Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

[Guest]

I used to be a Weapons Engineer in the Royal Navy, and I'm interested in re-training as an ETO.

I have a couple of questions:

1) Will my age count against me? From what I've seen, many cadets are recruited at an early career age, if I were to complete the full training I would be 36 by the end of it, is it likely that many companies would be interested?

2) I already have an HND in Electronic Engineering, would that allow me to fast-track? I asked this of the MCA via their webform, but so far haven't received any response from them, thought I would ask on here before contacting them by phone.

Thanks in advance.

[Chiefy]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

1) age no barrier

2) really? (sarcasm)

honest answer you need to either ask the colleges ro companies, though as a weapons type there ought to be a space

[Steve]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

I don't know how the commercial outfits do it, but with HND and WE background you could join the RFA directly as a Systems Engineer, if they are recruiting: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/linkedfiles ... 2010_a.pdf

Start on 3rd Off's wages straight away, no cadetship. A large proportion of RFA SEs are ex-WE. But you might be sick of grey funnel cruises. ;-)

[dawg]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

When you say "ETO", what do you mean? There's more than one version of this... discussed in the forum...

AIUI, your HND in Electronic Engineering won't really help you in either flavour of ETO... the electrical stuff is missing; electronics is only half the picture, and half isn't really enough.
If you are looking at the cruise ship fast-track route... you probably need some HNC Electrical Engineering level stuff to give yourself the best chance.

Apart from that, you probably have a better chance than you imagine of getting somewhere, depending on what you are willing and able to do. Your age is not an issue for every company; there are older cadets.

You might get accepted as a HND Engineering Cadet by someone, but may end up not doing any ETO stuff (I don't know, I just say that, because you've been able to do a HND already, and I don't know if your background is enough to get you on an FD course - there are financial implications depending on which course you go on, so you might want to consider what savings and additional sources of funding you can organise).

I suspect that to get taken on by a cruise-ship co for their ETO programmes you'd need to be prepared to do an extra course in the electrical stuff (e.g.: a HNC Electrical Engineering at COLU in Teesside), and be able to demonstrate some customer service type experience, as there's more to it than tinkering with comms and AV equipment; and they seem to want their officers to smile a lot and engage in chit-chat with customers.

[Guest]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry, I should have been a little clearer. My HND is Electrical/Electronic Engineering, I tend to emphasize the Electronics part as that is field I am more interested in.

Specifically, my interest would be in maintaining the systems such as Radar, Sonar, Communications and Navigation, as I have more experience with those. I have some experience with Electrical Distribution and Hydraulics, but not to any major extent.

Currently I'm working in the Oil and Gas industry as a Survey Tech, but to be honest I don't find it very challenging, more often than not I set the gear up, test it and prove to the client it is functioning correctly, then after that I mostly have nothing to do unless something goes wrong. As a result I have some small experience in customer relations, but I've only been doing this for 3 years and the work has been too infrequent. Besides, I miss the camaraderie of being part of a crew.

Thanks again.

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

Normally most companies won't want the ship's staff to maintain the Radar, Communication or Navigational equipment. Most of it is certified by class and require a technician that is certified by them to do the work. Also, our ships don't really carry Sonar....

[Steve]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

Also, our ships don't really carry Sonar....

Opportunities in the survey sector?

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

Yeah, survey ships and research vessels carry them but Bulkers and Tankers wouldnt.

[dawg]

Re: Ex-Navy at 32 yo, re-training as ETO

I have some experience with Electrical Distribution and Hydraulics, but not to any major extent.

The most likely question you would expect is for you to describe to some extent what you know about the electrical stuff inside a ship, as electronics bits are perhaps more likely to be replaced rather than repaired; and if repaired, perhaps by an external contractor or company. The electrical stuff in a ship is pretty critical and needs people with specific training (i.e. bits of paper) to sort it out; so if you go into any interview without some awareness of what's even in a ship (in terms of electrical systems), then you may be wasting your time. There is a relevant book available... listed in an engineers' reading list thread in the forum.
There aren't enough electrical people in the forum, so I hope you join us (if you haven't already ;p ).