Alun Thompson

Course: BScEc International Politics and Military History

Graduated: 2006/07 Academic Year

Destination approx. 6 months after graduation: Officer Cadet, Royal Navy

Background

I studied at a high school in Wigan for my GCSEs and decided to go on to sixth form. At 18 I joined the Navy Pilot scheme but found that I wasn’t really suited to flying. I still wanted to be in the Navy eventually, but decided that a degree might be the next best option as it would help my future career prospects to have the experience of completing a degree.

I’d studied modern history at A-level and developed an interest in military history during this time. However, I didn’t want to limit myself and thought that if I combined this subject with international politics I’d have more to offer at the end of my 3 years of study.

Aberystwyth is one of the few places to offer Military History as a subject, and the reputation of the International Politics department is second to none. I was also extremely interested in the foreign exchange options available at Aber, and I ended up studying at McGill University in Montreal during my second year. I’m also a very outdoors person and love mountaineering, so was very keen to take full advantage of the Welsh countryside sitting on the doorstep of Aber University.

Do you have any diversity issues/experiences or disabilities that you would be prepared to share, in order to help inform and inspire other students?

I personally don’t but I have to say that a close friend of mine at Aber had dyslexia and the support he got from the university was excellent.

Where are you now?

At the moment I am an Officer Cadet in the Navy - I am training to be an Officer for the Royal Navy. The training that I am currently doing is very generic and is being done by all new Officer Cadets. I am in line to become a Warfare Officer for the submarine division, but the specialist training for this comes later. My course at Aber should really help with my specialism in this area as I studied Britain and Nuclear Weapons, and just having a sound general global awareness will help tremendously.

At this moment in time I am doing my initial sea training which means that I am out at sea for six weeks. After this, I will go back to the Brittania Royal Navy College in Dartmouth for the rest of my first year where we will do all sorts of varied training in navigation, leadership and military operations in a maritime environment.

My second year will be Common Fleet training which involves four months at sea learning what every department and officer on the ship does. We will then be generally assessed on being an Officer in the Navy. It is only after this that I will start my more specialist Warfare Officer training at HMS Collingwood.

How did you get there?

Ever since I initially left the Navy, I kept in contact with them in some shape or form. I also went through the Careers Service at Aber Uni who have close links with the Navy. They organise representatives to come in and speak to interested candidates and it was through them that I got my first interview for this position. I saw the Navy representative at the Careers Service at Aber, who told me what I’d need to do to prepare myself for selection by the Navy. I was invited to attend a three day assessment with the Navy after these initial interviews at the Careers Service. I think that my degree in Inter Pol really helped as I was able to show that I had a good general knowledge of the Navy and its workings. Officers are expected to be able to argue their cause and understand the role that the Navy plays and I had lots of experience of doing just this.

The three day assessment took place in HMS Sultan in Hampshire. It was a very holistic experience. We were tested on our knowledge of the Navy, our fitness levels and on our practical and leadership skills. We also had to do aptitude tests in Maths and English. I particularly enjoyed working in groups of four and having to complete tasks together - such as using planks and other props to cross a swimming pool and so on - although we did get a bit wet!

I’ve already mentioned a few things about how my knowledge of the Navy and it’s workings through my study scheme have stood me in good stead, not to mention the debating skills that I developed during my time at Aber.

I was a member of the Officer Training Core during my time in Aber, which is basically an Army club run by the Army but with very close links with the University. This experience really developed my team working skills and improved my fitness and ability to interact with other people. I think the Navy were really interested in the activities I undertook through this group.

Although the Navy are not fond of political affiliation, my time spent with the Liberal Democrat Society whilst at Aber has nevertheless provided me with some valuable skills. I was Secretary for some time and had to organise trips and activities and this really helped to show my now employers that I was very capable of leadership, organisation and being relied upon to get the job done.

Where are you going?

My initial hope is to pass my Officer Cadet training. Eventually I would like to become a Submarine Navigator. To become this I’ll have to undertake the Officer of the Watch course which involves taking charge of the ship whilst the Captain is away taking care of other tasks on the ship. I’ll also have to do specialist submarine training which will involve four months on land and one year at sea. Beyond that there will be more specialist Submarine Navigator training – all in all, it would be another five years or so until I got to this point. My long term goal - which is a very, very long way off - would be to command a submarine.

What advice would you give to a student doing your subject at university now?

Really enjoy your time at Aber but stay focused. Get involved in many extra curricular activities as they look great on your CV. Make the most of the foreign exchange opportunities on offer at Aber - it’s a great way to experience other cultures, get to travel and see a bit of the world and it’s really beneficial to be able to have some foreign perspectives on political issues.

Think really early on about what you want to do post graduation, although don’t pigeon hole yourself. I had worked out full proof plans from A to E by the time I graduated. I had job offers from the Merchant Navy and Navy and had secured a few places on Masters study schemes - you should really keep as many options open as possible in case some things fall through. I have a few friends who didn’t do this and still don’t really know what they’re doing - they’ve found themselves a bit high and dry now that they’ve graduated because they didn’t do any research or visit the Careers Service before they graduated.