Although initially accepted into the Navy to be a Warfare Rating on surface ships, very quickly Steve decided to switch to the Submarine Service.

He was drafted to Polaris boats, but was one of the last submariners to get permission to transfer out of that programme and moved to diesel submarines.

After working Tactical Systems on HMS Trenchant, Steve volunteered to become a swimboy at SETT in Gosport, where he worked for two years.

He went back to sea, serving on HMS Vanguard, where he was promoted to Petty Officer, and worked his way up to Chief. He followed this with Flag Officers Sea Training where he was responsible for rewriting all documentation for the Astute Class submarines.

Before leaving the Navy, Steve took up the role of Executive Warrant Officer on anti-submarine warship, HMS Portland for two years before returning to SETT in 2016. A year later in Argentina on HMS Protector as SPAG (Submarine Parachute Assistance Group), he worked with the Americans and Argentinians.

Moving to work in manpower – just as Covid struck – meant an intense 18 months before Steve transitioned to Civvy Street, now working with a company that make submarine escape suits.

Steve had some fantastic stories to share during out hour and a half conversation.