Tech. Asked about the skills he gained during his time in uniform that he now finds useful in civilian life, he responds, ‘Obviously my technical training, but also a strong sense of teamwork, working in difficult or stressful situations, plus loyalty and a determination to succeed.’

He found his CTW ‘useful in preparing my CV and also giving me an insight in what to expect when applying for jobs. It also made me realise how much I had to offer civilian companies.’

Asked how he found his first civilian job on leaving the Armed Forces, he says, ‘My situation was a little different to that of most Service leavers because I had already decided to move to the Netherlands. Shortly after moving there I attended a basic Dutch language course and then started to apply for jobs. Initially I had little success because of my low standard of Dutch, but then I started applying for work in the international engineering sector. Early in 2011 I had three job interviews; the first was with a company called Stork. The initial interview was quite informal and went well, so I was invited back for two back-to-back interviews with four people. I was confident and sold myself well and a week later they offered me the job, which I gladly accepted.’

Now working as an international field service engineer at Stork Marel (a post he has been in for nine months), he says it ‘is a company that designs, manufactures and installs machinery that processes poultry all over the world. My job is to travel to different countries to install, service and maintain this equipment – currently 70–80% international travel. I will normally spend a week or two preparing the job in the Netherlands and then one to six weeks working in the field. On my return, I have to write a report detailing all work done, areas for improvement and recommendations for sales.

‘I enjoy the variety of work,’ he continues, ‘travelling to new countries and meeting new people, but sometimes you can be working on your own and that’s when I miss the camaraderie of working in a team.’

Asked about the differences between his new role and life in the Services, he responds: ‘In my current job I have a lot more freedom to find solutions to problems in my own way. I don’t really have a boss – you are given a job and you decide how best to do it. Also I now deal with customers, so I also have to be part salesman and keep an eye out for any opportunities. There is quite a significant difference in salary, too! In the Services you are expected to travel and be away from home for long periods of time with little reward, but I was happy to learn that this is not the case as a civilian!’

Published December 11

Name: Richard Masters

Rank on Exit: Lt Cdr

Years of Service: 28 Years

Qualifications Gained: MA (Education), and MA (Defence Studies)

Lt Cdr Richard Masters served for almost 28 years, specialising in Training/Communications and Ops Planning in an Engineering branch (Training Management), retiring in 2009. Now working as a Lecturer in Engineering at Exeter College, he says that the training or experience he gained during his Service career that he now finds useful in civilian life includes ‘training/educational delivery, design and management at further educational and university level, and recruitment and interviewing experience’. During his Service career he also gained civilian qualifications including an MA (Education), and MA (Defence Studies) and became a Fellow of the CIPD.

He found his first (and current) civilian job on leaving the Forces by ‘looking on the internet’. His job involves, he says, ‘teaching young people to first-year degree level, from the age of about 17 to adult in all the engineering subjects. This is very unusual in colleges as normally lecturers can teach only in one or two of the four engineering disciplines – mechanical (maths, physics, materials, structures), electrical (generators, motors, machines), electronics (analogue and digital) and project management – whereas I can be programmed to teach all four. I am also a tutor for a class of apprentices (for FlyBe) and represent the college for some national initiatives.’

Of his work, he says that he likes ‘lots of leave; plus it’s quite challenging to deliver lessons on a wide range of topics up to first-year degree level’. He dislikes ‘incompetent management all around and being at the bottom of the pile again!’

When asked ‘Are there are any similarities between your Service job and your current job?’, he responds ‘There are a great number of similarities with my early career, in which I taught a range of engineering subjects at the same level to Service personnel of the same age. Although there is no Mess life and no free sports facilities, I get more leave now as a teacher (12 weeks per year), I don’t have any duties, my basic hours are now only 37 hours per week, and I now get paid overtime.

‘My basic pay is now £30,000, but with my pension and the need to fund my new pension the reduction in my family income is only about £3000 pa.’

Published October 2011

Name: Steve Pascoe

Rank on Exit: Warrant Office 2nd Class

Years of Service: 20 Years

Qualifications Gained: City & Guilds Mechanical Engineering

Last monthʼs winner of a cheque for £250, plus a six-month subscription to Quest is Warrant Officer 2nd Class Steve Pascoe. He has served in the Army since 1989 and is currently specialising in SME for turret and weapon systems in DE&S, which involves, he says, ʻproviding technical support to the field Army with regard to the turret and weapon systems within armoured fighting vehiclesʼ. Currently based at Abbeywood in Bristol, he has served in locations including Canada, the USA, Kenya, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq.

He plans to start his ELC scheme in January 2010 in preparation for leaving the Service in mid-2011. While serving he has gained the following qualifications: City & Guilds Mechanical Engineering, HNC in Mechanical Engineering, Junior and Senior Military Certificates, health and safety qualifications, DSE assessor, computer literacy, acquisition and project management qualifications. On top of these, he also plans other study before he leaves the Forces, commenting ʻI want to expand my project management and logistic support qualifications, as well as my engineering drawing qualifications.ʼ When he leaves, he says, ʻI want to join a project management team in south-west England, or an engineering design team as a draughtsman. After that, I am aiming for anything in engineering management.' This is an area to which he feels particularly suited thanks to his Service experience: ʻI believe I can use the experience I have gained recently at Abbeywood to launch into my new career.'

As only a recent subscriber to Quest, he was delighted to discover that he was the winner of our cheque for £250, and says he would 'without a shadow of a doubt' encourage other readers to send in their own completed questionnaires to Quest. ʻI did it to gain the six monthsʼ free subscription and ended up winning £250!ʼ Well done to Steve! To be in with a chance of winning this monthʼs prize draw and a cheque for £250, please fill in the questionnaire on page 8, or register online at new profile

Published November 09

Engineering - Mechanical - Case Studies