My Transition Story – Matthew Raeside

Former Royal Navy officer Matthew Raeside shares his transition story and how he decided on his new career, with the help of the OA. Leaving the Royal Navy at the 6-year point and moving to the City had always been part of my ‘master plan’. What I hadn’t accounted for was how quickly the 5-year […]

26th November 2019

My Transition Story – Nicholas Wheatley

HSBC are running their first regional Insight & Networking day in Sheffield, 7th November 2019. Ahead of this event, we catch up with former Army officer Nicholas Wheatley, now part of HSBC’s Military Network, as he discusses his experiences working in Financial Services. Transition overview: I served 8 years in the British Army and 5 […]

29th October 2019

The Five Lines of Operations that will Help your Transition – Part Two

With a background in Plans and Operations it’s no surprise that David Orr, a former Army officer, put a lot of thought into planning his transition. He shares his method and the lessons he learnt on the way. Read part one here. LOO3 – Build Online Profile Resettlement is effectively an exercise in personal promotion. […]

5th February 2019

The Five Lines of Operations that will Help your Transition – Part One

With a background in Plans and Operations it’s no surprise that David Orr, a former Army officer, put a lot of thought into planning his transition. He shares his method and the lessons he learnt on the way. It is now a year since I started my resettlement journey – transitioning to civilian life after […]

1st February 2019

Being a Former Officer Helped Sophie Win Bake Off

Sophie Faldo won the Great British Bake Off last year. As well as a baking champion, she is also a former Army Captain. Sophie spoke to the OA about her career and cakes. Why did you leave the Army? I left for a multitude of reasons: it was a good time and I had achieved […]

18th September 2018

How to Go From a Senior Officer to Senior Project Manager

After a successful career with the RAF, Michele Crossman wanted a more flexible approach to work, which she has achieved working for SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business. Family comes first Michele served in the RAF from 1992 to 2016 as a Logistics Officer, leaving as a Group Captain. She was posted across the UK and overseas, with […]

14th September 2018

From the RAF to the Army and Navy Club

Ashley Stevenson used the OA’s employment services to leave the RAF and pursue a portfolio career. Ashley joined the RAF in 1976, and left in 2013 as an Air Commodore. He had a full active career in the RAF, training to become a Harrier pilot and later becoming a Qualified Weapons Instructor and Harrier display […]

30th May 2018

“It’s exciting to start a new business,” Neil Williams’s Story

The former Royal Marines officer shares his transition journey. Neil Williams joined the Royal Marines in 2009, serving for eight years. In that time he completed a tour of Afghanistan, was part of the Lead Commando Group and became head of Tactical Development at 3 Commando Brigade HQ. He enjoyed being in the Armed Forces, […]

16th March 2018

When this former Royal Navy officer stopped enjoying his military career he knew it was time for a change

Paul Coverdale shares his transition story to becoming a freelance Sustainability Consultant. Tell me about your military career I joined the Royal Navy as a warfare officer straight from university. I was lucky enough to spend several years doing what I joined up to do – frontline weather forecasting at sea as a hydrographic and […]

7th March 2018

This Former Intelligence Officer Left the RAF to Take On a Charity Internship

Vix Anderton, a former RAF Intelligence Officer, shares her transition story. Vix joined the RAF in 2005, having been in the Officer Training Corps at Manchester University, where she studied Economics and Politics. She graduated as an Intelligence Officer in 2007, and fulfilled a variety of roles during her 10 year career. Vix started to […]

14th February 2018

Is a Career Break Right For You? By Richard Jones

What can you do if your civilian career is unfulfilling? Richard Jones, a former RAF officer, shares his story on how he dealt with being in this situation. There is a lot of advice and support when you’re leaving the military. It often focuses on finding that important first civilian role, but for me my […]

17th January 2018

Transition Story: starting with a blank piece of paper

Ade Clewlow is an ‘internationalist at heart’ and it shows from his varied experiences across the globe – from a Jane’s Defence Weekly correspondent and freelance journalist with the BBC in Portugal, to an education professional at the Qatari Staff College, and strategic communications expert in Somalia. During his career as a Royal Signals Officer, […]

5th May 2017