Telecommunications - Case Studies

Elsa Tuohey

After 12 years in the Royal Artillery, Bombardier Elsa Tuohey, a 31-year-old communications and information systems specialist, left the Army a year ago. She had seen operational service in Iraq and Bosnia, retaken her GCSE maths exam, completed an Access to University course and started an Open University programme, as well as qualifying in First Aid at Work and as an NVQ Assessor. She had also developed ‘people skills through living in close confinement with people, was ready to take responsibility for work or situations, and having to learn new skills quickly, which makes it less daunting starting a new job’.

A Career Transition Workshop gave her ‘confidence in [my] experience. They let you know just what skills you have gained from the Army that many civilians haven’t got.’ She also took resettlement training with CTTS in ‘a very well-run and useful course, which included work attachments’.

Sending her CV to recruitment agencies landed her first job, but she now works as a Voice and Data Infrastructure Engineer, ‘responsible for all the telephones on site, all moves and changes, fault-finding and everything to do with the voice network. I’m not stuck in an office – I get out and about, sorting out problems and meeting different customers. I get lots of job satisfaction and am able to take ownership of what I do.’

Published March 07

Paul Rawlinson

Last year, aged 50, Engineering Technician Sergeant Paul Rawlinson left the RAF on redundancy after 23 years serving all around the world. He finds all his training useful: ‘My management training prepared me for change, conflict, project and stress management. I needed these in my working life and they provide me with all the skills I need now.’ His civilian qualifications include a Certificate in Education, NVQ Level 4 and NEBS Certificate in Management, Managing Safely, IOSH Risk Assessment, Quality Audit ISO9001:2000, Higher Diploma Canine Care & Behaviour, A- and O-levels, and Engineering Management.

His Career Transition Workshop ‘was very useful and well run; it provided support and encouragement and gave me the tools’. He then took a BTEC in Project Management with CableNet Training in Bury St Edmunds. This ‘was well run under modern educational practice, using mini projects and discussion topics to develop the skills required.

‘I started a dog behaviour business about two years before I left the Service through helping out a full-time behaviourist. I took a relevant qualification online and still study. I am recommended by the local RSPCA and several vets. I also teach IT and project management; I assist in offshore expeditions as a qualified sailing instructor, and I also develop websites for small business users.’

Published September 07

Gary Druce

Gary Druce left the Royal Marines in 1992 after six years’ service which included tours of Norway and Northern Iraq. He then travelled abroad for a couple of years before returning to the UK to study for a philosophy degree. Following this he moved into the adventure travel industry where he remained for four years before he was mobilised as a Reservist to serve in Southern Iraq in 2003.

‘I have always interspersed my career with security work. Recent operational experience made me eligible for CP work in Iraq, and this was the direction that I wanted to take,’ he said. ‘However, through other security work I came into contact with Omega Solutions Group, a security and telecommunications company preparing to take advantage of recent opportunities created by communications in hostile environments. The company believes that it is much easier to train a soldier to work in telecoms than it is to train a telecommunications expert to become security conscious.’

The company trained Druce in telecommunications rigging, including rooftop safety & access, advanced and rescue climbing, RF hazard & awareness, and first aid at height. More recently he has attended specialist courses on microwave broadband internet. ‘I’ve been with OSG for almost two years now and my transition to telecommunications engineer has been ‘hands-on’, yet backed-up by the right sort of courses. Ironically, most the company’s work is now in the UK which is fine by me.’

Published March 08

Chris Vant

After six years in the Royal Signals, Lance Corporal Chris Vant ‘needed a change, more career opportunities and a better quality of life.’ The 26-year-old class 1 installation technician had served in Cyprus, Iraq, the Falkland Islands and Northern Ireland, and believes that: ‘The trade training and the on-the-job experience I gained whilst in the Army have largely set me up for my civilian career.’

With an array of telecoms qualifications from his service, he found that a Career Transition Workshop ‘helped create my CV as I had no idea prior to attending the course.’ He also took a BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer course with CNet Training which he found ‘well run and useful. After prolonged cold calling of telecoms companies in my region I finally got an interview and was offered a position as a data cabling installer working on military bases around the UK.’ Vant is now a data centre service engineer with Splice Group UK in Yorkshire.

‘My role involves the surveying, installation and maintenance of optical fibre cabling networks and related equipment within two data centres and involves being on call for one week a month. I like using more commercial, off-the-shelf equipment, and I’ve got a company vehicle with all fuel paid. I also like the fact that when on-call I get paid extra for it.

‘Basically I am doing the same job except without all the Army stuff that goes with being a soldier. My life now is of a higher quality as I am not away all the time; at the end of the working day I can go home and not think about work. The monetary benefits of my civilian job outweigh the ones of being in the military.

Published August 08