Simon Armstrong48 Briar Vale, The Laurels, West Monkseaton, North Tyneside NE25 9AZ

Tel: 0191 252 0829/07595 043 935simon3112@hotmail.com

Profile

An Infantry Communications Information Systems Specialist - highly skilled with a sound technical background and over 22 years experience - proven team leader and team worker with excellent organising, personnel communication and interactive skills - versatile and conscientious systems thinker seeking new challenges in the field of telecommunications.

Key Skills

• Communicator – HF/VHF/UHF Secure digital radio to High capacity Data and Satellite Telecommunication specialist.• Leadership – A strong, confident and proactive leader who extracts the very best from his team through leading by example.• Project Management – Implementing forward planning processes and effective in delivering products and services against a background of strict deadlines.• Problem Solving – Strong analytical skills are combined with incisive decision-making that has been tested in the most unforgiving of circumstances.• Adaptable – Works efficiently under pressure, reacting swiftly and effectively to changing priorities and workloads.• The will to communicate.

Selected Achievements

Tactical Communications Systems Manager – 2001-2012 – Sergeant /Colour Sergeant/Warrant Officer Class 2

Duties: Set up and maintained the new communication network for the outer perimeter of the Contingency Operating

Base in Iraq to ensure that all towers at strategically placed positions could communicate to both inner units and operation rooms and to troops on the ground beyond the wire. Ensuring power and elevation of antennas were used to maximum effect and could work through electronic counter measures.

Project managed the introduction of BOWMAN radio to the organisations communications system including man portable and armoured vehicle versions ensuring they were ready for operational tasks.

Ensured that the radio systems are maintained according to the organisations Equipment Care Policy. Responsible for over £60 million worth of communications equipment ranging from secure radio communications

through to computer based communications within the Regiment. Responsible for the accountability and issuing of all secret equipment and ensuring that this equipment is used in

accordance with JSP490. Manage, co-ordinate and control a range of sophisticated military and telecommunications system including the

new digital tactical range of equipment and associated information systems. Maintain stock levels and serviceability of all equipment including electronic counter measures. Ensure that maintenance routines and equipment checks are adhered to and that the workforce is competent in

carrying them out using the correct procedures. Ensure that all staff complies with Health and Safety and COSHH Regulations.

Communications Support Adviser to HQ Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps – 1999-2001 – SergeantUser and adviser of all Communication Information Systems for the support elements of the KFOR Headquarters during Operation Joint Guardian.

Duties: Advising the Commanding Officer on all key aspects of communications within the KFOR area. Repairing, installing and maintaining all communication networks including SCRA and Clansman. Ensure communications are established and monitored with all units in Macedonia and Pristina and back in

Germany whether static or mobile, on all nets. Maintained vehicle communications for operations within KFOR area of operations.

Tactical Communications Detachment Commander 1994 – 1998 – Lance SergeantUser and adviser of all Communication Information Systems within an Infantry Company of over a hundred soldiers in peacetime and on operations and in charge of a five man communications team.

Duties: As per an operator with the following additions. Ensure my team of Systems Operators are fully conversant with their duties at all times. Train specialised students to operate and maintain telecommunications equipment and how to carry out basic

equipment repair. Maintain all communications equipment to serviceable levels so it can be readily available at a moment’s notice,

making sure all radio users and familiar with all reporting procedures. Responsible for the radio network and that all users are operating to maximum efficiency and using correct

protocols at all times. Be the main port of call for all matters dealing with communications for up 100 soldiers and the vehicle. Plan, organise and manage telecommunication training by way of producing training programmes, lesson plans

and managing the delivery of instruction and ensure personnel are kept fully up to date with new procedures as and when required by way of periodic assessments.

Tactical Communications Systems Operator 1989 – 1994 – Private soldier/Lance Corporal A specialist with the British Army’s Clansman combat net radio system (CNR) operating in the High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio Bands. Including UKPRC 316, 319, 320, UKVRC 321, 322, UKPRC 349, 350, 351/2, UKVRC 353 and UKPRC 344.

Duties: Set up all communications equipment in sequence in accordance with regulations. Power, antenna and audio

accessories and if required, amplifiers. Identify faults in the communications systems promptly, diagnose and repair them in accordance with unit policy,

keeping records updated in case of trends etc. Set up any elevation equipment if required to work to longer distances i.e. 5.4m, 8m and 12 m masts. Receive and transmit messages over the radio network, recording all relevant information when required. Ensure communications are established at all times using the least amount of radiation and antenna but still

ensuring a clear signal at all times. Understand how radio waves work by way of reflection, refraction, polarization, diffraction and absorption of radio

waves, negating any dead spots etc. Recognise how different frequency bands react differently to weather, distance and atmospherics so the right

equipment can be used to communicate. Ensure all power systems including batteries and charging systems are serviceable at all times and have a power

management plan in place. Install, test and fault find different types of field communication cables and telephones during static operations or

when radio silence is in force. Be proficient in the use of Ptarmigan and SCRA on operational deployment.

Theatres Served

Northern Ireland, Belize, Iraq, Canada, Poland, Germany, America, Kosovo, Cyprus, Kenya, Oman, Macedonia.

Driving Licences

Cat A (motorcycle), B (Car) and C (LGV)

Leisure Interests

Family, hill walking with friends in the Lake District, Cheviots and the Pennines, mountain biking, motorcycling, golf, gardening, keeping fit and keeping up with current affairs.

Key Achievements

Management inspection planManaged, developed and maintained a monthly equipment inspection report and introduced equipment care training for up to 800 staff to ensure equipment and vehicles were serviceable at all times so that the organisation could achieve its goals in very high tempo environments. This was introduced by me due to the high level of equipment failure due to neglect or user error. Once these procedures were put in place, the amount of unserviceable telecommunication equipment subsided dramatically. These procedures are now being adopted by other units saving the British Army thousands of pounds and man hours but above all getting the job done.

Charity WorkOrganised and took part in a charity bike ride. This involved visiting 20 football clubs in the northern premier league clocking up some 500 miles over 5 days along with two colleagues. This was in aid of an eight year old boy who suffers from cerebral Palsy who was in need of an electric wheel chair which his family couldn’t afford. My colleagues and I come up with the idea of the cycle ride and raised through sponsorship £15,000.

Qualifications

GraduateshipCity and Guilds 2011Leadership and Management

IT Qualification Level 1 - 7Learn Direct 2007European Computer Driving Licence

Senior Communications InstructorSchool of InfantryWarminster

Advanced Signaller (standard 1)School of InfantryWarminster

NVQ AssessorD31/32Darlington College

Communications InstructorSchool of InfantryWarminster

Data Communication InstructorSchool of SignalsBlandford

Basic Signaller (standard 2)School of InfantryWarminster

Environmental ManagementRRC Plymouth 2011Acorn BS8555 Certificate

Environmental ManagementRRC Plymouth 2011IEMA Environmental Internal Auditor ISO14001

National General CertificateNEBOSH 2004Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety

Logistics ManagementDeepcut School of Logistics Stores Management Course