Royal Navy Jack Speak

My name is Ricky Fairlamb, I am an Aircraft Engineering Technician (AET). I’m 28 years old and have been in the navy for 3 ½ years. I was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, the English town who play Scottish football.

I lived there until I was 14 at which point my parents got an opportunity to work in America. We moved to Columbus, Georgia where I went to high school, followed by University at Columbus State. I had a very interesting life in the states sampling everything that American culture had to offer. I was a bit of an adventurous youth, in high school I played many sports, in Uni I joined a Fraternity which is hauntingly similar to many Hollywood movies. I worked in various jobs, from retail to executive sales, and then gave up all the hard work to bartend at an Irish bar, which was the most fun ever. I eventually realised that I needed something stable and challenging. On holiday to the UK one summer, I decided to look into the navy as my brother had left the US and joined the year earlier. I took the entrance tests and just before my 25th birthday I found myself entering HMS Raleigh. Since then I have completed my training at HMS Sultan and am now stationed at RNAS Culdrose at 820 Squadron. I’ve been on the Squadron for 2 years now and have gotten to some interesting places including, Norway, Estonia, Oman and Gibraltar. I have never looked back after joining the Royal Navy, I enjoy my job and the opportunities available to “Be all you can be”.