b'8 Partner News Summer 2021MODThe importance of Professional Registration: An interview with Air Marshal Sir Julian Young KBE CB OBE FREng CEng FIET After a stellar 40-year career in theThe military delivers great training, though15 years ago, the IET was the first PEI to Royal Air Force (RAF), with him leavingIve always supported people developingoffer a streamlined route to Chartered as its Chief Engineer and the Ministrythemselves further through additionalEngineer (CEng). The IET for me was the of Defences (MODs) Engineeringqualifications. The route often is throughRAFs PEI of choice. Anything that can help Champion, we spoke virtually withdistance learning, which is hard work instreamline both the route of people into a incoming IET President for the 2021-2022a busy job, though when you are dippingPEI and the payment of fees is a positive. session, Sir Julian Young, to talk aboutinto academia and then back into theAnd hence, the DERS is a great thing, and professionalisation within the military,workplace, the first time you answer aI am delighted that the Royal Marines have the Armed Forces Defence Engineeringquestion or write an essay you are better inrecently signed up to it.Professionalisation Strategy, the Royalyour workplace because you are instantly Marines signing the Defence Engineerapplying that new knowledge and thinking. Registration Scheme and his plans for his IET Presidential year. The Defence Engineer Registration Scheme (DERS) has been successfully How important do you feel it is thatrolled out across a lot of the different Engineers and Technicians in the Armedbranches within the Armed Forces, do Forces are Professionally Registered andyou think it has been successful and continue to learn new skills?how effective is it?Professional Registration is increasinglyI must own up to having led the team important in the Armed Forces and playsthat got the DERS over the line with a significant part in creating a competentthe MOD and HM Treasury, so I think it and skilled work force across the UK,is a brilliant scheme that demonstratesSir Julian Young KBE especially as technology-related industryclear value in peopleThe streamlinedCB OBE FREng becomes progressively more safety- application process is excellent, and theCEng FIETregulated. Qualifications and associatedProfessional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) continued professional development shouldthat step forward and take on the work help bridge the gap that has existedto translate military skills and experience between military and civilian trades. Iminto qualifications will benefit greatly not nave enough to think that simplyfrom doing so. Indeed, the reason I am being registered is going to get ex-militarya proud to be a member of the IET is engineers a job, but it might level thebecause when I started campaigning on playing field and get someone an interview.professionalisation within the RAF some'