A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FROM THE ARMOURED CORP TO THE MOD POLICE
Military Service
I wanted to join the Army for as long as I could remember.
The prospect of doing something completely different, travelling the world,
deploying on Operations and all the challenges that went with it, really
appealed to me. I first joined in 2005 but was medically discharged a year
later with a complicated stress fracture.
Thankfully the fracture healed over time, and I was able to
re-enlist in 2008, serving with the Light Dragoons, part of the Armoured Corps.
I deployed on Operations to both Afghanistan and Bosnia and have treasured
memories and experiences from these vastly different deployments.
I also met many
of my closest friends during my army career, all of whom I keep in touch with
regularly.
How I heard about the MDP
After ten years military service, my priorities had
changed, and I felt ready for a new challenge, and better work-life
balance. When I originally left the Army, I joined a regular Home Office
Police Force who I served with for three years.
I found this enormously
stressful, and it had a large impact on my home life, which was what I was
aiming to avoid by leaving the Army.
I'd grown up in the Reading area, so was aware of the AWE
sites nearby, and that the MDP were also based there.
Some of my colleagues had
transferred across to the MDP prior to me, so they were able to explain
everything involved, I found the website very helpful too.
Applying to join
In early 2022, a new recruitment campaign opened, and I
applied to join as a NEOF (New Entrant from Other Police Forces). I applied
specifically for the SEG (Special Escort Group) due to having no probationary
period to complete and having a particular interest in a more specialist role.
There were lots of forms to complete, including background checks, which were
necessarily intrusive due to the sensitive nature of where I would be working.
There was a large amount of repetition within the forms, as is common with such
things, so I found it useful to keep copies of the information I was sending to
the recruitment team, I therefore could copy it across when I was asked to fill
in further vetting forms. I found the forms were just things you had to chip
away at over an evening or two, and they soon got done!
The medical tests I found to be identical to the ones I had
undergone in the military, and I had no problem passing the fitness test,
having maintained a decent standard of fitness post military life. Once through
these stages I started my firearms training in the Summer of 2022.
Why a career in the MDP was the right choice
for me
I was delighted to discover the work-life balance was what
I had been seeking since first leaving the Army - you always know when you're
working, when you have time off, and unless you're away with the convoys, you
always finish on time. The work environment is also very relaxed and reliant on
self-discipline, which just allows us to get on with any work, it's very grown
up!
There is great camaraderie with my colleagues and very
little stress. Because you are expected to maintain your fitness, you even get
an hour a day during work time to do any fitness you need, be that go to a well-stocked
gym on site, for a very reasonable membership fee, go for a run or even a
simple walk.
On the SEG we only work dayshifts, from Monday to Friday,
when we are not out on the road, which has been brilliant for my social life
and keeping a routine.
When we're away, it's normally for a couple of days, and
we do this usually a couple of times a month. My partner says she's never seen
me at home so often!
All of this has had a hugely positive impact on my mental
and physical health, and wellbeing, which is of paramount importance to me now.
The tactics and firearms training are also brilliant, I'd
forgotten how much I enjoyed such things in the Army!
There are elements that
are just like my military training, but also lots of new things to learn and
become competent with too.
My proudest MDP moment
Since starting my MDP journey, my proudest moment has been
becoming convoy qualified and deploying on my first convoy, it was great to see
the theory I’d learnt being put into practice!
To find out more about joining the MOD Police click here
Apply for a role with the MOD Police now and take your civilian career to new heights!
