Advice for a service leaver.

[muffster]

Evening everyone,
This is my first post and i am hoping to tap into the wealth of knowledge here on this forum.
I am looking at leaving the Royal Navy soon after 18 years as an engineering mechanic.
My job has been predominantly mechanical but i have worked on many elecrical systems over the years.
I am hoping to get some advice on the best way to becoming qualified as an electrician when i leave the RN. I have done a lot of reading up on the subject but thier doesn't seem to be a clear and definate route to becoing qualified and attractive to an employer.
So, which are the best courses to do and where, and if you were looking to take someone on, what would you look for/expect them to have done?
What did you do on your route to becoming an electrician?

Thanks in advance.
Muffster.

 

[DurhamSparky]

welcome to the forums ....

you a skimmer or ones of gods breed...!!

 

[La Poste]

I'm a postman, I work part time for a sparks afternoons, weekends and holidays. He is showing me the ropes. I have done a 2330 evening classes and am about to enrol on my 17th edition and 2391.
Only way to look attractive to an employer IMO is to be cheap, charge them FK all, just be grateful for the opportunity to gather experience and learn all you can from them, other wise you'll be three sheets to the wind.
That's my chart and I'm sticking to it whatever the tides may bring.

 

[muffster]

welcome to the forums ....

you a skimmer or ones of gods breed...!!

HAHA,
yes i'm a skimmer mate.
Need i ask about yourself!

Muffster.

 

[DurhamSparky]

Gus rating?? Dog Turd City?? or are you a special case from Fas lavatory!!!!

Yeah i was a comedian who signed for silent service, I enjoyed radiating my future gene pool with Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation!!

Ideally if you wish to enter the Multi Skilled Engineering world you need to get

17th Edition (2382)
A formal Elec Qualification at Level 3 (C&G 2330 / BTEC Diploma or National)
Test and Inspection (C&G 2391)
NVQ 3 (C&G 2356)

Add that to the mix of your NVQ 3 in Mechanical Maintenance and General Mechanical Engineering background from Sultan and in the Fleet you can put your self a formidable CV together..!!

what rate are you? and were you a MEA or MEM

 

[Thunderpants]

Hi ShipMate,

I left the RAF last year, was an aircraft elect/avionic technician.

All the courses run by the resettlement centre at Aldershot will give you the qualifications to carry out work and become Part P registered. Do 17th Ed, EAL Domestic Installers, and 2391, then join Napit, NICEIC etc and get assessed. All the books are slightly cheaper if bought at the resettlement centre and they used to have a deal with the local CEF branch to get your tools, test equipment etc.

By the way the courses are properly run with pass/fail exams (which is extra cost to you) so don't go there thinking its an attendance course like some of the military courses I have done. Taught by tutors who are still in the business so they have a wealth of experience and current advice to give.

Hope this helps a bit. It all seems a minefield to begin with.

 

[muffster]

Thanks for the replies folks.
Yeah unfortunatly i'm in dog turd city, always have been, but i'm actually a POWEM not an ME and i'm i bit concerned about not having a piece of paper with a HND etc written on it!!
Iv'e heard some goodstuff about the courses at Aldershot so that may be a way ahead.
I did 16th edition years ago, just for the interest factor and do something productive but i havn't used it since. So would a 17th edition upgrade be sufficent or would i have to re-do the whole course?

Durhamsparky- can you tell me more about "A formal Elec Qualification at Level 3 (C&G 2330 / BTEC Diploma or National"

Many thanks.

Muffster.

 

[DurhamSparky]

Muffy my friend..!!

Formal Elec Qualification's are the back bone of the industry that you wont pick up in a short course or at Aldershot dump "sorry camp"
i did a Btec Advanced level 3 via distance learning with ICS BTEC Advanced Diploma in Electrical Installation - Engineering Courses - ICS Home Study

its an equivalent to the C&G 2330 course run at colleges up and down the country and at a snippet of the price! takes 18m to do mind!!

17th edition Full course would be beneficial to you seen as you never used teh 16th

POWEM!! bet you have a nice pillow and duvet tucked away in 4.5 Gun Magazine do you! lol...!!!!
what ship you jumping from!!

 

[muffster]

Hello mate,
Yes i used to have a nice pillow tucked away! Unfortunatly those days are long gone. A couple of the local collages run 17th and inspect & test so i need to get my backside back to night school. I spent 3 years on the Endurance but now i'm at collingwood, instructing...again!!!
Tahks for the link i will have a good look at it. It would be good to do something at my own pace. Is that qualification a usual one for a domestic sparky, and are the timescales to complete fixed?
Many thanks,

Muffster.

 

[DurhamSparky]

you know a CPO called Ben Jones?? MEA he was an endurance Geezer!! (bit of a weird chap TBH)

you on board for the mishap then??

yes time scale is 18month!! its not the most common course as teh C&G 2330 is teh most popular but i know a few people with it "me included" and with it been level 3 and Btec its not a mickey mouse qual either!!

ah legendary collingwood! NOT!

 

[muffster]

Yes i know ben, his workshop was opposite mine onboard. A very nice guy but barking mad at the same time!! He was a very good maintainer though.
I was onboard during the errm, mishap, it was an intersting few days i wouldn't care to repeat.
I'm going to do some more reading up during the weekend and i may have some more questions to ask.
Cheers,

Muffster.

 

[DurhamSparky]

hahaha, yeah thats Ben all over!! lol..! i was working with him at MOD HQ in london for just over a year before he went on draft and i got Med Discharged lol..!

he was obsessed with getting this spot on and working perfect even though the kit was kaput and needed replacing!

cant image you wishing to re live that sinking feeling again lol..!!

 

[muffster]

DurhamSparky
Hello again mate.
I have been reading up aboput the BTEC course whic you mentioned. It all sounds very interesting, could you tell me what you thought about the course, is it useful to you and your employer, and was there much maths involved.
Cheers pal.
Muffster.