The former Royal Navy officer shares his transition story to becoming a freelance Sustainability Consultant.
Tell me about your military career
I joined the Royal Navy as a warfare officer straight from university. I was lucky enough to spend several years doing what I joined up to do – frontline weather forecasting at sea as a hydrographic and meteorological specialist. Following an operations tour in Basra, I became a Principal Warfare Officer. I returned to my specialisation at the end of my career.
Why did you leave the Armed Forces?
I’d reached a pension point at 16 years and it was a logical step to leave as it coincided with some big life changes. I’d always known the military was never going to be a career for life and there were other things I wanted to do. And, being honest, I’d stopped enjoying it.
What steps did you take as part of your transition?
I signed up for the CTP, and used my ELC and resettlement allowances to the full, attending the Advanced Management Achievement Course at Manchester Business School six months before leaving. I wanted to return to full time academic study with a view to changing career, so I spent a lot of time researching Masters Degrees to find the right course.
