Doing what is right for me and my family…
The military has been a cornerstone of my life since I joined at 17. My parents, both from Northern Ireland, shaped my path. My dad, a Submariner in the Navy, inspired me to follow in his footsteps, while my mum devoted herself to being a homemaker. Born in Dunfermline, Scotland but growing up in Plymouth, I saw the exciting side of my dad’s career, which fuelled my ambition to join the RN, I still vividly recall my time at Raleigh. Taking my dad’s advice, I joined as an Aircraft Engineer. My first deployment with 814 Squadron took me to the Middle East and many other places on the Illustrious and various RFAs. I thrived on the unpredictability that sometimes occurred, always ready (and excited) to deploy at a moment’s notice.
In 2009, I was promoted to Leading Hand and later joined 820 Squadron. I used Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) to purchase my home in Mullion, where I still live today. I was quickly promoted to Petty Officer (PO) ahead of many of my peers, promotion to PO opened new doors. Although I aspired to join HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of the Air Weapons Party, my journey took a detour when I was asked to deploy last-minute to Minhad (Dubai) on an Op Tour. This deployment turned out to be life-changing—it was there that I met my husband, an RAF armourer, though I didn’t know it at the time.
After Minhad, I joined the QE in Dunfermline/Rosyth, but my tenure was cut short when I became pregnant with my son, (Michael, who is now 8). Returning to Culdrose after maternity leave, I was selected for promotion to CPO in 2017 (I attribute this from my work in Minhad and on the QE as part of the AWP). At the time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue my Chief’s (Michael was only 6 months), my AEO at the time reassured that the Navy was changing and that I could balance motherhood and my career. I completed CPOAETQC in 2018 and obtained my ACC in 2019. I was 35 weeks pregnant (with Annie who is now 5) when I passed my ACC board, the revision required, coupled with being heavily pregnant made it hard work, I almost didn’t do it, despite this, I was honoured with being awarded the best ACC (Aircraft Certificate of Competence) board for that term.
The past eight years might seem dominated by maternity leave, but I’ve consistently returned to work. Before my third child, Mollie, (nearly 3), I served as the lead for Air Engineering Generic courses at Culdrose at the Engineering Training School, as well as mentoring and assessing Phase 2 and Phase 3 trainees.
Currently, I am working in the Merlin Delivery Team as the Technical Publications Manager, managing the Merlin Aircraft Document Set. This role has brought many achievements, including IEng registration, a nomination for the Baroness Platt of Writtle Award, and the DE&S Land Domain Unsung Hero Award in December 2023. I also interview fellow RN engineers for IEng and CEng registration with IMechE and I have recently been granted an LOAA- Letter of Airworthiness Authority.
Throughout my career, my husband (Rob) has been my rock. He transferred to the RN to help balance family life and keep us rooted in West Cornwall. After 22 years of service, I plan to leave the RN in 2025. It’s a bittersweet decision; I still love the Navy, but my priorities have shifted. Deployment no longer aligns with my desire to be present for my children’s early years.
Despite my decision, the Career Manager is exploring options for me to stay. However, my goal (when I leave) is to start my own childminding business in Mullion, keeping my family together and further rooting myself within my local community.
I’m incredibly proud of my service and would encourage anyone, especially young people, to consider a military career. It offers unparalleled opportunities, adventure, and even the thrill of uncertainty at times. But there comes a time when family must take precedence, and for me, that time is now.
Weekending or re-locating? Never an easy decision…
Rob has recently been assigned to HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth, meaning he’ll be away from the family for two years, with only occasional weekends at home depending on the ships tasking.
This news coincided with a job offer I received in the Portsmouth area (Professional Divisional Officer in HMS Sultan), which would allow us to stay together as a family. It’s been an incredibly tough decision—do I stay in Cornwall with the kids, enjoying life as a complete family unit only sporadically, or do we all relocate to Portsmouth to maximise our time together? After much deliberation, and with this offer on the table, I finally made the decision a few days ago: we’re moving to Portsmouth as a family.
To support this, I’ve started the process to stay in the Royal Navy (slightly less than 7 clicks on JPA). I sometimes wonder if people will think I’m mad for making this decision, but the truth is, the career management team understands how important it is for us to remain together as a family and has given me this opportunity. It’s both terrifying and exciting: all the things I thrive on! I am hopeful this move will not only provide us with a new adventure as a family but also help make the children more resilient.
2024 was a strange year, full of unexpected twists and turns. It began with me leaving the Navy, a decision I made to keep our family together, but as the year unfolded, and with Rob’s assignment it ended with me choosing to stay. This year has truly made me realise the importance of keeping our family united, no matter the challenges. I recently came across an advertisement posted by the RNRMC, it said,” One person Joins but the whole Family Serves”, that statement couldn’t be more accurate. I’m at peace with the choices I’ve made, both at the start of the year and now. Family comes first, ALWAYS.
In the meantime, I’ve taken steps toward my long-term goal of becoming a childminder in Mullion. I have used my Standard Learning Credits (SLCs) (something I regret not doing regularly in previous years) to complete a paediatric first aid course with Cornwall Fire Service. It’s still my plan to transition to become a childminder once I leave the Navy, but for now, our focus is on staying together as a family and embracing this exciting new chapter.
Planning for the move to Portsmouth
With both Rob and me starting new assignments in the Portsmouth area, my mind is buzzing with plans. I’m the planner in our family, while Rob will likely breeze through the entire process without realising the sheer amount of planning and admin behind our move. With three kids—two in primary school and the youngest, Mollie, in nursery—I have plenty to organise.
I need to sort out wraparound care in a new and unfamiliar area. Thankfully, the Royal Navy offers financial support for wraparound care, which we currently use and benefit from, and will continue to rely on during this transition. It’s a fantastic resource that makes such a difference for military families like ours.
Ideally, I want the older two in the same primary school and Mollie settled into a nursery (hopefully on the Military base). On top of that, I need to secure family accommodation and decide what to do with our current home while we’re away. I must figure out the financial aspects of living in Portsmouth, make a budget, and identify where we might need to cut back.
My to-do list feels endless—car insurance, home insurance, updating the DVLA with a new address, electricity, gas suppliers, broadband provider, finding swimming lessons for the kids, researching local clubs and activities for the school holidays, and even checking if the accommodation will have a charging point for Rob’s electric car. I need to think about commutes, packing, delivery vans, and everything in between.
To keep it all in order, I plan to buy a nice new notebook for my lists and create a fresh spreadsheet for our finances. While this level of admin might seem daunting, I actually enjoy organising things. We’re viewing this move as a positive step and an adventure for our family. We haven’t told the kids yet—it’s too early, and we don’t want them to worry—but we’re thinking of exciting ways to get them on board. The idea of visiting Peppa Pig World (for the kids), having Seaside resorts nearby, being closer to London for day trips, and seeing more of Rob’s family are all great motivators.
For now, my priorities are getting the kids’ schools sorted, finding Mollie a nursery, and confirming our housing. Once that’s in place, the rest will follow naturally. I feel lucky to have been part of the Fleet Air Arm for so long, as I’ve made so many friends over the years—many of whom are already in Portsmouth. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and starting this exciting new chapter for our family.
