Jon Bishop

Area of work: Royal Navy
Qualifications: MEng engineering science, University of Oxford

I’ve been destined for the Royal Navy since sixth form when the interview process for officer training began. I was sponsored through university with a view to entering as a general engineer, and in my final year I chose to start out in air engineering.

7.00 am

Whether I’m at sea (during peace time) or ‘alongside’ (when the ship is docked), I generally have an 8.00 am to 4.00 pm core working day. I get up, have breakfast and maybe read the papers.

8.00 am

If I’m duty young officer that day, I report to the officer of the day, who I’ll be shadowing in order to learn his role. Otherwise, I report straight to my department. As a young officer, I’m still under training. While on HMS Illustrious I’ve done two-week rotations around the different departments to learn what everybody onboard does. It’s pretty fluid as to what I do; I have a task book with skills I need to cover and it’s my responsibility to get these done.

1.00 pm

Keeping watch is an important part of the daily sea routine, so I might be doing this during the afternoon. My responsibilities are non-specific but the jobs assigned are high in training value; I’ve been part of the port liaison team coming into a foreign port and been involved in a ship’s investigation (eg when there’s been a case of poor conduct or there’s a potentially dangerous situation at hand).

4.00 pm

When the ship’s alongside leave is granted over a ship broadcast and I’m free to ‘go’. The carriers are well equipped so I usually hit the gym, or if we’re at sea, training exercises (to prepare for a fire or flood emergency, for example) often take place between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm.

7.00 pm

Dinner is at 7.00 pm and is formal. If we’re at sea though, I might have to be on watch during the night. There is very much a work-hard-play-hard ethos; life on board is very professional but when the work’s done, the sport and social opportunities are second to none.