Gareth Mawdsley (1997 Leaver) – A Career in the Royal Navy
Lt Cdr Gareth Mawdsley RN (MTBS 1990-97)
I joined the Royal Navy 17 years ago, straight from school, and conducted basic training at Britannia Royal Naval College and in a variety of warships around the world. After passing my Fleet Board, I went on to read Geography at Cambridge, whilst being paid as a University Cadet (which was nice!) and spending my summers at sea.
On returning to the RN I completed my professional training as a Logistics Officer both at sea and ashore. In the years since, my career has seen me deployed all over the world for operations and exercises, serving in a helicopter carrier, 4 frigates, 2 destroyers (including one being built on the Clyde), as well as spending time in American and Italian aircraft carriers, in landing ships with the Royal Marines, and ashore in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
As a Logistics Officer I have had a wide range of roles: at sea ensuring everyone is fed, clothed, paid, disciplined and healthy; that audits, appraisals and accounts are correct; that spare parts are available for everything from missiles to toasters; and of course making sure that cocktail parties have enough Pimms! This is all whilst managing a large and diverse department, being a Boarding Officer ready to jump out of a helicopter onto an Iraqi dhow, or being ready to take charge if there is a fire or flood.
Ashore, I have served as Executive Assistant to Admirals, Generals and Air Marshals, getting a behind-the-scenes look at decision-making in Whitehall, operational headquarters and procurement and support agencies. Along the way I have worked with NATO and the EU, and alongside the Army and RAF, for example managing the flow of people and stores in and out of Afghanistan, all of which are fascinating exposés to the way different organisations (and nationalities) do things.
A career in the Armed Forces will always be what you make it: I have loved the fun, the variety and the responsibility that it has brought me.
I joined the Royal Navy 17 years ago, straight from school, and conducted basic training at Britannia Royal Naval College and in a variety of warships around the world. After passing my Fleet Board, I went on to read Geography at Cambridge, whilst being paid as a University Cadet (which was nice!) and spending my summers at sea.
On returning to the RN I completed my professional training as a Logistics Officer both at sea and ashore. In the years since, my career has seen me deployed all over the world for operations and exercises, serving in a helicopter carrier, 4 frigates, 2 destroyers (including one being built on the Clyde), as well as spending time in American and Italian aircraft carriers, in landing ships with the Royal Marines, and ashore in the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
As a Logistics Officer I have had a wide range of roles: at sea ensuring everyone is fed, clothed, paid, disciplined and healthy; that audits, appraisals and accounts are correct; that spare parts are available for everything from missiles to toasters; and of course making sure that cocktail parties have enough Pimms! This is all whilst managing a large and diverse department, being a Boarding Officer ready to jump out of a helicopter onto an Iraqi dhow, or being ready to take charge if there is a fire or flood.
Ashore, I have served as Executive Assistant to Admirals, Generals and Air Marshals, getting a behind-the-scenes look at decision-making in Whitehall, operational headquarters and procurement and support agencies. Along the way I have worked with NATO and the EU, and alongside the Army and RAF, for example managing the flow of people and stores in and out of Afghanistan, all of which are fascinating exposés to the way different organisations (and nationalities) do things.
A career in the Armed Forces will always be what you make it: I have loved the fun, the variety and the responsibility that it has brought me.
