Security - Case Studies

Gareth Ogden

Ex-Lance Corporal Gareth Ogden served 13 years in the Army as a driver before deciding ‘it was time to go’ in early 2005, and taking up a new career in security and close protection. Service in Iraq, Germany, Northern Ireland and Great Britain had gained him and NVQ in Road Haulage, all his LGV licences and training in protective mobile skills.

He reports that his Uxbridge Career Transition Workshop ‘spells out what you are going into in civilian life.’ Apart from a driving awareness course, his main resettlement effort was devoted to CP training run by the Nemesis Group, and he would ‘totally recommend the course.’ Although he found the RFEA job finding service ‘very useful,’ Ogden’s first job came through his own efforts: ‘I just sent my CV out three months before I was due to leave the Forces, I was asked for an interview straight away, and secured my job six days after my discharge date.’

Working with Global Group security for the US Embassy in Kabul, he is now a Security supervisor, ‘managing and co-ordinating with the client the requirements for an effective and secure construction site during day and night, and organising static and mobile patrols around 15 locations.’ Despite long hours, the rewards are good and many aspects of the task are very familiar. He also enjoys the control that he now has over his own future.

Published May 07

Robert Brown

After six years in the Infantry, Lance Corporal Robert Brown left the Army three months ago because it was ‘time for a change’. Operational service in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan had reinforced his ability to ‘work as part of a team and to lead a team in hostile environments.’ A Career Transition Workshop let him ‘know exactly what help I was entitled to’, whilst he ‘also did the HSE First Aid at Work and the EBO Protect MAYBO Physical Intervention Programme.

The course was ‘excellent with a great student to instructor ratio. Visits were arranged to view real working environments,’ and he found his first job through ‘contacts made whilst on the course.’ He also believes that his contacts provide him with ‘ loads of options for future employment should I wish to take them.’ As a door supervisor at a local nightclub, he is again ‘working as part of a close-knit team. I am responsible for the security of the club and the safety of club goers. I welcome people when they arrive and as act as the face of the venue.

‘The hours mean I get plenty of time to train for my other passion of kick boxing. Also I get to meet lots of interesting people. Leadership skills and teamwork play a major part in this job, as do my first aid skills. Communication is also a key skill as it is better to avoid confrontation. I have more control and flexibility, and greater job satisfaction. Extra hours and money are there if I want them.’

Published February 08

Vanessa Pollok

RAF photographic specialist Corporal Vanessa Pollok, 39, served between 1988 and 2005 at Lyneham, the Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland and Chicksands, where she taught photography. Then tragedy struck when her husband died, and she looked for a new career. She is glad of: 'Confidence and the ability to achieve goals. Teamwork and working under pressure, as this is how we mostly worked in the military it became second nature. Communication skills have been of the utmost importance as a teacher.'

Formal qualifications included an NVQ Level 4 in Photography and she took a course through Lynceus Ltd which helped by 'changing military glossary into civilian then enabled me to translate it to further education.'

Pollok's first job was as a 'teacher at a large FE college. I was approached after an assessor had seen me delivering courses.' Now a consultant, trainer and quality assurance manager for Lynceus Training, she is 'involved in project management of new courses to be delivered by our training company. Courses vary from training people to become trainers/teachers, to security training courses for our international customers. I also manage quality assurance.

'I love the speed, diversity and flexibility. One minute I could be planning content of a course for Kuwait, and the next preparing to teach courses for new trainers. I am working with a small, dynamic team all of whom share similar qualities and skills. My salary is much better now'

Published September 08

Bradley Farley

Ex-RAF Corporal Bradley Farley, 42, is the Contracts Manager for Control Security in Drake Circus Shopping Centre, Plymouth. Seven years in the Royal Navy as an aircraft engineer were followed by 18 more in the RAF Police, finishing in the Special Investigation Branch. A Commander British Forces Falkland Islands Commendation for his work on the Islands in 2005 and working as a radio presenter for the British Forces Broadcasting Service are just two highlights of his time in uniform.

He believes that: 'Military training has stood me in good stead for the challenges that civilian life can throw at me. I feel that everything I experienced in the military has made me look at civilian life and personnel in a more tolerable way.'

Qualified as an NVQ Assessor in Security, Safety and Loss Prevention, Farley's Career Transition Workshop 'was very useful in that it taught me how to cope with job interviews, how to complete job application forms and to compile my CV. He then used the Regular Forces Employment Association to find employment. It was 'extremely useful. I now use it to employ for Control Security.

'My job involves the management of 24 security officers. I am responsible for the safety and well being of all security officers working in the centre, of all members of the public using the centre; and I am responsible to the retailers and senior managers working there. I love the responsibility and public interaction, and I like knowing that the security expertise I gained whilst serving in the military is being used for the safety of the general public. The salary is lower in my civilian job but not substantially lower.'

Published September 08