I joined the Army and subsequently into the Infantry (The 1st Bn The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment) three days after leaving school in 1971. Throughout my career I have always relied on stamina, physical strength and my feet.
As a resettlement Officer I would always advise those who showed a preference to leave to start resettlement at least three years from their leaving date. I did this myself but was unclear of a future. As a Quartermaster I have a plethora of qualifications to use outside the wire in management, storage, logistics, vehicle control or even health and safety at work but……I finally decided to seek a complete career change and become a Chiropodist (Now Foot Health Practitioner). I had always looked at soldiers poor foot standards from athletes foot (Tineas Pedis) to flat foot syndrome (Pes Planus Valgus) and have always made foot inspections compulsory particularly after long exercises or marches. Therefore realising that I wished to do something with feet, where do I go to get the information, where is the training, how long is the training, what will it cost and the list goes on.
I eventually found a College in Blackheath, Birmingham (The Black Country as it is affectionally known). This College is run by a small team of consulting Chiropodists who take you from the embryo to the grave. It starts with a visit to the school to enrol (10 minutes from J2 of the M5) meet some of the staff, Victor, John and Glynis who show you around and the safe usage of the clinics. You are then given a mentor and a pack of distance learning documentation. You then have 10 modules of work to complete ranging from the circulatory system to common foot disorders and a series of muscle questions. You can take a maximum of one year to complete this. Following on you spend 11 days clinical training at the college where you work the whole period with patients honing your skills and techniques. You are looked after admirably at every stage by clinicians to ensure clinical safety and enable the enhancement of your knowledge.
I completed my course in 2003 and I have not looked back. All my training I did in my own time, often late into the night or early in the morning and during leave periods. I am still serving (until end 2005), I work part time for another clinician to ensure that there is no skill fade and also do domiciliary work when needed. I have further enjoyed the training of one of my sons, who also passed through the college, and we are about to open a business in a large Garrison town. We also maintain a small client base in South Wales where we visit with regularity.
Do I look back…No, Do I regret anything with my training…No. Do I see a future, categorically. YES. It is recommended to anyone who is caring, compassionate and wishing a career change. The College of Foot Health Practitioners (0121 559 0180) is where you can start. The course costs £1850.
After 30 years in the in the Army it will be a pleasure to get up in the morning and be able to do something different and meet new people that I can help. If they are happy then I am sated and its all thanks to Victor Fletcher and his team at the College of Foot Health Practitioners.
|
