Career change from Squaddie to Tree Surgeon.

[Burkey]

Hello all.

 

After 15 years in the Army I am seriously considering a career change. Due to my love of being outdoors, rain or shine and not being afraid of a hard days graft, Tree Surgery seems like the ideal change. As part of resettlement to "civvy street" there are training providers out there who cater for service leavers (Kingswood, TKF to name a few). Before I make this leap I thought why not get advice from the people who know.

 

So is it a good move for a 40 (nearly) year old to make? Who are the better training providers? Are any of you service leavers who have made the same career change? Where is the best place to start?

 

Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

Thank you.

[Le Sanglier]

Plenty of threads on here in a similar vein, I honestly think 40 might be a little too old to become a climber, plenty of other related fields where you could excel. Forestry, fencing, landscaping etc.

[Mick Stockbridge]

The novelty will soon wear off, one winter will see to it.

[WorcsWuss]

I imagine you'd do just fine, you'll have the fitness, self discipline and strength to do it, but the same goes for any job I guess. Money's not great though compared to the military.

I was thinking the other day how we could use some services attitude in the construction industry rather than the soft prima donnas we get so often. We pay more too!

Only thing is the office is nowhere near as nice!

[Burkey]

Construction! I am a trained Plant Operator & NVQ Assessor & Verifier. Just looking at a new path. I guess income will be a major factor. As for winter weather, I love it!

 

 

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[WorcsWuss]

You've got both there then, always good to have something to fall back on

[fen01]

Hi, i'm a bit ahead if you on this and things are going OK running my own company. If you want a chat PM me with a number.

 

You may get a few negative comments on here, take it for what its worth. They don't know you and you don't them and so on... But experienced shouldn't be ignored.

 

To be honest as you say the weather is not a problem at least you get home at the end of the day - no shivering in a bivibag wondering how long before you pass out:).

 

It is the business side you need to focus on.

 

Mark

 

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[Yorkshireman]

people forget there are many levels to this industry not just the entry point leading to climber.

specialist roles

for example look at the stumpbuster model ,, its a franchise that works for some

,

running your own team . dependant on business acumen, money funding and enough business in your chosen location.

 

Utilities is another market place cutters & surveyors etc

 

dependant on your service & life skills I expect you'll need a couple of years tree bashing to cut your teeth on

 

There is likely to be a new player on the forces resettlement market shortly , when the applications window opens in March

 

resettlement isnt easy ,but the forces mindset is brill in this game as you need to work hard to benefit and there are some big upsides

 

cheers Iain

Edited February 14, 2013 by Yorkshireman

[Guss109]

I'm guessing if your a pom your an engineer. From an ex Sapper good luck mate

[raafbeard]

Attitude seems to be the biggest hurdle...If you want to do it and are prepared to learn from experience..you should go far...