My Life

It's a little indulgent but the following is the text of a 1000 word autobiographical essay that I have had to write in advance of my staff course this September. Clare thought it would be a good idea to post it here so you might understand what I have been up to in the Navy:

January 4 1989, 18 years old and less coordinated than usual after finishing 4 farewell cans of ‘Red Death’, I stepped off the train to commence my naval career. Born Jason Charles Reid, the eldest child of 2 very proud Scots and Irish parents; I grew up in suburban Horsham, West Sussex and enjoyed a comprehensive education in the Roman Catholic wing of the State system. Decidedly unremarkable but enthusiastic in every sporting endeavour, I excelled on paper and was only ever first past the post in exams not races. A natural proclivity for natural sciences steered me to engineering as a career choice after myopia early on dashed my hopes as a fast jet pilot. I suspect an inherited yearn for adventure led me towards Service life and a barmy brigadier, RAF disinterest and a hot WREN recruiter led me to the Royal Navy.

The Royal Navy, ever willing to invest in its people and after the culture shock of basic training, packed me off to the University of Kent for an intense 3 years of academia. Despite my best efforts to the contrary I still managed to graduate with a 2:1 in Electronics Engineering. Hair cut short again and the obligatory anti-establishment tee shirt packed away, I joined the Navy’s newest warship HMS IRON DUKE for Young Officer training. This was a great time, no responsibility, expectations set low and the chance to hose down anti-nuclear protestors in Cherbourg.

I elected for a career in the Submarine service because their Weapon Engineer Officers (WEOs) not only fixed weapons but fired them as well. After extensive training, my first submarine appointment, AWEO in HMS SUPERB, was a true cold war experience, with plenty of in-contact time with opposition assets, a reactor scram in hostile waters and an inaugural submarine run ashore in Gibraltar. After further training, I was held over in Captain Weapons Trials and Acceptance, and despite my junior status was given the task of Radio and Electronic Warfare trials officer heading up a small team. This responsibility and the mentorship of an aging Commander prepared me well for my next appointment as DWEO on HMS SPLENDID.

I joined in January 1997 and began a tremendously demanding and rewarding 2 years, culminating in the first UK Tomahawk missile firing. The onboard team had to install the new weapon system, develop the operating procedures and overcome numerous difficulties from scratch; all this in addition to falling in love, getting married and becoming a father. The BBC kindly recorded aspects of this story in a documentary aired in 1999.

My operational experience was put to good use in the Submarines Weapons Group as a heavy weight torpedoes expert. Here I had the rewarding task of planning, coordinating and supervising 2 sets of open ocean torpedo firings between Dutch and UK submarines. This allowed the creation of invaluable tactical advice using ‘real world’ weapon performance away from the clinical environment of the UK and US tracked ranges.

After this the growing Reid family headed south to Plymouth, where as Engineer Officer of the Submarine Training Facility, I delivered training to the Flotilla’s command teams. During a number of sea rides, I witnessed the sinking of the USS Wainwright by a Spearfish torpedo, proving to the USA that the RN was capable of neutralising a shipping threat in the Atlantic post 911.

After promotion and the birth of our fourth baby, I joined HMS SUPERB aged 33 as the youngest Weapon Engineer Head of Department in the flotilla. This was a very frustrating appointment as SUPERB never sailed due to a protracted upkeep period and numerous propulsion problems. Positively, it did provide the experience of overcoming numerous leadership challenges in constantly regenerating the team whilst managing expectations and reacting to change. I did however escape to sea on HMS SPARTAN for some operational sea training and Special Forces trials.

Despite these setbacks I moved to the DEC working in the research programme with DSTL. This provided a fascinating insight into the acquisition world, MoD centre, the US Navy, joint concepts and the staffing of CONEMPs. I was particularly proud of a series of joint UK/US trials I organised proving the potential of wireless underwater networks and remotely deployed sensors. Most importantly, I became father to our fifth baby.

My next role took me to MoD London working as DCDS(Pers) Performance Management SO2 coordinating the Service Personnel scorecard, briefing senior officers on haemorrhaging personnel statistics and conducting a review of Knowledge exploitation as JPA was introduced.

Before selection for ACSC 13, I have been working as a FOST SM project officer, looking at improving the standards of WEOs through better mentoring and leadership development. Latterly I have been the FOST NCHQ desk officer for the Maritime Change Programme managing the projects, which will deliver the Centre of Submarine Specialisation in Faslane, through their respective concept phases.

My hobbies are simple: reading, running, occasional golf and sailing. My passions are two-fold, a beautiful wife Clare and the study of God (Theology). Whilst at university having rejected the Catholicism of my youth for scientific rationalism, I had a deep and lasting encounter with Jesus Christ, the God of the bible. I have enjoyed learning more about him ever since through study, prayer and the teachings of my most formative heroes the great American philosopher/theologian Jonathan Edwards and the thundering voice of Charles Spurgeon. As for serving the community I am Vice Chair of Trustees for a charity that deals with victims of sexual assault.

Considering the future, whatever prospective rank or appointments I am to hold I would like to be an agent for change within the Service and the Ministry, there is much that needs attention and plenty of scope to improve the way business is conducted, particularly within the training and personnel lines of development. As a friend, husband and father, I would wish to live a life that reflects the love and sacrifice of Jesus (Ephesians 5:25).