Soldier - Magazine of the British army

Home I Features I Sport I Linkline I Your letters I Reviews I Solmart

ISSUE FEBRUARY 2009

FEATURES :
Mission: impossible

On Sudan's fault line

2008 Army Photographic Competition

UPDATE

VOX POP

CURRENT ISSUE

Civvy school
We asked soldiers serving in the Falkland Islands how their training and qualifications prepare them for life outside the British Army
Interviews: Samantha Chapman Pictures: Graeme Main

Pte Josh Brown, 2 Yorks The Army push you through training and offer qualifications that can give you the chance to be in the police or fire service when you leave the Forces. You can also get £1,000 a year towards a course you want to do, so it’s not something we have to pay for ourselves.		Gnr Gary Price, 16 Regt RA You can do any type of course you want to in the Army. They have driving courses, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) training, motorcycle riding – it’s really varied. If you have the time to go on a a course then it’s a good opportunity.
Spr Keith Fenwick, 39 Engr Regt I’ve just finished a welders course. My qualifications are very good but there are plenty of other NVQ courses that don’t give you good qualifications when you get out. They are only the equivalent of City and Guilds awards. That was a factor for me when I was deciding what to take.		LCpl Peter Burnett, 2 Yorks There are lots of education courses that are meant to be good – some soldiers come in without their GCSEs and other exams so it definitely helps them. They’ll have some civilian qualifications to fall back on when they get out.
Pte Sean Quinn, 2 Yorks I haven’t been on many courses yet – there hasn’t been time. I did NVQs at Catterick in life skills and things like that. I think it’s important to have that for when you leave the Army to be able to get on.		Gnr Ollie Denby, 16 Regt RA The training has its upsides and downsides. Overall we get really good training from the Army, but we have to make sure we don’t miss out, because we go away so much. But if you want to get a good job in civilian life then I think it provides a good start.
LCpl Sam Fisher, 39 Engr Regt I have been on an intensive six-month electricians course. I am now fully qualified to be an electrician and in a managerial position, so from my point of view it’s definitely a good idea to get qualifications for when you leave the Army.		Pte Walter Tikoisuva, 2 Yorks I have heard that there are some really good courses that you can get on. I’ve only been in the Army for six months so I haven’t done any myself, but would like to. I think it’s great that they offer me the chance to train for when I get out and hopefully I can do some of the courses when I get back.
Cpl John Cavanagh, 2 Yorks I’ve taken maths, English and computer courses since I’ve been in the Army. I think it’s really good to be given these opportunities, but I also think that a lot of people don’t know they’re there. More could be done to make them aware of it. If you don’t know it’s there you’re not going to use it.

advertising section

Soldier magazine is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Home l Magazine l Sport l Linkline l Your letters l Reviews l Solmart l Flashback l Op Banner

Site management by