Posted By David J Jones Michael, As an ex matelot, my advice to you is to either commence NEBOSH General Cert now, either by distance learning or day release, if you are in a position to do so and if your Unit would release you, or use your resettlement to do the NEBOSH (this was always a popular choice during my resettlement). This will at least give you a grounding in H & S and will certainly focus your mind on whether that route is going to suit you for your change of career. You may also be able to get "seconded" to an organisation and work with an H & S professional, however this may prove to be a more complicated route to travel. Whatever your decision, keep at it and I wish you luck for your future. Regards David

Posted By Steve Hawkins Hi Michael, I am a REME SSgt and im about to leave after completing my 22 years service (Aug 04). I passed my Gen Cert with Tidworth College, good course but hard work. It was £250.00 when i did it last year. Its been hard work trying to secure a position in civvy street but i have managed partly through this forum (Check out my listing Soon to be ex soldier l@@king for employment) and through hard work and determination. A lot of people will not offer you an interview just with a Gen Cert, but saying that others have taken me to interview because of the military back ground. All i can say is use your resettlement grant wisely get as many civvy qualls not mill quals under your belt and try and gain some experience by becoming the Safety Advisor for your unit. Hope i have been of some help to you. If you have any questions please feel free to drop me an e-mail. All the best. Steve.

Posted By johnwaterson Well this reply is all from ex job. Like yourself Michael i was wondering what to do when i got out side. When i was a PSI with the TA i think my mind was made up then. I was attending a range conference in Wales when the RCO asked for our Risk Assessments and we all asked what are those. When it was explained to us it was something we carry out all the time in prep for any live firing. That planted the seed. I attended a couple of BSC courses at Deepcut and took it from there. The 2nd one was for the QM but he didn't want it so i went. 2 weeks out of Bos plus R & R. It was the Unit H & S Advisor course, and it looks good on your cv. H & S Advisor for 650 people. From there i decided that H & S was the route but after reading threads on this site the NEBOSH Cert was not the one to go for. The Construction Cert would have been better. Someone at the resettlement centres are being mis-informed. Nothing new there. Be sure this is what you want though. There is not a lot of excitement in civvy strasse. Do as many micky mouse cse's as poss, fire officer, manual handling, first aid instructor and if you can get on the NON-FENTO teaching cse. The one i went one the majority of those on it worked in the college and they werre teaching there. They were not even qual'd to teach. I was more bqual'd than them. What amazed me was they didn't realize you could get magnets from old fridges. Then went and bought them. Civvies i thought. Now i am one. All the best for the future.

Posted By Pete Stewart Don't intend to reiterate the excellent info already posted, but followed same route. NEBOSH Cert as resettlement, got a home based job with a Manchester based company for best part of 6 years which gave me a great deal of experience. When they closed set up on my own and not looked back since. However, it is not all roses and you need to be sure it is the route for you. All the best, Pete www.safetysimplified.co.uk