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Air Engineering Technicians help give local schools a lift

15 July 2016
Air Engineering Technicians (AETs) from the Defence College of Technical Training’s Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School, HMS Sultan, have been making a difference in the local community recently through a number of school projects.

At Brockhurst Junior and Infant schools the trainees have been helping to bring the two schools closer together. Breathing new life in to worn out and neglected areas, the sailors have been clearing overgrown vegetation, removing sheds and giving rails and doors some fresh coats of paint.

Leading Air Engineering Technician instructor David ‘Buck’ Taylor supervised the trainees throughout. He said: “I think it’s a really good eye opener for the trainees involved that they’re job isn’t just about fixing aircraft, but that they can get involved in helping out with local projects.  

"It also gives the trainees time away from the classroom and brings some extra variety to what they’re doing.”

“For certain tasks we’ve been able to group them up and ask individuals within the groups to take charge. We’ve not specifically told them how to do things, so hopefully they will surprise us and that natural leadership will come to the fore.

"Hopefully that will benefit them later on in their career and perhaps one day they will also be in my position taking groups in to schools to work on community projects.”

I think it’s a really good eye opener for the trainees involved that they’re job isn’t just about fixing aircraft, but that they can get involved in helping out with local projects.

Leading Air Engineering Technician instructor David ‘Buck’ Taylor

AET Kieran Wilson, 19, was one of several sailors involved with clearing a children’s trail which had become overgrown.  Originally from Redcar, Kieran joined the RN earlier this year after the previous company he had been working for, while doing an apprenticeship in Mechanics, had gone out of business, he enjoyed the opportunity to help out in the community. 

He said: “I was surprised to get asked to do this but I don’t mind, it’s nice to help out, especially in a school where everything is for the kids.”

“We have lunch with the children in the junior school and it’s just like being back at school as everything is exactly the same. The children haven’t said too much, they normally ask you if you’re in the Navy and then giggle and run off, but I also got a high five which was good.”

At a separate event held recently, AETs from HMS Sultan helped out at a Grounds Day at Rowner Junior School. 

The day saw sailors working alongside school pupils to turn disused tyres into planters, put up bird boxes, and use around 2,000 bottles, collected the school, to make a greenhouse. 

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