 Name: Dawn GabrieleRank on Exit: Sergeant
Years of Service: 24 years
Qualifications Gained: Foundation Degree
Flight Sergeant Dawn Gabriele, 42, is an aerospace systems manager at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. She has served in the RAF for just over 24 years and plans to leave in 2010. ‘I started my first course with the Open University in 1998. I’ve got a certificate in early years practice and I’m currently studying for a foundation degree in early years, and possibly then going on to a BA (Hons).
‘I joined the OU mainly because my husband, who’s in the RAF as well, was studying with them at the time. He was fitting studying in around his shifts and I decided I’d like to try something similar. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I started out with a social sciences course as I’d done sociology at school. At the time I was living in Milton Keynes so it was great to have tutorials at the headquarters. The OU gives the flexibility to study anywhere. I’ve since worked in Shetland, Cornwall, Scotland and Germany.
‘Studying has given me a real passion for life-long learning. Though it’s hard work, I do like it. I’ve actually got friends and colleagues involved. I mainly study in the evenings. I’ve had some extremely good tutors; they’ve been very flexible with deadlines, as long as you get to the end goal.
‘At the moment I travel to Durham for tutorials but, when I was in Shetland, I did a lot of phone tutorials. I had the flexibility of support face-to-face, on the phone and I make use of the online student forum, which is really helpful. I like the coursework and clear guidance about what’s expected and assessments. When there are problems there is always someone to turn to and everything you need to complete the course is delivered to you. I’d thoroughly recommend it to anyone.’
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