Hi Elizabeth,

There is so much to list with such a broad range of trade streams, postings etc but I have been a Royal Engineer for nearly 15 years so thought I would give you a very brief run down of the highlights of opportunity for me thus far.
I joined in June 2009 and started my career at 24 Commando Engineer Regiment in Barnstaple, Devon. In doing this I had to complete the All Arms Commando Course (This is the course the Royal Marines complete) which is an opportunity that RE get in order to serve alongside Royal Marines as Engineer Support. In 2010 I deployed to Afghanistan and was there as a Combat Engineer, specialising in construction, demolitions, bridge building and route clearance. In 2015 I served at 3 Royal School Of Military Engineer Regiment, teaching newly trained soldiers how to become Combat Engineers. In doing this I was part of a select group of trainers that piloted a change in training delivery using iPads. As part of this, I was extremely fortunate to brief this new teaching concept to Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth in 2016 during a visit to Chatham as part of the Royal Engineers 300th Birthday. More recently I was part of a fuel infrastructure team as a pipeline welder, working all over Germany, Cyprus and the United Kingdom. Throughout my career I have been fortunate enough to travel the world not only on work based exercises, but on Adventure Training excursions as well. In Nov 23, I went to Jersey for a week mountain biking and rock climbing, all paid for by the army, whilst getting paid to do it.
I have also just applied for a Chartered Managers Degree Apprenticeship, which if i am successful is a degree fully paid for by the Army. When I get asked about the Army and joining, even though I am biased as a serving RE, there really is no other corps like it. Not only are you trained the same as every soldier, you get a trade for life on the outside when you finish serving. A lot of other roles also give you a trade, but the RE will also make you a Combat Engineer.
Hope this helps and wish you all the best in the future.

Warm Regards,

Staff Sergeant Rob Needham

14 May, 2024 10:08