Rail Course Case Study - John Wiltshire

John served in the Army Air Corps for 9 years. He began his military career as a ground crew specialist but later moved into communications, supporting the digital aspects of aviation. During his service, he worked on various aircraft types (mainly Apache and Lynx helicopters) and completed multiple tours in Afghanistan.

After leaving the military, John began working in the telecoms industry as a rigger. For 11 years, he climbed radio towers in all kinds of weather, working for providers like EE and Vodafone. Along the way, he'd kept in touch with ex-forces friends who had moved into the rail industry. They spoke very highly of it and gave him a realistic picture of the pros and cons.

By this stage in his career, John had built up a solid set of transferable skills and earned valuable qualifications, including an NVQ Level 3 in an engineering discipline. These credentials are considered excellent prerequisites for entering the rail sector.

I first connected with John in late November 2024 after being tagged in the comments of his post on the GenDitNetwork LinkedIn page, an invaluable resource for ex-forces personnel. Having left the Army some time ago, John was keen to try something new and explore opportunities in a different industry.

Given his background, John was an ideal fit for the signalling side of the rail industry (the traffic management system), but I also knew he’d be well suited to the Rolling Stock side (which is working directly with the trains). After some back and forth, John decided to pursue various roles, including Rolling Stock.

He was serious about the switch and committed to the process by enrolling in the Introduction to Rolling Stock course. He dedicated time to the course over the Christmas period, and we worked together to get him ready for an interview in early January.

John sent over the job description, and I was able to coach him through the preparation. I knew the specific trains he’d be working on, the depot he’d be based at, and even some of the team he’d be joining. Having heard great things about the work environment, I was confident John would fit right in.

Once the interview date was set, John felt ready. Although he had no prior experience in the rail industry, the course had given him the confidence to approach the interview with a positive attitude. He was able to demonstrate his understanding of how the rail industry is structured and how various train systems operate. He even used relevant rail terminology...something that would no doubt have impressed the interviewers.

In the first week of January 2025 (just two weeks after enrolling in the course), John received a job offer. Two weeks later, he arrived at the depot for his first day.

I’ve kept in touch with John, and a few months into his new role, he’s really enjoying it. He’s working alongside a few other ex-Army Air Corps colleagues as well as other service leavers. Needless to say, he’s fitted in well and is putting the course material into practice on a daily basis.

John mentioned that the rail industry has a “military feel” to it. This is one of the reasons I believe it offers such a natural transition for many service leavers, a factor that’s often overlooked by those considering their first civilian role.

John, it was an absolute pleasure working with you! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the course and have had a strong start to your rail career. Thanks for your feedback, I’ll be making the updates you suggested in the coming weeks. Really looking forward to following your railway career…no doubt our paths will cross again soon!

If you’re leaving the forces and thinking about a job in the railway please get in touch with me, I’m more than happy to answer any of your questions. Just send me a direct message on LinkedIn.

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