Sport and Fitness - Case Studies

Mark Saunders

Ex-Parachute Regiment Private Mark Saunders spent 12 years as a radio specialist before leaving in December 2005, after tours and operations in Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Northern Ireland and Iraq. He now values the qualities developed in the Army including ‘self-discipline, sense of humour, self-reliance, physical fitness, decision-making, teamwork, and man-management.’ He also gained vocational qualifications in communications, electronics, and sport and recreation.

A Career Transition Workshop ‘was an insight into the realities and practicalities of life outside the Army,’ whilst an EBO Activities adventure training instructor internship ‘was run very well and the instruction was carried out in a very professional manner. The flexibility within the course also ensured that all subjects were covered comprehensively but in a fun and challenging environment.

There was a certain amount of instructor shadowing and assisting built into the course so it was good to have the opportunity to get first hand experience.’

He also attended a commercial communications course, and then worked for a home improvements company. Saunders is now a Training Advisor for EBO Adventure; ‘helping people get into the adventure training industry through EBO internship programmes, making sure that the courses run smoothly and the interns get as much benefit from the course as possible. I also get the opportunity to instruct on the activities that I’m qualified in and to develop skills in other adventure training areas.’

He thinks the sector ‘is brilliant,’ and offers ‘the chance to work in an industry that encourages me to do my hobbies. I still need to maintain a decent level of physical fitness and stay calm and focused. There is not much difference in salary.’

Published June 07

Keith Walkman

Keith Walkman spent eight busy years as a Royal Marine Commando. He quickly gained promotion to Corporal, qualifying as a parachute-trained sniper working within the Reconnaissance Troop of 40 Commando as reece leader. After a spell with Commachio Group in Scotland he resumed his service with 40 Commando. During this period he completed many trips including an eight month deployment on ship taking part in exercises in the Far East, Indian Ocean, Borneo and South Africa.

Being newly married he decided to leave the Services in 2001 and completed the Premier Diploma in Personal Training at Trowbridge as his resettlement course. He then set up his own successful personal training company and started to work for British Military Fitness as a part-time instructor in busy London venues. (BMF offers civilians military style fitness training outside in parks throughout the country.) Walkman then moved to the south coast and started up the Brighton BMF venue in 2004. Through hard work the venue grew very quickly and has expanded to two other parks within Brighton.

During his spare time he keeps himself fit, plays rugby and competes in triathlon competitions. He enjoys the challenge of motivating and stimulating BMF members. With his organisation skills he quickly established himself as a lead instructor and, in the summer, he was promoted to become area manager for the south of England.

Published in December 2007

James Diggens

After eight years in the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, including tours in Northern Ireland and Iraq, ex-Private James Diggens ‘wanted a career and lifestyle change to achieve a work and life balance.’ Leaving the Army just two months ago, the 26-year- old values skills including map-reading, reading and writing, communications and leadership, and the acquisition of a driving licence.

A Career Transition Workshop enabled him to ‘write up a CV and understand what employers look for when recruiting.’ He also ‘undertook very useful Level 2 Fitness Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer courses with Lifetime Health and Fitness. I am dyslexic but tutors made it easy for me to learn about health and fitness and complete the assessments.’ Both courses involved civilian attachments.

‘I found my job as a gym instructor and personal trainer through work experience at a leisure centre.’ Diggens’s role includes teaching fitness classes, personal training, writing fitness programmes, ensuring all equipment is working, and health and safety.

‘I enjoy working with the public, both individually and in groups. I have a sense of satisfaction from helping people. I also like being left to work under my own initiative.’ After an initial salary drop he will be able to work his way up quicker than was the case in the Services. ‘There are many routes for progression in the fitness industry,’ and he looks forward to increasing his experience and qualifications.

Published March 08

Tom Keogh

With just over four and a half years’ service behind him, 22-year-old Rifleman Tom Keogh left the Royal Green Jackets (Infantry) in May this year, having served in Northern Ireland and Iraq. While he says he didn’t gain any qualifications during his time in the Forces that were directly applicable to civvy street, ‘I learnt a lot about myself and other people, and life in general.’

He attended a Career Transition Workshop and found the CV writing guidance in particular ‘very beneficial’. He also found the RFEA job-finding service very useful.

His first – and current – civilian job is as an instructor for British Military Fitness. He decided to pursue this route having ‘seen classes in local parks and read about the NVQ course in Quest magazine.’ The job is, he says, ‘a lot like being an Army PTI. However, it is a lot harder to motivate civilians who are paying for a service than it is to motivate soldiers who are being paid. It can be a lot more rewarding, though.

‘I enjoy getting feedback from clients after the classes and there is a lot of satisfaction after I have done a good session. It can sometimes be hard, though, when you get clients who are more difficult to motivate than the rest of the class.’

In terms of his new career’s similarity with life in the Forces, he says: ‘All the other instructors are ex-Forces or still currently serving, so the camaraderie at work is still there.’ The main differences are, he says, that ‘Working with civilians is different to working with soldiers – the language, the interaction between people, the environment, are all very different and it can be hard to get to grips with at first.’

Published June 08