Role: Station Officer (Volunteer), Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team
Sum up your role in a few sentences:
Being the Station Officer of a team is literally what you make it. On a basic level it’s about ensuring the team remains operational, regular training sessions take, monthly checks are completed and some other admin functions. But for me it’s so much more – it’s about supporting, training and developing everyone in the team, building relationships with flank teams, providing any support to my full-time colleagues both on the coast and in the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres, proactively seeking partnership opportunities, promoting coastal and water safety and representing HM Coastguard.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
It’s a bit of a cliché but I really enjoy the fact we help people which is ultimately why everyone joins the Coastguard in whatever role they sign up for. As part of a Coastguard Rescue Team and being on call to respond to emergencies is another aspect which makes the role unique, exciting and rewarding. You just never know when the next callout is going to come.
All that aside, the most enjoyable part is seeing the people around you grow and develop both personally and professionally. It’s a unique working environment when you have a group of people, all with various backgrounds, beliefs and personalities all coming together as one team to work towards a common goal. And at times we literally have each other’s lives in our hands so there’s a huge sense of comradery which you would be hard pushed to replicate any many other places.
How do you relax outside of work? Hobbies, interest, groups?
I’m often told that relaxing isn’t something I’m particularly good at. Between my day job as a Police Sergeant and being the Station Officer of a busy Coastguard Rescue Team, spare time can sometimes feel like a distant memory. And that’s before I throw in being the editor of Coastline Magazine and being part of the Coastguard Association, family life and the routine but necessary bits of day-to-day life including a seemingly endless number of dishes to wash.
