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I have a friend who is a career soldier, has known nothing else and has been with the army for a long time now, but due to a few nasty tours of late, is rather keen to get out. I know there are a lot of current and ex-military folks here on dakka, so was wondering what sort of civilian jobs are good for someone with few educational qualifications but is fairly well placed in the pecking order in the army and is a very hard worker, but not huge on technology. I've heard from a few people so far and fireman seems like a good choice. The worst I've heard is telesales so if you have any better suggestions than that, please do share!

Telesales is gak.

Fireman would be good -- suits physical skills and discipline.

Some form of security or detective work (they do exist) might suit. If they avoid the serious Blackwater type of job it should be all right. Perhaps an instructor position?

S/he can pick up computer tech skills fairly quickly with a couple of courses and some experience. I assume s/he wants to do email, web searches and so on, not become a DB4 programmer.

All the above is my civilian perspective.

Fitness instructor? Physical fitness and discipline etc.

Events Organiser? Logistics etc.

Kilkrazy wrote:Telesales is gak.

Fireman would be good -- suits physical skills and discipline.

Agreed. You're forgetting police work though.

Some form of security or detective work (they do exist) might suit. If they avoid the serious Blackwater type of job it should be all right. Perhaps an instructor position?

Depending upon what you mean by "security work"...
Working security is usually minimum wage stuff, that really is busy work most of the time. You usually end up working a job at a mall or another public facility.
Now, if you can actually work for a security firm, where you end up doing bodyguard work, contract work for high end companies, etc...it's pretty rewarding from what I've been told.
Detective work doesn't really have any qualifications, at least insofar as a private detective agency. Depending upon local ordinances, etc you have to register and get a modicum of training from your local police.

S/he can pick up computer tech skills fairly quickly with a couple of courses and some experience. I assume s/he wants to do email, web searches and so on, not become a DB4 programmer.
All the above is my civilian perspective.

Agreed with this last bit about CT work.
And like KK said...this is from a civilian perspective. I can't particularly attest to what parts are/aren't true for British law enforcement though.

My brother has worked his way up from telesales to a sort of managing position in Vodafone after his stint in the Royal Marines, he doesn't hate it too much. But what he really wants to do is join the police, the irish police just aren't hiring right now.
Policing would seem like a reasonably good fit for a soldier who is switched on and has a decent amount of empathy or at least a healthy cynical understanding of human nature
Best of luck to your friend. Having worked security, it's pretty pants, I wouldn't recommend it. My brother was able to get some well paying work doing security at an exclusive private club, but he couldn't stand the rich scum who went there so he didn't stay at it.

Lego, the person involved should go to his resettlement officer who will advise him and give him most of the info he needs. There are many different employers who prefer ex forces personnel and for many different things other than being a firefighter!