Hi Christian,

Check through your training and resettlement office. Aldershot resettlement centre used to do the NEBOSH General Certificate  - I went through that in 2008. Then did the Diploma later when employed. Depending how much time you have there are also system courses through RAF Halton - Quality Management, Environmental etc etc. that you may be able to get onto at no cost.

Whether you go straight for the diploma is up to you, but having the certificate is baseline info to build on. There are also different ways to the same level of qualification now, NVQ or NCRQ.

If you have enough time and the management are friendly get as much as you can whilst still in. If you can get time with your unit H&S rep or site management to see what H&S is like to work in it may give you some more info.

Once out it is a completely different world in which, as a Royal Marine, you may get frustrated, I was, and still am from time to time.

Good luck with whatever path you chose.

S

Edited by user 18 December 2017 22:50:27(UTC)  | Reason: some spellin

Christian,

Since I left the RN in Sep 13 I can only advise that you use what time you have left to try and get as much insight into H&S as you can.  Any experience you can gain now will be invaluable when you reach the outside world.

Echo the comments regarding obtaining the General certificates first (Fire, Construction or National General certificate).  Without these you will not be able to get straight onto the NEBOSH Diploma as they are a pre-requisite.

The NCRQ Diploma is not registered with ELCAS so you cannot use your learning credits for that one.  I would look at also a course on internal auditing - you'll add another string to oyur bow and will be very handy in a H&S role.

If your Resettlement Office is not upto much - you can source your own courses and then get your finding sorted (I think the only provisio is that it must be a course that is a minimum of QCF 3(?) be worth checking though.

NEBOSH is the most recognised qualification at entry level whereas NVQS and Diplomas are more suitable once you are in a role where you can either produce the evidence or studying the NCRQ is relevant to you.  Without the basic qualifications the higher level stuff will be a struggle.

Best of luck with it.

One final piece of advice:  Have a plan B, C, D & E incase your ideal doesn't materialise.

Hi Christian,  As many of the other guys have said, I would be looking at the certificate level courses before you attempt anything at the diploma level.  The fundamentals you obtain get from these courses are the building blocks on which you will build your future career.  

As for the course provider - NEBOSH, NVQ and increasingly NCRQ are all known and all provide the level of training you want 

The very best of luck to you.  

Dave (Retd RAF) 

Hi Christian as already advised do your NEBOSH Certificate first , Construction  Certificate is also a good starter course to do.

Most importantly start volunteering now for a Health and Safety role in your section and get some experience under your belt. Get used to the moans and groans now , you may not like it ?

SHE Knows Ltd helped me a lot whilst I was still serving in the FAA and helped me on my way to Chartered status November 2005. But there are lots of other good trainers.  

I am now in my late sixties and still love the role. If you need any help or advice please email me petermarsh@berkeleyparks.co.uk

I can only agree with what others have said Royal.

Work towards getting your Diploma and Chartered status over the next few years; don't rush it. It will end up costing you money and time which is better spent on other things at this stage of your career.

PM me if you want to chat about anything specific.

Slightly OT, as someone non military who works with a fair few different H&S officers, I have generally found the ex military ones to be an absolute delight to work with. But I have heard more than one say it is frustrating for them a fair bit of the time as the way things work is very different once out of the service. EG, if it is the law, then why won't people do as they are told!

Best of luck.