Page 9 - the SyI Quarterly 14 Booklet Format

Know your Institute
Know your Institute

In 1963 I was to be found in the boys training
establishment of HMS Ganges.
The Day the Uniform Comes On 5th August 1969, I had the misfortune to find

myself in the Royal Naval Hospital Malta, with
Off eventual transfer to the Royal Naval Hospital
Haslar Gosport.

In 1971 on 4th August I had added to my records
By: Bob Martin CSyP FSyI, Security Institute Director PUNS. Having spent exactly two years in hospital,
I was deemed Permanently Unfit for Naval
Service, and was given a good transition of a
gratuity of £173.47! (Oh and a pair of crutches!)
I was more fortunate, having met a rather
attractive Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nurse,
(who has given me the joy of over 50 years of
marriage), but equally fortuitous, my first break
So where does the transition start? - today in uniform was a large Petrochemicals organisation I had
serving our communities and country, and tomorrow applied for a job with. They had as their medical
the unfamiliar! officer, an ex-Royal Naval Surgeon Commander;
Physiotherapist; and a Gym that I was ‘instructed’
TRANSITION – According to the Collins dictionary the to attend!
verb means.
“To transition from one state or activity to another The medical was a breeze, and the rest is history
means to move gradually from one to the other.” as they say!

As those of us who have served in uniform of one My transition was smoother, but was not assisted in any way by the Royal Navy other than
colour or the other will know, the word ‘gradually’ £173.47p!
may not necessarily apply.
The Security Institute was not around in 1971, but even if it had been, the chances of me being
For me personally my journey started at the ripe old aware of it would have been zero.
age of 15 in the Royal Navy where the first thing I
learnt after “Yes Sir” was semaphore, which accounts The Security Institute is around in 2023, and it is one of our challenges to ensure that all those
for me being seen at the top of the North Downs in uniform, or have been in uniform, are aware of us, and how we can support you.
waving my arms about!
So how can The Security Institute support you?
Before I even mention my own experience though,
may I reflect on my fathers? He joined the Royal Navy To be just and fair to our services, there are many more opportunities to prepare oneself for
in 1939, and as many others during WWII, he served that transition, but it still remains a cultural and a significant mental shock. Understanding
in the Atlantic, Pacific, Burma and so, the list goes on. where you fit in, where you can use your valuable skills and knowledge is a challenge, but in
He left in 1961 having served his 22 years, but really some small way The Security Institute can assist from cradle to grave, to help individuals who
could not ‘leave’. He became active in the Royal Naval once proudly wore their uniform with that transition to become a security professional.
Reserve for another engagement of five years, but
eventually ill health curtailed that, and his full decline For a start, we very much welcome members of all uniformed services who qualify to become
started. To quote his own words “I am worthless members of the Institute, and we are proud to note that we have such serving members, from
now”. both the armed and the civilian forces.

His transition was typical – here today – gone We provide opportunities to further develop on a personal and professional level. As an
tomorrow. Institute, we actively promote academic improvement within our profession, and we are by far
My own story is less dramatic but for the time just as the biggest promoters of the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.
typical I believe.

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