When the end of Pete’s service loomed he was faced with an unknown future and a series of tough decisions, but through hard work and a clear head he made his transition into civilian life. Today, Pete works as the National Transport Manager for Quattro Plant Group, a rail plant company with 12 depots spread across the UK. Before this he worked as the global fleet manager for an INGO.
How did Pete get from the past to the present? Well as with any story, it’s usually best to start at the beginning.
When his service ended Pete took stock of his situation, his strengths and skills. During his time In the Armed Forces his role was within the Supply Chain element. When it came to leaving, it seemed a natural transition to stay within the Supply Chain industry rather than retrain in another sector. After all, to move into another sector would mean a managerial position would be short lived and his skills would be wasted. However, Pete quickly found that there is a profound difference between military training and the civilian sector, the two simply don’t match. He realised that to be taken seriously in any civilian logistics organisation a key factor is to ensure that you understand the principles of how they operate. He knew he would need to be conversant with the way any logistics organisation worked, and that he needed to do something about this, especially with the timelines involved in completing a recognised logistics course.
After taking stock it was time for Pete to decide on a plan of action. How was he going to overcome the obstacles he identified? He enrolled on a distance learning course. Time commitments whilst in the military meant distance learning was the only option to ensure he was prepared adequately to join the civilian logistics sector.
The course helped Pete confirm exactly what he wanted to do when he left the military, and gave an insight as to what to expect in the civilian sector. Specifically, it was the level of support Pete received whenever he faced difficulties that ensured his success . He states:
‘DLC especially Jacky guided me through what was available and ensuring that the transition was as smooth as possible… It was the best decision I could have made to enrol and complete the IoSCM Level 5 course.’
Pete’s success was due to plan. He identified his strengths and used them to overcome the possibilities of the future. His is truly a success story we are proud of, and hope it stands as testament to the potential of learning with DLC Training.
‘DLC are a genuine worthwhile college who are willing to go the extra mile to help their students, with their support I managed to pass the IoSCM level 5 in a relevantly short time. The completion of this course using one of my Enhanced Learning Credits certainly helped my CV when applying for a civilian job. I would certainly recommend DLC to any potential students looking to gain a creditable qualification within the Supply Chain sector.’ –
Pete Sisson Formerly Cpl, Royal Logistics Corp
To find out more about how DLC can help your transition, take a look at our Armed Forces page. Be sure to follow our Social Media on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, or even all three! Stay up to date with our news.