Please tell me a little bit about your time in the military?
I joined the RAF pretty much straight from school at 17, and spent 18 months training to become an Avionics Engineer.
I was then posted to14 Sqn at RAF Lossiemouth, where I worked on Tornado GR1 & GR4. I did several tours in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar. The most enjoyable trips away were when we used to train with the U.S and Canadian Air Force, which involved trips for a month or two at a time to places like Tucson in Arizona, Newfoundland and Las Vegas in Nevada...... this was certainly an improvement on Kuwait.
I got promoted and posted to 15 Sqn at Lossiemouth, where I spent the last year of my 8 year service training flight line mechanics on Tornado GR4 and Sea King (SAR) Helicopters.
What was the biggest challenge when you got out?
Having joined the RAF so young, I didn't really know anything different. The biggest challenge was starting again in a new industry. I worked away offshore in the Oil and Gas sector. Due to the fluctuation of oil/gas price, this could mean uncertainty as to how much work was available. This defiantly took some getting used to.
How did you overcome this? If you did?!
Was always willing to work anywhere in the world, which meant I always had work. I think this is something that being in the RAF helped with, as we were always sent to the far corners of the world.
What skills/experience gained in the military have you found the most useful in your civvy job(s)?
Teamwork, getting along with people, putting up with less than ideal situations/conditions.
Why is Scottish Sea Farms a great place to work if you're a veteran?
Salmon Farming and the engineering support that goes along with it can be a challenging, and not always the easiest. Things change at a moments notice, and there is no such thing as a normal working week.
Very similar to the Armed Forces
And;
What single piece of advice would you offer the Calum/Steve who were just about to sign off?
I think the longer you've been in the forces, the harder it is to leave. Have the belief that you can go on to a new career and be successful. After all, if you can put up with the nonsense the RAF/Army/Navy can throw at you, civvy street should be easy ??