 Case Study - Craig Scott
In the following interview we talk to Craig, a past student of Eagle's training program, about leaving the forces, his experience of the Eagle course he undertook and how it has jump started his career outside the forces:
EE: Please tell us your service details, what you were in, where were you
based and how long did you serve?
CS: I joined the REME in February 1993 starting my training at the Princess Marina Army Apprentice College in Arborfield. I served 15 years, leaving in 2008. In that time I had postings to 70AC WKSP Middle Wallop, 7Flt Brunei, 665sqn NI, 847NAS Yeovilton, 657Sqn RAF Odiham and finishing in 7AABN Wattisham. I went out to Telic by ship with 847NAS supporting the Royal Marines. I then went to Iraq a further 4 times with 657sqn and completed two tours of Afghanistan.
EE: What was you favorite thing about you career?
CS: Probably the favorite thing about my career was serving two years out in the Far East in Brunei at a young age. Met a lot of great people along the way.
EE: When you signed up did you think it would be forever or did you have a
length of time in mind?
CS: I did not have any specific timeframe in mind when i joined. However when thinking about leaving I was aware of the pension trap and decided it was now or never really.
EE: What made you decide to leave?
CS: After serving in some rather specialized small units it was a disappointment going to a Battalion. I found the mentality very different. As a senior Sergeant I felt I could have been treated more appropriately.
EE: Did you do any extra training during your resettlement?
CS: I obviously did the Design course with Eagle. Apart from that I did some courses and exams towards my Aircraft licence.
EE: Did you think about other careers as opposed to the one you are now in?
CS: I had been intending on gaining my aircraft licence without type.
EE: Do you miss being in the forces?
CS: There are some things I miss and like anything you tend to look back with rose tinted spectacles. I think forgetting the reasons you wanted to leave is easy when things are not going so well. The atmosphere is different to that in the Army - less banter.
EE: Do you still keep up with most of the people in your regiment?
CS: Yes I have kept in touch with some of the lads I knew before and others who have already left.
EE: What made you decide to pursue your current career?
CS: Chance I suppose just seeing the advert for the course when thinking about getting out and asking about it. I had been thinking about working in the Aircraft industry anyway.
 EE: Did you have many other jobs before this one?
CS: No none
EE: How did you hear about The Eagle Training Course?
CS: Somebody mentioned an advert in Quest I believe. I then emailed the address to ask more.
EE: What made you choose them as your training provider?
CS: I thought the idea of aircraft design was interesting and would be a career that I could progress in.
EE: Did you think of doing a PART 66 type course?
CS: Yes I had been completing my Part 66 basic licence exams when I started the design course.
EE: Was the course helpful for you getting a job?
CS: Yes I got the job on the back of the course as have others.
EE: Was the course expensive?
CS: As a single outlay, yes but a worthwhile course will be. The real prospect of a job at the end is a good incentive and I believed worth the cost and risk.(Note - In recognition of the economic climate, the price of the course has been reduced since the date of this interview)
EE: Do you wish you had taken another course?
CS: No I am happy with my choice.
EE: Will you need to go for any further training or certification for your job?
CS: I do not specifically need to. However, it is encouraged and will improve prospects latter. There are some in house training packages that I am about to complete along with completing a degree.
EE: Could anyone do what you do?
CS: No you really need to have come from an aviation background or at the very least a good engineering background. It is a good alternative to people joining the industry after completing an engineering degree.
EE: How was the support after your training finished?
CS: Great. They managed to get everybody on my course employed.
EE: Do you think you will be well paid for your work?
CS: I would say no my boss would say yes! It is at least equal to my Army wage so it is a good wage with the opportunity for it to rise. I have since had a pay rise in recognition of my increasing knowledge and capability and have been responsible for the work of other service personnel who have completed the course
EE: Do you think that your instructors understood the transition you were going through?
CS: None of our instructors were ex military but I think they understood our position and were very helpful.
EE: Do you think any of your training from the military has stood you in
good stead for what you do now, apart from the obvious trade?
CS: Yes the Army makes you very adaptable which is always useful. It has helped with the ability to keep a cool head when things go wrong. Also a bit of pressure is less likely to faze you. The ability to organize both tasks and people also helps.
EE: Can you tell us a little about your work?
CS: I am currently running a small team that support an overseas customer. We basically design Aircraft repairs for engineers to carry out down there. We will get a task in, research how a repair can be produced then draft a repair using AutoCAD. We also have to substantiate all repairs by writing a stress report to show that the repair will not fail.
EE: What are the best points about your new position?
CS: I actually enjoy learning more about why I did repairs in a certain way when working on aircraft. To be left to get on with the task as long as it is not behind schedule and the work is of a good standard and accurate.
Where do you see yourself in the next year and the next five years?
I want to complete the academic targets I have set myself and to have taken on more responsibility.
EE: What is the best piece of advice you can give to anyone leaving the
forces?
CS: Just believe in yourself. Life is no harder outside of the military just different.
EE: And what advice would you give to anyone following this line of work?
CS: If you have any desire to go into Aircraft design just try the course. For me it was just a leap of faith and a chance to try something different. Not many people get the chance to work in aircraft design.
Eagle Engineering would like to thank Craig for the time given over for this interview..
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