Using my Military skills with Cheshire Constabulary

There are a number of transferable skills that you can bring across from the Forces to a role with Cheshire Constabulary, as Royal Engineers Veteran, PC Lewis Robertson, explains.

I joined Cheshire Constabulary because I was looking for a similar organisation or role due to changes in my family life. The police have a similar structure and work ethic for serving the public, the need for mental and physical skills, and there are a variety of opportunities and departments to work in. I plan to join the firearms team, then hope to eventually become an instructor where I can use my previous SAA skills from the Military.

I joined the Armed Forces in 2008 as a Reservist and have worked in several different full time and part time roles over 12 years. I was a Communications Systems Operator in the Royal Engineers, where I was responsible for establishing and maintaining both audio and data communications at regimental level. In 2012 I deployed on Operation Herrick to Afghanistan for seven months. Further to this, as a Corporal, I qualified as a Skill at Arms (SAA) Instructor and Physical Training Instructor, where I provided both weapons and tactics training, as well as physical training and assessments for regimental personnel.

Transferable skills
There are a number of transferable skills that you can bring across from the Forces such as confidence, self-discipline and attention to detail which helps with working with your colleagues and also how you handle incidents operationally. My situational awareness and firearms training from the Military has helped me during training courses such as taser, as well as during high stress and dangerous situations operationally.

A usual shift for me starts with a brew and a team briefing that highlights issues, incidents, and persons of interest or concern. Officers will then be allocated to any urgent incidents that need attending to or we catch up on paperwork that is required for any slow time enquires. An average shift will consist of taking statements and information from victims, witnesses and informants of crime or incidents. The shift also requires officers to respond to urgent 999 calls or proactively police areas to detect and deter criminals from operating.

I thoroughly enjoy being a police officer, no two shifts are the same and every day tends to have a new surprise. I get to apply my skills to help others, manage my own workload and work alongside a professional and supportive team that has become like a second family.

To find out more information about joining Cheshire Constabulary as an officer or even police staff, visit:  www.cheshire.police.uk