The reader who has perused my article "Seawater in my veins" will recall that my family has a long tradition of seafaring and shipbuilding stretching back many generations and that my generation is the first in at least 300 years to have no connection with the sea.
It seems, though, that once that salt water is in the blood it doesn't go away because youngest son has just applied to become an Engineering Cadet in the Merchant Navy! Initially, he was considering joining the RN but when he followed up on my suggestion that a career in the Merchant service might be more appropriate he had no druthers about switching codes, as it were.
Turns out it was a good move - there is a long waiting list for applications to join the RN apparently, about three years we've heard on the grape vine, and he hasn't the qualifications to join as an Officer so would have to go in as a rating. I wasn't convinced that life in a ratings mess would suit him anyway.
In contrast, he already has the necessary grades to join the OND/HND cadet program as either a trainee engineering or deck officer in the Merchant Navy and if his application is unsuccessful this year then by next year, assuming he successfully completes his current studies, he'll have the necessary UCAS points to go for the Foundation Degree option.
Either route offers what looks like a good long term career path. Even after applying a large dose of salt to the blurb from the cadet management companies it seems there is a growing demand for trained sea officers both in home waters and abroad.
I can't wait to see the look on his grandfathers face when he finds out his grandson is planning to follow in his footsteps (he quit the sea as a 2nd Engineer when I was born)
No comments:
Post a Comment