From frontline tank repairs to supporting farmers at harvest, Chris Giles has carved out a career in the civilian world by transferring his military engineering skills to John Deere’s dealership network.
After serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Chris was unsure of his next step until he attended an open day about the John Deere Military Hiring Programme.
Today he is a Technical Communicator and Certified Dealer Instructor at the Tallis Amos Group Leominster depot, and his journey is about to come full circle as he prepares to explain military personnel have the ideal skillset to resettle,
Chris will be one of the speakers at a John Deere Military Hiring Programme webinar taking place on 3 December at 7pm.
“In terms of the kit, going from tanks to tractors is a completely different world,” says Chris. “The hydraulics, for example are completely different.
“But there wasn’t much of a transition when coming to the John Deere brand, as the level of high readiness is the same. The kit needs to be fixed and out the door as soon as possible, much like in the army.
“While the machinery is different, the basics of the work are the same. You’re looking to apply that pre-existing training and knowledge to a different kind of machine.”
Chris joined REME as a vehicle mechanic in 2012, working extensively on tank engines and transmissions before moving into several front-line units from 2015. Stationed in Hereford, he was deployed around the world repairing everything from quads to heavy armour.
He attended the John Deere open event for military technicians at Langar shortly before the pandemic and met a John Deere employee who had also served as part of REME. After putting him in contact with the right people, Chris made the decision to pursue a career at John Deere.
After completing his training and work experience at the Tallis Amos Group Leominster depot, Chris began employment as a technician but has since progressed to a Technical Communicator and Certified Dealer Instructor role. He explains that at first he worked in the workshop diagnosing issues, servicing and repairing crucial kit like combines and tractors, but now he helps technicians from the office and across different depots in the dealership network and trains the new staff who are coming through.
“As a Technical Communicator, if the technicians go out to a job and struggle to diagnose it or need extra information, then they’ll get in touch with me as I have access to the information or people that are needed, and then I’ll pass that information back to the technicians,” he says.
“As a Certified Dealer Instructor, I deal with the new technicians that are coming through and doing their training, including the level one and two training that the Military Hiring Programme applicants will receive, which is all online. I mainly teach electrics, hydraulics, and the service advisor side.”
Open to servicemen and women who are looking for new careers after they leave the armed forces, attendees of the online event on 3 December will have the opportunity to listen to Chris and others who have been through the John Deere Military Hiring Programme.
John Deere’s ground-breaking resettlement programme for military service personnel offers new career opportunities working on some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and professional groundscare machinery.
Members of the armed forces have been identified as ideal candidates for their unique skill sets and the experience they bring to technician roles within UK and Ireland dealerships. Many have already worked with some of the systems and products John Deere use on their agricultural and turf machinery, making the transition straightforward.
Those who enrol onto the programme are put into contact with an individual from the John Deere network who has resettled previously. They guide them through the next steps which includes free training courses before finding employment with a John Deere dealer.
Interested service members and ex-service members can find out more and apply to the John Deere Military Hiring Programme by visiting www.deere.com/JDMHP.
The online event is free but pre-registration is required at https://jdmhp.eventbrite.co.uk/
