I speak to a lot of people who are either planning on leaving the forces or who have already left. Some (probably most if I’m being honest), lack confidence in their abilities and underestimate their value as a civilian.
It’s as if the Armed Forces is somewhat independent from the ‘real world’. Having served myself I can see how forces leavers get this impression. Truth is…it’s not much different at all. If anything, the MOD is a more extreme version of the ‘real world’ as the consequences of fucking up in the military are usually much greater.
Let’s take the term ‘Negligent Discharge’. In the military this could mean accidently shooting your comrade in the back of their head…in the civilian world this would best describe an embarrassing moment in the bedroom.
Maintaining an electro-mechanical asset is fundamentally the same whether that be an aircraft, ship, armoured vehicle, ground equipment or a civilian asset (such as a train). The Forces has budgets, just the same as civilian organisations do and there is absolutely no difference between a ‘chain of command’ & a company organisational chart. Don’t be fooled by the names or terms we apply to this stuff, it’s all smoke and mirrors to make it sound different, but it’s not.
Here’s where things get really interesting…as a member of HM Forces it’s likely you’ve:
Been expected to learn how to use new equipment in a very short amount of time, with minimal training
Adapted when things haven’t gone to plan
Liaised with stakeholders at various levels (aka the 'chain of command' or worked with military suppliers)
Worked independently, in small teams of 2-3 and huge teams of 50+
Made difficult decisions, in extreme environments, whilst under pressure.
Because everyone in your environment (i.e. the Forces) has done similar things to you and has a similar mindset it’s easy to tell yourself that everyone (i.e. civilians) are the same. Trust me, from my experience in the rail industry the vast majority are not!
In my day job, I visit a lot of different depots managed by large rail companies. I can spot the Ex-Forces guys/girls a mile off. They have something about them that most civilians do not. Chances are, you have the exact same thing!
It’s for this reason that Ex-Forces thrive in the Rail industry. Believe it or not…simply by turning up on time, looking respectable and doing what is asked of you to the best of your ability, without moaning about it puts you in the top 10-15% of the workforce. Add to that the flexibility to stay late to get the job done and you’ll find yourself in the top 5%!
Okay, I hear you saying “that all sounds great, but I don’t know anything about trains”. Yes that is true, but that part can be taught, you'll soon pick it up. Attitude, pride in your work and effective communication skills cannot.
The point I’m trying to make is that over your service career you will have acquired skills and experienced things that most civilians - living in the ‘real world’ - have not. I believe this puts you at a huge advantage, not a disadvantage.
Luckily the Rail Industry doesn’t need to be educated about the benefits of employing service leavers. It employs a lot of service leavers each year…chances are you’ll be interviewed by someone who served in the Army, Navy or RAF. Generally, for all the reasons I’ve alluded to above, the industry loves us!
If you’re leaving the forces and thinking about a job in the railway please get in touch with me, I’m more than happy to answer any of your questions. Just send me a direct message on LinkedIn.
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