b'16 Partner News Winter 2023EnterpriseA Royal Navy Engineer: the journey and the transition to industryBy Clinton Hume MSc FIoL CEng MIETJoin the Navy and see the world was oncehighly technical oral examinations, andthe Chilean Navy, and the coordination a popular recruitment catchphrase. Thedemonstrations. The majority of this trainingof any required adjustments to the phrase emphasises the travel and adventurewas learnt at sea on an operational front-linelearning specification throughout career opportunities that come with a career inwarship that was deployable anywhere indevelopment. the senior service. Some of us ignored it,the world. The RN delivered on its promise while others seized the opportunity tobecause during this time I went to Norfolk, flee our hometowns and the shackles ofVirginia, Florida, Canada, Miami, New York, civilian life, finding ourselves in new andDubai, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Brazil, the intriguing situations, meeting people fromBahamas, Sierra Leone, the Falkland Islands, all over the world and gaining advantageousSouth Georgia, Uruguay, and Portugal. experiences. The Apprenticeship The Marine Engineering Artificer, once fully trained, was at the pinnacle of engineering excellence within the Royal Navy (RN). With an apprenticeship that spanned 10 years of active service, including years of technical training with over 100 examinations,Although trained in multiple engineering leadership courses, operating certificates,disciplines, my chosen career specialisation would now become electrics and controls. The control system is an integral feature of the T23 propulsion plant that controls shaft speed across the whole working Consolidationrange, allowing equipment reconfiguration Consolidation is an important element ofto achieve varied propulsion states. It was engineering advancement. As the Typea demanding experience teaching this topic 23 Frigate marine engineering simulatorto newly promoted section heads, but one instructor, I was responsible for pre-joiningI appreciated and used to my advantage on training, speciality courses, and incomingreturning to sea, where it proved crucial in generation, assisting ships team training,my future endeavours.'