Blinded hero soldier, Paul Jacobs, George Medal, takes up goalball

A hero soldier blinded by the Taliban in Afghanistan is to lead the campaign to help secure a place for Goalball GB at next year’s Paralympics by taking up the sport and becoming a patron.

Rifleman Paul Jacobs, 22, who received the George Medal for his courage in Afghanistan, was introduced to the sport only recently. Goalball was originally developed in 1946 as a rehabilitation programme for visually impaired Second World War veterans. It is a game played by two teams of three players with a maximum of three substitutions on each team. It is open to both male and female visually impaired athletes, and sighted players can also play domestically. It has three main distinguishing features:

all players wear eyeshades so that they are totally blindfolded
goalball is played on an indoor court that is 18m long and 9m wide; the court has tactile markings (string taped to the floor), which helps players determine where they are
the ball contains internal bells, which help players locate it during play.

The object of the game is to score a goal by bowling the ball along the floor so that it crosses the goal line of the opposing team. The defending team has to prevent the ball going in to its goal by stopping it while remaining in their team area. They must then try to control the ball and attack by bowling the ball back again, thereby trying to score in the other goal.

Says Paul, ‘I have been determined to overcome all the hurdles caused by my injuries and with the help of goalball I can participate in a great team sport environment. I only see opportunities not obstacles, and I think I can really make a significant difference to the profile of goalball, as well as encourage other individuals who have lost their sight. This is a perfect sport for many of the soldiers who have been blinded or partially blinded in recent conflicts, and I intend to spread the message and feel I can contribute something positive.’

Goalball is a growing sport played domestically by visually impaired and, more recently, sighted individuals, at some 22 clubs throughout the UK. The men’s and women’s GB national squads are presently striving to be included in the Paralympics in London 2012.

Paul, from 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was five months into his first tour of Afghanistan in August 2009, leading a patrol up an isolated alleyway in the Upper Sangin Valley, when he suffered severe injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED). A member of his company was killed in an initial explosion and, with just a single cover man, Rifleman Jacobs set about clearing up to and around the body. Then, as he moved back towards his cover man, who had now come forward, another device suddenly exploded, killing his comrade. Despite his injuries Paul, from Lambeth, south-east London, cleared a safe route then dragged himself on to it so no more of his mates would be injured rescuing him.

The GB team men’s goalball coach, Knut Kursawe, says: ‘Paul will be an inspiration to lots of other visually impaired people who want to play sport. He is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with some determination and passion. He is a great character and wants to continue to push himself.’

Paul, who joined the Army at 18 after training as both a car mechanic and a bricklayer, says: ‘The Army was my whole world – I loved it. It’s not for everyone, but it was my life. My colleagues are currently serving in Afghanistan and, despite what’s happened, I wish I were with them. But, if I can help take the Goalball GB team to the Paralympics, I will feel that I have proved myself as a sportsman as well as a soldier.’

The challenges facing HM Forces personnel seeking post-Service redeployment

It is an unfortunate fact that a large proportion of civilian employers fail to recognise that many of the skills and attributes possessed by ex-HM Forces personnel are extremely valuable and transferable. This has always been a challenge facing ex-Services personnel, but in the face of the worst recession in living memory it has become even more acute.

So how should you go about maximising your chances of securing civilian employment?

It is clear that, in the present jobs climate, the competition is intense and, in general, there are more applicants than there are jobs – especially in the traditional redeployment career paths in general management, personnel management, security, HM Constabulary, etc. However, this is not the case in all sectors – there are still areas where there are severe skills shortages, as listed in the table below.

Software development

Testing

Help desk support

Managed services

Telecoms

Mobile phones

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Civil and structural construction

Infrastructure projects

Offshore and onshore oil and gas

Petrochemicals

Electrical and electronics

Telecoms manufacturing

Hardware manufacturing

Mechanical

Vehicle maintenance

Production plant maintenance

Offshore and onshore oil and gas construction and

commissioning

Security

Marine security

Specialist security companies

Individual personal protection

Bomb disposal Unexploded ordnance clearance

Sports and leisure

Personal trainers

Fitness instructors

Whichever industries or sectors you decide to target, the key issue is to ensure that potential employers understand that your training and skills sets are transferable assets. It is also important to realise that civilian employers will be unfamiliar with HM Forces jargon and its use must be avoided. There are many aspects of your training and experience in the Forces that you take for granted but are important to highlight to prospective employers. For example:

levels of personal fitness attained
hardships endured
staying cool under fire
man management
self-discipline
leadership abilities
multi-tasking ability
teamwork.

It is also vital to understand the importance of a good CV and the necessity of a strategic approach to marketing yourself. You have to stand out from the crowd in order to get interviewed and secure a job.

This is where PrimeCandidate can help you. It offers a highly professional, bespoke online CV writing and posting service. Your CV is the most powerful sales and marketing tool at your disposal when searching for a new job, and should therefore be taken very seriously. PrimeCandidate will give your CV the edge it needs to get noticed. It comprises ex-recruitment and industry professionals with hiring manager status, and is in the best possible position to produce professional CVs and recommend CV posting locations. Social networking sites are fast becoming the resourcing tool of choice for many employers around the world. We can set you up on professional/social networking sites by creating a ‘fit for purpose’ profile page, attach your CV, generate connections and make suggestions for suitable groups to join. In short, we prime today’s job hunters into Prime Candidates for interview and selection!

You can order most of our services online at www.primecandidateuk.com or to speak to us in person about your requirements please call on +44 01423 563750.

See the advertisement on page 74.

RAF airmen selected for GB bobsleigh squad

Three RAF personnel have been selected to represent Great Britain in bobsleigh on the European and world stage this winter. Senior Aircraftman John Baines from RAF Leeming, Corporal Stu Benson from RAF Cosford, and Corporal Keith McLaughlin from RAF Boulmer have been through a tough selection process over the last few months, culminating in a week of intense training and final trials at a winter training camp in Sigulda, Latvia.

The RAF trio will now compete with Team GB in the two- and four-man bob events at the world championships, which begin this month, and in the Europa Cup throughout the season.

An Aerospace Systems Operator at Boulmer, Cpl McLaughlin only began bobsledding in 2006, but has already represented his country for the last three seasons. The 29 year old believes that being in the RAF equips him well for his sport: ‘It’s all about teamwork,’ he explains. ‘Teamwork is paramount in bobsleigh, and it is very much like being on detachment with the RAF – you live, sleep, eat and travel together for three to four months, building up the team and working together to get the best result you possibly can.’

The airmen have been training hard throughout the off-season, working on their general speed and strength. However, pushing, sprinting and loading into the bobsleigh is a difficult and extremely technical art, and training in Latvia has been intense, with the team having to get used to pushing a bobsleigh on ice after months of dry-land training at Bath University, the home of UK bobsleigh.

Premier launches a new military resettlement programme in Milton Keynes

Premier has expanded its bespoke Armed Forces resettlement packages at its training venue in the National Badminton Centre, Milton Keynes, aimed at delivering health and fitness qualifications to Service leavers.

Available since September, the comprehensive packages include course tuition and exam fees, all course material, on-site accommodation and food, as well as career guidance and support.  

Having trained in excess of 2,000 Service personnel and with a dedicated Armed Forces Education Career Advisor and resettlement department, Premier Training International is offering Service leavers a choice of qualifications, ranging from the level 2 Certificate in Gym Instruction through to the internationally recognised Diploma in Advanced Personal Training and Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy. A range of additional CPD courses for fitness and sports professionals are also available.  

Regional manager for Premier Training International, Darren Slater, says: ‘We’re delighted to be launching dedicated military resettlement packages at our Milton Keynes venue and have already had a lot of interest in the various courses. Premier Training is a preferred supplier to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) funding scheme. We are experienced at dealing with Service leavers’ requirements and our resettlement packages are extremely popular, with the majority of our students coming via referrals from previous graduates.   As the training is delivered from a commercial health club, it helps to make the Service leaver’s transition to working in this environment much easier; so whatever their career ambition, they can go on and build a successful career in the health and fitness industry.’

For more information about the packages on offer visit www.premierglobal.co.uk/military.

See the advertisement on page 23.

Personal training: do you have what it takes?

Whether you’re considering a whole new career change in your life after leaving the Services, or simply looking to supplement your retirement income, more and more Service men and women are looking towards the fast-expanding health and fitness industry for their future.

You’re in high demand!
Your experience in the military will provide you with a valuable head start in terms of the fitness and skills required to excel as a personal trainer. The health and fitness industry has experienced massive growth over the past 20 years, as the general public become more and more aware of the benefits of exercise and healthy eating. Open any glossy magazine today and you’ll be hard pushed not to find a story featuring a celebrity who has lost the baby weight, taken up Pilates, begun a new diet or launched their own fitness DVD. This almost obsessive curiosity about the diets and fitness regimes of celebrities, coupled with a number of government campaigns promoting the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, has resulted in booming numbers of the population joining gyms and engaging the services of personal trainers.

Times are changing …
Once regarded as a luxury only the rich and famous could afford, people are now recognising that having a personal trainer is an affordable and effective way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The general public have more access than ever before to all manner of fitness- and diet-related information, and subsequently demand that their personal trainers are well educated and able to tailor their services to the individual needs of each client. As a result, the role of the personal trainer has evolved to meet the demands of this new, health-savvy public. Gone are the days when anyone with an interest in fitness and an addiction to the weights bench could set themselves up as a PT – the industry now demands that all trainers be qualified to a high standard, fully insured and registered. The Register of Fitness Professionals (REPs) contains details of all approved personal trainers, and the public are able to access this information to check the qualifications of their PT, to ensure that they are up to the job. So, when considering a career as a personal trainer, it’s important to ensure that your selected training provider is also REPs approved, and is able to offer you the qualifications and education you will need to equip you for your new career.

Multi-tasking!
While the basic mechanics of fitness and exercise remain the same, the methods, exercises and equipment are ever changing, and PTs need to be flexible in order to deal with clients’ demands for new fashions, such as kettlebell training, Pilates and military fitness-style exercises. A successful personal trainer is able to draw on their knowledge and skills in order to truly tailor-make an exercise session to match the needs of each individual client. If it’s variety you’re after, then this might just be the career for you. Your typical day may include a morning spent designing a training programme for your client, who is preparing for their first triathlon, followed by a nutritional consultation for a new client, a pre-natal session for another, and finishing with an outdoor group military fitness class for ten of your clients!

In addition to enjoying the variety of each day, another attraction of a career as a personal trainer is that you get to be your own boss. You choose how many clients you will work with, what time you start and finish your day, how many hours you work and where you work. You may choose to partner with a gym and use its facilities, you may wish to set up ‘boot camps’ in your local park using no equipment, convert your garage into your own personal gym or train clients in their own homes with portable equipment. You can also choose where to focus your interest: will you cater for all clients, will you specialise in pre- and post-natal, or sports performance, or set up your own weight-management clinic?

The time is now
By beginning your training now, you are in the enviable position of leaving your military career as a fully qualified personal trainer, ready to hit the ground running! Future Fit Training is recognised by the military as a preferred training provider for Service men and women, and provides you with a host of options for you to fit your training in around your job – you can still learn even if you’re stationed abroad as home study and online learning options are available. We can also help you to prepare for your new career with interviews with major fitness chains – guaranteed when you complete your qualification.
So what are you waiting for? Secure your future by calling us on 01582 743705 or visit www.futurefit.co.uk. Book during December, quoting Quest and we will make a donation to Help for Heroes for every booking taken.

See the advertisement on page 23.

Premier launches a new military resettlement programme in Milton Keynes

Premier has expanded its bespoke armed forces resettlement packages at its training venue in the National Badminton Centre, Milton Keynes; aimed at delivering health and fitness qualifications to service leavers. Available from September, the comprehensive packages include course tuition and exam fees, all course material, on-site accommodation and food, as well as career guidance and support.

Having trained in excess of 2000 service personnel and with a dedicated Armed Forces Education Career Advisor and resettlement department, Premier Training International is offering service leavers a choice of qualifications, ranging from the Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instruction through to the Internationally recognised Diploma in Advanced Personal Training and Certificate in Sports Massage Therapy. A range of additional CPD courses for fitness and sports professionals are also available.

Regional Manager for Premier Training International, Darren Slater said: "We’re delighted to be launching dedicated military resettlement packages at our Milton Keynes venue and have already had a lot of interest in the various courses. Premier Training is a preferred supplier to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) funding scheme. We are experienced at dealing with the service leavers requirements and our resettlement packages are extremely popular with the majority of our students coming via referrals from previous graduates.

As the training is delivered from a commercial health club, it helps to make the service leaver’s transition to working in this environment much easier; so whatever their career ambition, they can go on and build a successful career in the health and fitness industry."

For more information about the packages on offer visit www.premierglobal.co.uk/military

Log on to a career as a sports professional

In little over 16 years SAQ® International has established itself as one of the leading education and training companies in the world of sport, health, leisure, fitness and education. The launch of its new SAQ® Online Sports College is the next step to providing top-class, functional learning opportunities for those wishing to work in professional sport, as fitness professionals, in schools and colleges with various ages of students and uniformed Services.

Today professional clubs in all sports, fitness institutions and schools require that their professional staff have modern, up-to-date, practical functional knowledge. This is exactly what the SAQ® Online Sports College provides through its Diplomas. Such organisations are now paying top salaries to those staff with these qualifications, to ensure that their players, clientele and students have the chance to perform, achieve and succeed at the highest level. That’s why SAQ’s Diplomas have been designed by leaders in functional sport education, including coaches, teachers, players, health and fitness professionals, and world-class strength and conditioners.

SAQ® International is renowned for its quality, attention to detail and ability to work closely with customers, both individuals and groups. It has an enviable reputation in the world of sport, providing consultation, education, training and equipment to many of the top national, international and premiership teams, including English, Irish, Welsh and French rugby teams; Arsenal FC, Manchester United, Sunderland, West Ham, Bayern Munich; Reading and Leicester female hockey teams; plus numerous famous well-known internationals from the UK, South Africa, Australia and America.

For further information, please call 01664 810101, email info@saqinternational.com or visit our website www.saqinternational.com.

See the advertisement on page 47.

Soho Academy: setting new standards in fitness training

The health and fitness industry has grown rapidly over the past 15 years and today it’s worth a staggering £4 billion, providing a vast array of career opportunities. As an expanding sector, the choice of careers continues to grow: from gym instructors, through to personal trainers (PTs), specialist nutritionists and running coaches – there has never been more demand for expert tuition.

PTs can earn anything between £30,000 and £50,000 a year, with hourly sessions commanding big bucks, so it’s no wonder that many hopefuls sign up for courses excited about their future earning potential. Of the 28,500 industry professionals, over half are registered as PTs, but unfortunately the dropout rate following qualification is high, mostly due to a general misunderstanding of the industry, a distinct lack of experience and no business skills.

Soho Academy was established to set a new standard in fitness training and address these skill shortages. Our unique, hands-on approach is based on support and experience – we know that fitness knowledge alone is not enough to succeed. Soho Academy offers students support throughout their course alongside ‘real’ PTs, as well as ‘real’ work experience to prepare you to take the first few steps as a fitness professional.

Soho Academy is the only training provider in the UK to run professional fitness courses in its own gyms mentored by real PTs. The opportunity to train alongside real PTs in a real working gym environment with real clients gives you a head start. In addition to your tutor, you will be assigned a PT mentor who will provide one-to-one support and advice. All our students have the option to take up marketing and career advice to assist them in promoting themselves as a PT, giving your new career a great start.

To find out more, contact Rebecca Weissbort, Soho Academy Manager, on 08000 546655 or email academy@sohogyms.com.

See the advertisement on page 31

BSAC announces changes to diving instructor crossover system

In order to better meet the needs of its members who hold Instructor qualifications from other agencies, the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) has amended the crossover process for those who wish to become BSAC Open Water Instructors. Other agency instructors in BSAC branches can now apply directly for a crossover in a single step (see the BSAC website at www.bsac.com to find out how). Students are then sent a comprehensive self-study preparation package that prepares them to take full advantage of their attendance at an Open Water Instructor Course (OWIC), which is a more appropriate induction course for crossover instructors and takes less time to complete (one day) than the previous system, which required Instructor Foundation Course (IFC) attendance (two days). Note, however, that commercial instructors follow a different crossover process that is more appropriate to their training outside of BSAC branches. For inquiries regarding commercial instructing please email centres@bsac.com.

To find out more about a career in diving, take a look at the feature elsewhere in this issue.

Stuart Amory’s Story

Stuart Amory was in the Royal Air Force for ten years and scaled the ranks to become a Sergeant with the RAF Falcons parachute display team. It was his love of teaching and training that lured him away from the Forces and into the fitness industry, where he has launched a successful personal training business.

After being in the right place at the right time, Stuart was offered a position as a Corporal at No1 Parachute Training School, RAF Brize Norton. Five years later he was selected for the RAF parachute display team. He says, ‘This was a great job and I stayed here for two years, but when my time on the team was almost up I saw this as an opportunity to consider doing something different, so I decided to leave the RAF.’

Stuart contacted Premier Training International and, after hearing about its resettlement package, signed up for Premier’s Diploma in Personal Training: ‘Premier has a reputable name within the Forces, so it was my first port of call.’

Ex-Service people who sign up for the Diploma in Personal Training with Premier will benefit from a residential approach to studying at Premier’s Wiltshire base and, Stuart adds, ‘I really enjoyed the residential element of the training and I think it was especially good for other students who were finding the transition difficult.’

Once he graduated, Stuart started to work for a military fitness training organisation, which helped him build up his contact base and offered a steady income. At the same time Stuart set up his own business: In Kilter Fitness. ‘I was lucky enough to work with a celebrity almost straight away. Zoe Salmon (ex-Blue Peter presenter) needed a coach for the London Marathon and yet again I was in the right place at the right time, and I worked with her for three months. This was a great way of attracting more clients.’

Since setting up In Kilter Fitness, Stuart has worked with many famous clients including actress Emily Blunt and TV presenter Gethin Jones. Recently he began working with a team of two PTs and runs fitness bootcamps across London as well as contributing regularly to Men’s Health and other magazines.

For further information visit www.premier global.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 5.

Published January 2011

Training and jobs in watersports and winter sports

Flying Fish trains and recruits over 1,000 people each year as yacht skippers, and as windsurf, surf, dinghy sailing and dive instructors, and ski and snowboard instructors.

There is great demand for qualified Yachtmasters and action sports instructors with worldwide job opportunities – and the lifestyle is unbeatable. You get paid to travel the world, and have plenty of time to improve your own skills and enjoy your favourite sport.

You need professional qualifications, though, and that’s where Flying Fish comes in. Whatever your Service background, Flying Fish will tailor a programme to suit you and your future goals. We recognise that many candidates for resettlement courses come to us with well-developed training skills – adapting them to the civilian world is our speciality.

Your Service experience and qualifications will be translated into vocational qualifications that are recognised internationally. With civilian certificates and the Flying Fish online recruitment service, you will soon make the transition from career to career.

Brandon Bell says, ‘I chose a Flying Fish Yachtmaster Ocean Traineeship to provide my stepping stone from a job in the military towards my dream: starting an adventure travel business. The experience allowed me to see the industry, improve my sailing skills, sail in some of the most beautiful spots I can think of, meet some fascinating people, and have a great time.’

Flying Fish is approved by the UK’s Ministry of Defence Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and ELCAS as a supplier of resettlement training to Service leavers from the British Armed Forces.

To find out more, call +44 (0)1983 280641, email mail@flyingfishonline.com or visit www.flyingfishonline.com.

See the advertisement on page 30.

Published November 2010

Fitness instructors race the Enduroman Arch to Arc in aid of Help for Heroes

Six British Military Fitness (BMF) instructors will take part in the arduous Enduroman Arch to Arc this month to raise money for Help for Heroes, and at the same time hopefully strip the current world record holders of their title.
Carlos Glencairn-Campbell, Nigel Ilsley, Matt Walker, Jeremy Nelson, Paul Kenny and Andy Bosman, all BMF instructors, will run from Marble Arch to Dover, swim to Calais and then cycle to the Arc de Triomphe – over 300 miles in total. As if that wasn’t enough they will also be trying to beat the time of 63 hours and 26 minutes set by a team from British Gas in June 2009.

Team captain Carlos Glencairn-Campbell thinks the world record title is within reach: ‘There is no doubt this event will be a challenge to us all, but between us we have hours of experience in similar races and we will encourage each other throughout the different stages. Raising money for Help for Heroes is such an important part of this challenge as four of us are still serving in the Territorial Army, and three of us completed tours of Iraq in 2003/2004. We have decided to dedicate this race to our good friend and fellow BMF instructor, Tom Keogh, who recently died serving his country in Afghanistan.’

Major Robin Cope (Ret’d), managing director at BMF, supports them in their efforts: ‘Throughout anyone’s Army career the skill of teamwork is learned and events like this really put it to the test. I have no doubt that these six guys, through pure determination, will complete the event in record time and as a result raise a substantial amount of money for a worthy cause.’

To show your support visit www.justgiving.com/bmfenduromanteam, or follow their progress via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/bmfenduroman2010.

Published June 2010

A mountain to climb?

Eight members of the British Armed Forces are aiming to be the first Britons to climb Makalu – which, at 8463m, is the world’s fifth highest mountain – by the notoriously difficult south-east ridge. They departed for Kathmandu, Nepal, in March and aim to return to the UK in early June.

The chosen route is the longest ridge on the mountain, the least climbed and, with much of the difficulty above 7000m, one of the most challenging. Indeed, Sir Edmund Hillary declared it ‘without doubt one of the hardest propositions of all’. The eight-strong team has been drawn from across the three Services, and reflects the wealth of climbing talent that exists within the single-Service mountaineering associations.

Aiming to raise £8463 (to match the 8463m of Makalu), for SOS Children’s Villages International (www.sos-childrensvillages.org), the primary objective of Makalu 2010 is to place at least two members of the expedition on the summit of Makalu and then get them safely back to base camp. It won’t be easy: more people have stood on the moon than have reached the summit of Makalu via this treacherous and rarely climbed route.

You can track their progress by reading the team’s blog at www.makalu2010.co.uk/blog or watch via YouTube (www.youtube.com/user/tiggerhart). One of the companies sponsoring the team is Mountain Fuel, run by Darren Foote, whose story we feature on page 26.

Published May 2010

Stuart Hill chooses Perth College

Private Stuart Hill served three years in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, leaving in 2000 because ‘I felt it wasn’t for me and I wanted to try other things.’ A Northern Ireland tour ‘ingrained a high level of discipline, and I feel I still carry a lot of the things I’ve learned in the army in my coaching style and outdoor pursuits.’

‘When I left the army I found it really hard to find work within my local area but was successful in getting a job valeting cars. He has now been a student at Perth College for a year taking ‘a course in outdoor adventure leadership which gives awards as mountain leader, climbing wall, trail cycle leader, basic expedition leader and the UK Coaching Certificate level 1. I am doing all the things I love and know that all of these awards will lead to more qualifications. It is the best thing that’s happened to me and I know I’ve got the army to thank for experience and skills gained.’

His only dislike is paperwork and he enjoys ‘lots of hill-walking, navigation and outdoor pursuits. I love it. I get to choose what jobs I do and I don’t have to carry as much or press uniforms anymore. However there are similarities (with the army), such as I’m charge of groups of people whether on hills, water or cliffs. I think my army-taught skills show through in my teaching style. I finish college in June but from what I can tell there is a lot of money to be made being an outdoor leader.’ (see the advertisement on page 27)

Published June 2009

Sports / Fitness & Leisure - Despatches

Blinded hero soldier, Paul Jacobs, George Medal, takes up goalball

The challenges facing HM Forces personnel seeking post-Service redeployment

RAF airmen selected for GB bobsleigh squad

Premier launches a new military resettlement programme in Milton Keynes

Personal training: do you have what it takes?

Premier launches a new military resettlement programme in Milton Keynes

Log on to a career as a sports professional

Soho Academy: setting new standards in fitness training

BSAC announces changes to diving instructor crossover system

Stuart Amory’s Story

Training and jobs in watersports and winter sports

Fitness instructors race the Enduroman Arch to Arc in aid of Help for Heroes

A mountain to climb?

Stuart Hill chooses Perth College