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We caught up with John to discover how his career has progressed since and what he is looking forward to.
Since you won your award in December 2016, how have things changed? For example with study and work?
Since winning the award in 2016, I moved into Tanker Maintenance Facility (TMF) where I completed my HGV engineering NVQ level 3. TMF is responsible for the maintenance and repair of RAF Marham’s aircraft refuelling fleet. As you can imagine, this is an important task, as without TMF the aircraft would be unable to fly. At all times flight safety is paramount, and therefore we must go about our maintenance activities with a considerable amount of care and precautionary action. This includes a tagging system to ensure that all tools removed from the toolkit are accounted for and before any vehicle leaves the bay, a 100 per cent check is carried out. We must always be mindful of Foreign Object Debris (FOD), as it could easily migrate to the airfield and cause catastrophic damage to equipment. I then started a Foundation Degree in General Engineering with Staffordshire University via distance learning. I will complete the level 4 section of the course in May 2019. I was then asked to take on the role of Acting Corporal in TMF for six months until I went on tour to the Falklands.
How have you managed to sustain your studies and your day-job? What support do you have and how do you organise yourself?
Studying a distance learning course has been quite demanding, it is not easy when you are stuck to get guidance. I have found the internet to be a great tool, as well as various engineering textbooks that I purchased. I am fortunate that my wife always makes sure that I have enough time to study in the evenings and on weekends. I roughly spend twenty to thirty hours a week studying. Without my wife’s understanding and extra hard work, I wouldn’t be able to take on two modules per semester. The studying doesn’t affect my day-job, but I do have to attend Laboratory sessions for one day every semester per module. I study two per semester and my management here at RAF Marham release me on these occasions to attend.
Tell me about your posting in the Falklands? How did you get selected? How long have you been there?
My four-month tour to the Falklands was a routine deployment. They come around roughly every 18 months.
What work have you been doing in the Falklands? What responsibilities have you had? What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of being out there?<
In the Falklands, I was a part of GEF Main Bay on the Forward Support Team. This meant that I would travel around from section to section throughout the entire camp, servicing whatever equipment I could do in situ. Generally, these maintenance events were small, but there were high numbers to complete each month. Anything that could not be done in its in-use placement, I would bring into the bay to be completed by the team with the correct set up to do so. As a part of GEF, we cover the airfield and look after the RHAG Rotary Hydraulic Arrestor Systems; these are special machines that help to slow aircraft like the Typhoon in emergency situations (you can see me in the pictures stood next to it). The most rewarding aspects of being in the Falklands was that I was able to see the beautiful wildlife like the king penguins and the Commerson’s dolphins. The most challenging issues were being so far away from my family, my wife and my two young children.
What posting are you moving on to next? What do you hope to be doing?
I have returned to RAF Marham, and I am now working in Forward GEF (FGEF) in an Acting Corporal role. The integration of the F35 at RAF Marham is well underway. The Tornado is on a drawdown; however, the Tornado is still on operations in the middle east and FGEF work alongside the Tornado Squadrons, supporting them as they train and prepare for their deployments.p
What do you most enjoy about your trade group and the type of work you do?
I enjoy the fact that we work on such a wide variety of equipment, with the various bays available, we tend to move around quite a lot. I believe that diversity is the key to survival in this job. My colleagues within the trade group are generally like-minded people, and it makes working within this environment desirable.
Tell me about your future career plans with the RAF.
My aim now is to get promoted to Corporal, and I would like to remain here at RAF Marham working on 617 Sqn alongside the F35. The SAC(T) to Cpl promotion board sits early December, so I expect to do well. Once promoted to Corporal, I will be focussed on building a portfolio to further progression to Sergeant. I believe that the skills and knowledge I have makes me an excellent candidate to the TG5 trade training environment.
Also, I understand you are applying for EngTech professional registration. What has motivated you and why is it important to you? Would you recommend it to others in your position?
I am pursuing EngTech registration to obtain recognition for my skills and experience. I am interested in what is happening globally within engineering, and I know as a member, I will have access to all the latest engineering information in various sectors. I am hoping it will give me an idea of what I would like to do when I leave the RAF, I hopefully have plenty of time left, but I do not want to leave it too late to decide. Membership then could provide me with the networking needed to get the right job once it comes to the time. For these reasons, I would recommend EngTech registration to all of my peers.