‍“Imposter syndrome’s real,” he admits. “I’ve got 26 years of experience, but I still find myself thinking, am I good enough for this?”

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Meet Craig, and follow his journey from Army life to civilian career. 

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After 26 years in the British Army, Craig has decided it’s time for something new. He joined as an Aircraft Technician at 19 and rose through the ranks to become a commissioned officer. Now a Captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Craig currently serves as Chief of Staff to a 300-person battalion, leading on strategic planning, operational delivery, and personnel management across dispersed units. He’s led engineering teams, taught policy as an instructor, supported specialist units, and worked closely with industry. In 2020, he commissioned during the uncertainty of the pandemic, trading tools for strategy.

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Now, Craig’s decided his time in service is up. This series follows his real-time reflections as he navigates his final year in service. Month by month, he’ll share the highs, the lows, the experiments, and the mindset shifts that come with leaving the military after more than two decades.

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Entry 1: The Big Decision and Signing-Off

• Phase: Discovery 
• CV Rewrite: Not yet. This month is about learning, reflecting, and figuring out what excites him.
• Networking: Ongoing and active. Dozens of conversations across finance, defence, energy, and retail.
• Target Role: Undecided. He’s intentionally exploring rather than locking into a path too soon.
• ‍Confidence: ⬆ This month: Took the leap, handed in notice, and is leaning into exploration, excited, but imposter syndrome is lurking.
  
  

“There’s relief in finally doing it, but also nerves. You don’t walk away from nearly three decades of structure, purpose, and community without a few wobbles.”

Craig always planned to serve 22 years. But COVID changed that. He commissioned and has since spent five years as a Captain. But with retirement decades away, and the chance to start a whole new career, the case for staying put just isn’t strong enough. Plus, family plays a big part in this next chapter. With two sons at home and ten years of commutable postings under his belt, he knows that the flexibility he's had so far could vanish with a single new assignment. 

“I don’t want to be a weekend dad,” he says. “I want more control over where I live and how I spend my time.”

So ultimately, although the decision to make such a big jump is never a simple one, Craig is stepping into resettlement ready for the next challenge. 

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‍Where is he on his resettlement journey?

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Right now, he’s not rushing into anything. There are engineering roles he could return to, but he’s not convinced that’s the right fit. Instead, he’s meeting people, lots of people. Friends in finance, defence, energy, and retail. This stage is about research. About testing things, trying things, seeing what fits.

“Some of the conversations feel more like therapy sessions,” he laughs. “But they’re helping me figure out what actually drives me.”

And how does it feel? 

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Even for someone as prepared as Craig, the nerves are there. He’s glad he made the call, but there’s no pretending the next bit is easy.

“Imposter syndrome’s real,” he admits. “I’ve got 26 years of experience, but I still find myself thinking, am I good enough for this?”

Craig knows he’s lucky to have a strong network. But even with that support, navigating resettlement feels harder than it should. That’s part of why he’s doing this series, to talk about what really happens when you leave, not just the polished summary when he’s 18 months into a new career. 

“I don’t have all the answers,” he says. “But I’m determined to figure them out. This isn’t about finding a job. It’s about finding the right one. And for the first time in a long time, I’m building something for me.”

So what’s next? Network building, exploring his options, and learning about what’s out there. Stay tuned and we’ll update you next month on where he’s at. 

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[CALLOUT]

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