*** IV *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE OCEANOGRAPHY & HYDROGRAPHY *** The Daily Telegraph Mapping a melting world Changing conditions in the Arctic are opening up new frontiers, says Adam Ramsay, creating extreme challenges for those with the right skills Oceanographers, who study ocean waves, currents and ecosystems, and hydrographers, who map ocean floors and coast lines, have long had a key role to play in the Royal Navy. More than 200 years have passed since the Royal Navy set up the Hydrographic Office in 1795, because the British fleet was losing more ships to incorrectly drawn charts and poor navigation, than to the enemy. Today, the Royal Navy has a dedicated flotilla of surveying ships and around 60 specialist hydrographers, oceanographers and meteorologists, who survey the worlds oceans and chart weather patterns. As a result of erosion and global warming the coastlines are literally changing year by year. Nowhere have these changes been more evident than the Arctic, the icecap at the North Pole. A study by scientists from NASA and the University of Washington has shown that the Arctic sea ice has thinned by more than 40 per cent since 2004, while data by the UK-based Catlin Arctic Survey supports suggestions that the Arctic seas could be largely free of summer sea ice within the next decade. This could lead to the opening up of a new north-east passage for shipping, significantly reducing the distance of trans-global tanker journeys. The Arctic, until recently the preserve of small teams of international scientists, is now set to become the centre of global interest, with up to a quarter of the worlds oil and gas reserves estimated to be north of the Arctic circle. Not surprisingly, nations are keen to establish their rights in the area. The US has already made it clear that it intends to be a strong presence in the Arctic, along with its close allies, such as Canada and the UK. There will be a need to re-survey the Arctic seas, because as soon as those routes are open, commercial vessels will want to use them, says Commander Andrew Swain MBE, 47, who joined the Royal Navy as a Junior Seaman and has since worked as a hydrographer and oceanographer for 30 years. We still have submarines and frigates operating in the Arctic and, together with other countries in NATO, there will be a drive to map the changes. At least two ships in the survey flotilla are geared for icy conditions. HMS Endurance and HMS Scott have re-enforced hulls that cut through ice, while ice-detecting sonar on the front of the ships can detect submerged ice and assist safe navigation. These survey vessels have multi-beam sonar to survey a wider area more efficiently, says Swain. Surveying teams will fly along the coasts on helicopters placing satellite receivers, designed for the sub-zero conditions, which they can use to map the changes in ice flows. At other times, crews of around eight oceanographers and hydrographers will take out one of the launch boats and camp for MOD/DEFENCE IMAGES Arctic seas could be largely free of summer sea ice within the next decade four to five weeks on the ice, mapping what they find, says Swain. They have to be tough to keep going in temperatures well below freezing, living in igloo huts and wrapping up in special winter gear used by the Royal Marines training in Norway to stay warm. The work of Navy hydrographers and oceanographers is first and foremost of use to the Navy in its defence role, giving the UK military forces an edge in terms of navigation, strategic positioning and tracking enemy submarines. Before the invasion of Iraq, I was the commander on surveying ship HMS Roebuck, says Swain. We were operating right up in front of the joint forces. The charts we made meant that the naval forces moved five miles to the north quite a significant difference. Our team would be surveying the landscape of the ocean floor, as well as the weather in this instance, looking for things like sand storms. All of this is vital information for naval commanders deciding when and where they deploy and picking the right time to launch their aircraft. FIRST STEPS TO MASTERING WEATHER AND SEA Hydrographers and oceanographers have a challenging and exciting front-line role and they also visit some of the most remote places in the world. Not surprisingly, the number of applicants is rising. But how to get started? There are two main entry routes to these careers. Existing Royal Navy officers can apply for a 33-week training course, accredited by Plymouth University, in Hydrography and Meteorology (HM) at Devonport in Plymouth, the largest naval base in western Europe. The second route, aimed at school leavers and graduates who often have degrees in marine-based subjects is a nine-week course at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall. Lieutenant Mark White, 24, joined the Royal Navy in 2007 with a degree in History. Having completed three years of general naval training as a warfare officer, he is now half way through his HM training. After joining the Royal Navy, I developed a real interest in understanding the physical environments we lived and worked in water depths, currents, coastlines, weather patterns, says White. As well as specialising in HM, White is a trained warfare officer working on navigation and piloting ships at sea, and dreams one day of navigating through icebergs and mapping unchartered waters and sea beds at the two poles. Im excited about the career ahead, but I do feel a bit of anticipation, he says. Youre never sure where you are going next you could be off for two days near the coast or two months in some frozen wilderness hundreds of miles from habitation. This might put some people off but, for me, it just makes it more attractive. THE ROUTES IN
*** *** *** *** DEFENCE CAREERS IN Wednesday, January 20, 2010 jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ca The Daily Telegraph GETTY Winning ways: building good relations with local populations in conflict zones is likely to become more of a priority as the Government shifts its emphasis towards early intervention and
*** II *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE INNOVATIVE SME S ABOUT THIS SUPPLEMENT Todays defence sector is synonymous with innovation and challenge. Whether your interest lies in new technology or tours of duty on the front line, career opportunities in this
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 *** The Daily Telegraph WOMEN IN THE RAF CAREERS IN DEFENCE *** III The skys the limit Three women who are blazing a trail in the RAF talk to Sarah James about the rise and rise of the Forces female stars FLIGHT LIEUTENANT hit the headlines
*** IV *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE OCEANOGRAPHY & HYDROGRAPHY *** The Daily Telegraph Mapping a melting world Changing conditions in the Arctic are opening up new frontiers, says Adam Ramsay, creating extreme challenges for those with the right skills
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 *** The Daily Telegraph TERRITORIAL ARMY CAREERS IN DEFENCE SHARON McDOWELL, 49 Commanding officer of the 201 (N) Field Hospital (Volunteers) at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sharon McDowell is also a matron at Sunderland Royal Hospita
*** VI *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE ARMY OFFICER TRAINING *** The Daily Telegraph ALAMY Have you got what it takes? The road to Sandhurst is a tough one finds Adam Ramsay, as he takes part in initial selection tests for Army officers It is barely dawn
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 *** The Daily Telegraph APPRENTICESHIPS CAREERS IN DEFENCE *** VII A step in the right direction An apprenticeship in defence can lead to in-depth training and a job with prospects. Graeme Whitcroft looks at companies seeking new recruits If
*** VIII *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE RESCUE SQUADS *** The Daily Telegraph GETTY, MOD/DEFENCE IMAGES From far left: the flooded high street in Cockermouth in November 2009; RAF Odihams 27 Squadron in Pakistan; HMS Iron Duke A helping hand when disaste
