Army

[Panzz]

Hi all, I am new to this website and looking for some advise.

Anyways, I've been recently looking at forums regarding Ex Army Electricians i.e. Ex Royal Engineer Electricians. I have gone through all of the recruitment process to join as a Sapper and have chosen the electrician trade however after looking at other ex army posts they don't seem to be leaving the army with all of the necessary qualifications to be fully qualified and have to take extra courses or haven't gained enough practical experience.

Could anyone advise me on going down the apprenticeship route with the army RE; would it be worth it in the long run and would my skills transfer into civvy street if I decided to leave or would trying to find a civilian apprenticeship be more valuable for my future?

Cheers,


Panzz

 

[Spudnik]

Welcome to electriciansforums.net. Stick around I'm sure you'll like the forum.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It's a difficult one.
I left the RAF in the late 1980s as a Master Electrican, yet the JIB told me when I applied to them that my qualifications didn't count for anything.
I then took the 2360 at a local college over two years.
During that time, I realised that I didn't need to join the JIB, and as I wasn't having much trouble finding work, didn't bother with them after I'd finished and passed my exams.
I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that the JIB no accept qualifications obtained in the forces, and it may even be that the qualifications are not only the same, but no longer have the code that makes the stand out fronm the civvy qualifications.
I think that you find when you leave, that you will have to get the latest update course for whatever edition or amendment is about at that time, but I doubt that you'll have to re-take all your other exams as used to be the case.

 

[Des 56]

Hi all, I am new to this website and looking for some advise.

Anyways, I've been recently looking at forums regarding Ex Army Electricians i.e. Ex Royal Engineer Electricians. I have gone through all of the recruitment process to join as a Sapper and have chosen the electrician trade however after looking at other ex army posts they don't seem to be leaving the army with all of the necessary qualifications to be fully qualified and have to take extra courses or haven't gained enough practical experience.

Could anyone advise me on going down the apprenticeship route with the army RE; would it be worth it in the long run and would my skills transfer into civvy street if I decided to leave or would trying to find a civilian apprenticeship be more valuable for my future?

Cheers,


Panzz

Welcome
In my opinion you will have very good training
They will no doubt train you with emphasis on the skills relevant to your job in the army,which would be the same situation in any sector you get trained in

I believe that you would also be given opportunity to upgrade or take on skills needed to adapt to civvy street when you are near to finishing up
Being forces trained I believe employers would also look favourably at your applications for work at that time

 

[Panzz]

Thanks for the reply spinlondon. Would your advise then be to try find a civilian company to take me on? Tbh, I don't want to have to take exams and then come out to find none of them are useful, a waste of time and then stuck to get employment.. I'd like to hear from any recent ex armed forces, especially ex royal engineers sparkys to hear of there experiences in the army as a sparky and when they left and what qualifications did they gain while in as this is very important for me to know!


Thanks again

 

[Deleted member 26818]

There's an agency I use called FRS.
Here's a link to their website:FRS - Helping ex Forces & ex military personnel into jobs
They would have a better idea than me.
I believe there's a few other agencies, one I heard of called 'demob', who may also be able to help.
There are some forums about for ex servicemen that you might want to try.
I doubt if the ones I use would be much help to you as they are for the RAF not the RE.
I did used to know a few lads from 33 regiment, but that was a long time ago, so they wouldn't be much help today.

 

[Panzz]

Thanks again spinlondon, I'll check it out.

As I'm not yet in the armed forces my aim is to get advise, people's experience and a general overview of becoming a fully qualified electrician for my future if I choose to leave the army.

My concerns are from reading previous posts by ex royal engineers sparkys is the lack of practical experience and the lack of qualifications gained or lack of transferable civilian qualifications.

Having looked on the army website it says the qualifications you can achieve regarding electrician is C&G Parts 1 and 2 Electrical Installations and a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship. I'm not completely sure but a Foundation Apprenticeship to me seems like it would be less sought after by employers than the Advanced apprenticeship people gain in a lot of civilian apprenticeships.

Anyways, I guess it simply ties down to are you a fully qualified electrician after leaving the army or not, if any ex royal engineer sparkys could clarify this for me.


Cheers everyone.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I don't think there are any REME on the site, which is why I suggested looking at some forums for ex servicemen.
For all I know there's a dedicated site for the RE?

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

 

[Sintra]

Hi & welcome.