Friday July 23, 2010 at 3:18pm
I have been on termination leave for nearly 2 weeks now, 15 days and I shall be Mr Civilian. My last week was fantastic, free and I shall never forget it, another bag of memories to add to those gained over the last 20 odd years. I have started working for a communications company, which offered me a job after I completed a 4-week work placement with them. They have just asked me to help run a project in South Africa for 12 months, starting in November. This means a big pay rise and a chanc....
Monday June 28, 2010 at 12:30pm
I return to my unit on the 28th June for my last week. Finish my clearance-chit, de-kit and too say farewell to friends and get ready for my dine-out. Looking forward to them all. Not looking forward to the leaving-do arranged by the Ladies & Gents of the Bty. Not looking forward may be the wrong term, scared should sum it up. The Dine Out Tradition is such an important part of military life and carries HM Forces from strength to strength. Sadly some of those traditions are being lost. For m....
Tuesday June 8, 2010 at 11:49am
If your leaving the forces and setting up your own business, get ahead of the game and start planning your marketing campaign. Have you ever wondered why some companies always seem to be in the news gaining positive publicity? It’s often because they make a conscious effort to contact the media with stories they think will be of interest to their respective Customers. This sort of coverage need not cost anything.Getting it right can:Generate thousands in business.Enhance your brand and ....
Wednesday June 2, 2010 at 11:08am
Been on gardening leave for 6 weeks (Bored, Bored and Bored!!). I feel like I’m in limbo waiting for one part of my life to finish and waiting for the next part to start.I had been thinking about which part I was dreading the most, until I bumped into an old BSM.When I was a young Sgt he took me under his wing and gave me hundreds of new jobs each month and tripled my workload. I lost count of the number of rollickings and extras that came my way. It was his strong recommendations that h....
Thursday May 13, 2010 at 8:38pm
Has it been work related, educational, charity work, overcoming possible barriers? Life can provide many different opportunities that we can exceed in, have you since you left HM Forces? For myself it has been going back to education and earning a degree, plus securing work through sheer determination in a recession, all due to the discipline and self-respect of being an ex-military member that was installed in me when I proudly served. We all come from different backgrounds and ranks when we de....
Tuesday May 11, 2010 at 8:27am
The key factor to form the next Government seems to be an alternative voting system and not our Troops fighting & dying or the economy, jobs, immigration, the list could go on? Is our voting system in the UK such a priority to reform that we are risking our Servicemen and women’s life’s, plus the economy’s recovery, for certain political parties to gain standing and use it as the major stumbling block in agreeing and forming the next Government? Is it me or am I missing som....
Friday May 7, 2010 at 11:06am
Voting for the first timeIt was with great excitement that I went into a Polling Station at 0700 hrs and Voted for the first time in my life yesterday, I am 40 in 3 month’s time. I know I feel quite ashamed to be honest.Whenever there was an election on, I always seemed to be on Ops and never bothered to use my proxy vote or postal vote.To me there was never any real need to voteThe way I saw it, the country is always going to need a defence force. I was always paid at the end of every m....
Thursday April 22, 2010 at 2:40pm
Why would anyone want to join HM Forces? Particularly in an age where most other jobs offer comfortable offices and the stay at home option in case of a cold, (and all you need to do, is provide a fit for work chit from the doctors). You have the opportunity to lunch on exquisite food and spend the weekend sipping Chardonnay at a stylish pub. While members of the forces gulp down water and sit down to a boil in the bag.On the face of it, a career in HM Forces doesn’t pay too much. Your c....
Monday April 19, 2010 at 4:42pm
LeaveI was told to go on gardening leave for then next 10 weeks until my leaving do. That would be fantastic if I was married, the regiment and battery are on exercise and adventure training for about 7-8 weeks out of the next 10 weeks. The reality is that I’m just hanging on.It’s been a week and I’m already bored, I can’t start work as I have a start date for a new job (see last blog). I also have to go back finish my clearance chit, hand in my ID card the list goes on ....
Wednesday April 14, 2010 at 4:08pm
A new blog series! By Andy Davis
About Me
I currently work as HR Operations Manager for an international company and I live and work in Afghanistan. For holidays, I take regular diving tours around S.E. Asia. I have previously worked as a professional diving instructor, teaching recreational and technical scuba for PADI, SSI, DSAT and BSAC. Prior to becoming a beach bum, I served for 8 years as an Officer in the Royal Air Force. I was decorated for service in the Afghanistan and Iraq op....
Tuesday April 6, 2010 at 3:21pm
Commercial experience Up until about month ago, I had spent the last 6 months worrying about what resettlement course I should do (Read my last BLOG on Course finding). I spoke too a number of companies about what qualifications I would need to gain to make myself attractive to them. With most it wasn’t about my quals, their main concern was the experience that I had to offer. This just added to the worry, not only did I have to find a course to do, I now had to contend with the fact that ....
Monday March 22, 2010 at 9:43am
Direction I had always known that I would join the army and it never mattered what branch I joined until I spoke with a Sgt from the Royal Artillery at the careers office. He was a Gun number one (team leader for about 5-8 soldiers who would fire and operate a cannon). That was what I would be I thought, the fact is, I have never served on a gun. I served my entire career within the Command elements of a battery (Sub Unit) working on Communications & IT. There has always been direction in my....
Monday March 15, 2010 at 12:16pm
During the BFRS event, keynote speaker Col Richard Kemp CBE raised the issue of the transition from military to civilian life. He said: “In my experience since leaving the Army, most former service people tend to very much undersell themselves. It is really important that they recognise the impressive range of skills and experience they have acquired in their military service so that they can market themselves to employers.”
Gemini has a wealth of experience, helping transitioning ....
Friday March 5, 2010 at 11:38am
Thanks First of I would like to thank those of you, who have taken the time to offer your support and advice. Very surprised at the response and very encouraged. Letting go I have thought about my last day now, for the last year, and have felt dread ever since. I have delayed and delayed my resettlement and devoted my time to my Troop, Bty and my Regiment. It’s hard to let go!! Why is it hard to let go? My Troop needs me, my Bty needs me, my Regt needs me, or do they? I suppose I have to l....
Monday February 22, 2010 at 8:19am
I plan to write this Blog for the next year of my life, submitting a few Blogs each month. These will be about me leaving the only life I’ve known and loved and moving on to the unknown. I will soon be a civvy and this scares the Sh*t out of me. An intro, so you know a little about me I joined the Army as a boy soldier in 1987, which meant I did a year and a half for the Queen. I joined my regiment in the September of 88 as a gunner in The Royal Regiment of Artillery, and have slowly risen....
Friday January 29, 2010 at 9:50am
With so much happening in all our lives, plus business & economic concerns at home and abroad, I thought I would leave a positive note and reminder for all our UK members and hopefully all our members & visitors, about a sporting event on Sunday! Great Britain has been waiting 74 years for a male Grand Slam winner in tennis, and Andy Murray is just one match away after reaching his maiden Australian Open final. Having only dropped one set in his progression to the final, can he achieve t....
Wednesday January 20, 2010 at 9:25am
The UK’s inflation has increased at its fastest annual rate for nine months in the month of December to 2.9%. It was also the steepest climb from one month to the next since records began according to the Office of National Statistics. What could the implications be in this unprecedented rise for business, the individual and our economic recovery? Increased wage demands? Will living standards be affected? Interest rates? Or is it just a short glitch in our inflationary figures that we shou....
Wednesday January 13, 2010 at 9:34am
How much is this affecting local authorities budgets? Constant gritting, substantial extra man-hours clearing/gritting the roads and some pavements? Plus the aftermath of when the snow clears with many hundreds of potholes on the roads appearing? With schools being closed, but supermarkets open within close vicinity, parents have had to take time off work: Health & safety madness? ‘School Snow Days’ or ‘Snow related excuses for getting into work,’ how has that affecte....
Monday January 4, 2010 at 9:29am
A number of groups have sprung up since this has been reported on. Some of these groups are controlled. Many are racist and are inciting violence. How much can GB take before we see running battles on the UK streets? How do I as an individual make my views clear on the ISLAM4UK MARCH? Do I join the thousands of (potential) UK non-Muslims at Wootton Bassett in protest against the march as it takes place? Will I be classed as a racist? There will be white extremists at the march (no better than Is....
Wednesday December 23, 2009 at 2:22pm
The Prince, patron of Centrepoint, was aiming to raise public awareness of the homeless charity's work. But its chief executive - who joined William and his private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton on the sleep-out near Blackfriars bridge last Wednesday - revealed that a roadsweeper nearly ran them all over. Seyi Obakin, who had challenged Wills to experience being homeless for one night, said: "It was a scary experience out in the elements but the Prince was determined to do it."
BI....
Wednesday December 16, 2009 at 8:39am
The UK National Defence Association (UKNDA) – which campaigns in support of Britain’s Armed Forces – is calling on the Government to re-think its approach to defence funding and to hold back from making any cuts to military spending unless and until a full Defence Review has been undertaken and funding priorities have been properly decided. With the Defence Secretary expected to announce major cutbacks in Britain’s front-line military capabilities this afternoon, includin....
Friday December 11, 2009 at 12:11pm
Military expertise and commitment to getting the job done in the wake of the devastating Cumbria floods has thrown transferable skills of services personnel into the spotlight. Harry Dean, director of Gemini Forces, said military intervention to build a temporary footbridge spanning the River Derwent in Workington was the perfect illustration of the skills of forces personnel can be transferred seamlessly into the civilian environment. In Workington, the logistic support bridge will provide a vi....
Monday November 30, 2009 at 9:24am
A leading Employment Law consultant has advised Companies to ban mobile phones at office parties, because of the ease in taking and distributing incriminating photographs of other employees.
Posting a picture of another employee (whether incriminating or not) without their permission is illegal and can potentially land both the employee posting the picture and the employer in rather deep water.
What do you think?
Can an employer take this action ie ban the mobile phone? ....
Saturday November 28, 2009 at 6:06am
BFRS is not just another agency for ex-Military, it is a network of people and organisations, who can and will provide a useful contribution to Service Leavers in their transition, ex-Military who need help and assistance in finding their next employment and to the familieas of both categories who need some form of help, advice an/or support. We have launched a temporay website at www.bfrss.org.uk....
Monday November 23, 2009 at 3:52pm
Would you employ a Service Leaver? A simple question, but ask a commercial manager and you probably wont get a straight answer, but in reality, 50% (ish) would probably say no if they could avoid a discrimination claim. When you actually probe the subject deeper, there are many misconceptions about the potential employability of Ex-Military people, the most popular include:
"they dont have any commercial experience" and "they are probably ok at security work"
Ge....
Monday November 16, 2009 at 9:50am
Our Forces deserve the best especially when it comes to their transition from Military to Civilian life, there isnt a person who will read this that will disagree, or is there?
We recently came head to head with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) over our British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) project, a project set up to enhance the help, advice, support and jobsearch already available to Service Leavers.
For some reason the CTP apparently see us as a threat/competitio....
Monday November 16, 2009 at 9:23am
Social networking is playing a much greater role in our business lives, much more than I would have anticipated 12 months ago, in particular Twitter, which is much different from Facebook, Linkedin and Plaxo etc, Twitter is fast moving and requires constant maintenance, it almost determines the need for a new position within the company 'Twitter Operator' or 'Social Media Exec', the question is what are the benefits? Thats a question that I cannot answer properly yet, but I do know I dont ....
Tuesday October 27, 2009 at 9:25am
Last week I joined Gemini Forces as a recruitment consultant and have thus far really enjoyed my time working with the team. Working with Harry Dean and his son, Neil Dean, has been an educational and motivating experience. Since they are BOTH from service backgrounds they are extremely focused and driven in their effort to place other ex servicemen back into civilian work positions. The positions offered are specifically chosen jobs that can access and utilise transferable and specific skills t....
Tuesday September 15, 2009 at 9:21am
MILITARY PENSION PETITION All those either receiving or planning to receive a Military Pension should review the Govt's 'No 10' Petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Military-Pension/sign . Its premise is that, "the military pension is a pension that has been earned over a sustained period in the service of HM The Queen. The Government is requested to remove all tax liability on that pension or at least remove it from being considered as income when establishing tax liability". ....
Friday July 31, 2009 at 9:23am
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Friday July 31, 2009 at 8:15am
A question that is being asked more and more, as the death toll and injury level rises:
Why are our troops in Afghanistan? "It's not our fight", they say.
But is it? Do you know the answer? I'm not sure that I do! We are told by our politicians that we are helping to combat world terrorism.
Well, if we are and our presence in the region is so important and essential, why dont we send more troops and equipment? If a job is worth doing it's worth d....
Wednesday June 10, 2009 at 1:19pm
Should The Government Re-Introduce National Service?
Ex-Forces, current Service hierarchy, and most importantly general members of the public have raised this question. The advantages of re-introducing national service are very clear, the youth of today would be given an element of discipline, sense of value and a structured approach in their attitude towards working life.
The general consensus would say youth crime would be reduced greatly and burdens on our public services (police, work and....
Monday April 27, 2009 at 8:32am
I received an email from a friend over the weekend, not unusual, but for a change I had time to follow up on it, the email was a forward on of an email from Joanna Lumley at the Gurkha Justice Campaign.
I have been appalled at the treatment of these guys for a number of years, but have done very little about and indeed many people voice their support and do very little about it, so I decided to visit the site www.gurkhajustice.org.uk and sign up on the petition. Below is a copy of the ema....
Saturday April 25, 2009 at 12:31pm
Everyday we see a new petition or issue in the press about one matter or another that is specific to HM Forces or ex Forces, but actually in addition to these issues there are many other issues affecting ex - Forces people, we voice our opinions, but who actually listens? and very importantly who actually cares?
I dont know exactly how many ex-Forces people there are out there, but most of us do have opinions, very valid opinions that matter, I believe, that with a bit of effort we c....
Friday April 24, 2009 at 7:30am
It was interesting to find that, when 'googleing' Forces Recruitment, the other day, I found FRS www.forcesrecruitment.com about 5 times in the top 20 results, this included the top two, I also found other organisations such as defence jobs, 4exmilitary, demob job and force 10 recruitment all featuring quite high up in the results, so I began to wonder how they do it, not being an expert in this area I called Mark Reynolds at Zarr Ltd, who advised posting a BLOG (approx 250 words) twice a week t....
Thursday March 26, 2009 at 4:09pm
Mike wrote to me saying
''I am hearing vicious rumours and came across this myself last week, some people are barring forces people and not even reading thier CV's, i found this out last week from a friend who used to work for Reeds and also when i went for a local job with Techsearch. They both said that forces people are not flexible in thier attitudes work as thy are too regimented, i even got told i would not work well in a team, from one recruiter, which we all know is crap as the forces w....
Thursday March 12, 2009 at 8:09am
I was totally disgusted by the recent appalling behaviour at the Royal Anglian Parade, where members of certain ethnic group/s demonstrated against them.
Why do we allow this in our country? In my view these people should be deported, but no, that might insight racial hatred.
Furthermore, I would hazzard a guess that the majority of them are drawing benefits, well they weren't working were they? That means this demonstration was financed by the government?
What do yo....
Monday January 12, 2009 at 2:49pm
Over the past 48 hours I have seen and heard numerous reports about what Prince Harry said and his "racist" intent or not. Of course Having spent many years in a Military environment, I understand the circumstances where this comment would or could have been made and personally do not believe it was intended as a derogatory remark, this sounds like normal team banter to me. What do you think?
....
Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 2:17pm
Are your staff entitled to live and work in the UK If you employ staff from outside the UK, or may do in the future, you will need to check whether they have the right to live and work here. You might find this process easier after 25th November 2008, the government is starting to replace paper-based immigration documents, stickers and stamps with compulsory biometric identity cards.
Within three years all foreign nationals - from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland - apply....
Tuesday December 2, 2008 at 12:56pm
Understanding what you need....
Everyone knows there are plenty of ex forces sites offering this service and that service.
Gemini Forces want to know what it is that you want? So we can tailor our services to your needs.
So what ever you need to help make your transition smoother, call us and we will do our best to introduce this and offer advice on this.....
Tuesday November 25, 2008 at 10:39am
WHY A UKNDA? THE NEED FOR A UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL DEFENCE ASSOCIATION (UKNDA) The fundamental problem to be addressed is that for many years now, defence has been, and still is, too low in the nation’s list of priorities. and therefore: The Armed Forces are under funded for the tasks they are set and consequently over-stretched. In 1984 the Defence budget was 5.3% of GDP. By the year 2000 that had almost halved to 2.7% and now the percentage is even smaller at just 2.2% or even lowe....
Thursday November 20, 2008 at 7:51pm
Gemini Resourcing UK Ltd and Premier IT Ltd recently teamed up and launched Forces Business Network (FBN). The aim of FBN being to provide a platform for like minded people (ex-Military) who are in business to do business with each other and at the same time offer support to Service charities. www.forcesbusinessnetwork.org.uk....
Wednesday November 19, 2008 at 2:57pm
Gemini Forces is more than just a site for jobs. We offer advice on all resettlement issues, from housing to courses.
We are a new devision from Gemini Resourcing, looking to give forces and ex forces personel that extra step in achiving all they can be in civi street.....