What's in it for me? LCpl Chongbang's Apprenticeship story

Name: Lance Corporal Chongbang

Role: Analyst

Corps: Intelligence Corps

Place: UK

Hobbies/Networks: I am part of a Corps badminton, hockey, and netball team. I am also a part of a Corps women’s network and the Army’s multicultural network.

Which apprenticeship are you currently doing / have you done?

I have recently completed the level 4 Intelligence Analyst apprenticeship that is provided by the British Army.

Can you tell us about the skills, knowledge and experiences that you got by doing your apprenticeship?

The modules/topics covered in the Intelligence Analyst apprenticeship directly aligned with my role covering the foundations of intelligence, intelligence cycle, handling of classified materials etc. As a result, it gave me initial exposure to the intelligence world and tools to aide me as an intelligence analyst. The apprenticeship also provided a reference point if I ever needed help with support from my mentors.

The apprenticeship also helped me track my progress and growth. From my very first apprentice interview to my final assessment, I recognised an improved ability to answer intelligence questions. This was a result of the experiences gained from my day-to-day activities in my current role but also from the various tasks and assessments completed with the apprenticeship. It improved essential skills required for the role.

The apprenticeship has helped me build confidence both personally and professionally. Personally, it has shown me that I am capable of handling multiple tasks (such as the apprenticeship) whilst simultaneously holding a full-time job without any negative impact. Professionally, it has given me confidence in my skillset as an intelligence analyst from the results obtained in my apprenticeship. It also shows hard work does pay off.

What was the highlight of your apprenticeship experience?

The highlight of my apprenticeship experience was achieving distinction upon completing it. After this, I was also able to guide other JNCOs in their apprenticeship which allowed me to improve my mentoring skills.

Further, the apprenticeship being a recognized qualification added another qualification to my CV if I ever decide to leave the Army. Most qualifications obtained in the Army aren’t usually recognized externally, which made it all the more worthwhile completing it.

What advice would you give to anyone looking at an apprenticeship in the Army?

Do not be afraid of asking questions! The mentors that are provided to you are there to help and guide you to make sure you get the best grade possible.

Take ownership of your apprenticeship. Be proactive and find out what it is you need to pass the apprenticeship. If you do your research, it is unbelievably easy to pass because the answer is all in front of you!

Organize your time and get it done as quickly as you can. The longer you drag your heels, the longer it will take to complete the apprenticeship and ergo the longer it will be hanging over your head. If you try and finish it earlier whilst you’re still relatively new to your unit, the quicker you can get it done as you won’t have a lot of start-stop with other taskings/tours that may require you.