From RAF Russian Linguist To Diplomat

Lifestyle From RAF Russian Linguist To British Diplomat. How An RAF Russian Linguist Became A Diplomat. What was the journey from the RAF to the Diplomatic Service? Did my military service and qualifications help with the process? All reasonable questions, so here is a brief description of the journey.

Understanding the Role of a Russian Linguist in Diplomacy

The Diplomatic Service was in effect my second career. Prior to joining, my first was serving as a Russian/German dual linguist with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

On joining the RAF, I took the language aptitude exam and was fortunate enough to pass. I was offered the opportunity to become a linguist. After intensive Russian language training at the RAF School of Languages at RAF North Luffenham near Stamford, I was posted to West Berlin.

Although based at RAF Gatow on the far western fringes of the city, my place of work was Teufelsberg. This was a joint US/UK facility that dominated the Berlin skyline, built on top of a man-made mountain from WW2 rubble. The work there was incredibly interesting!

Some years later, I returned to the RAF School of Language Training in the UK to qualify as a dual linguist, my second language being German. Upon completion of the course, I returned back to Berlin and back to Teufelsberg.

The bulk of my RAF career was spent in West Berlin, but I also had postings in the UK, to GCHQ in Cheltenham, RAF Digby and RAF Wyton.

Although ground-based at Wyton, I had the opportunity on several occasions to fly with 51 Squadron on their Nimrod Mk1 aircraft on various sorties. This experience was unforgettable, and later in my career, I was tempted several times to volunteer for full-time aircrew and follow that career path with the squadron. Unfortunately, personal circumstances made this difficult.

After leaving the RAF, I spent a year visiting relatives in the USA, then returned to the UK where I got a job as a regional manager for a newsagent chain. I hated it!

One day, I read a newspaper article reporting how the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) was looking to recruit “mature” candidates for a new diplomat scheme. These “mature” officers would only complete six years of service, involving two three-year overseas tours, and then be let go.

A career as a diplomat looked appealing, and I appeared to meet the requirements needed to apply. However, I was reluctant since it would mean leaving secure, well-paid employment for a six-year role with the FCO, even though I was unhappy in my current job.

It was my daughter who encouraged me to apply, giving me the necessary nudge. I am truly grateful for her encouragement; without it, I am sure I would not have applied.

I applied and, after written tests and interviews, was successful. My language qualifications helped in the application process, and I was told at my interview how impressed the FCO was with them. Ironically, during my entire FCO career, I was never posted to a place where I could use my language skills. My closest opportunity was an attachment to our embassy in Kazakhstan, but at that time, the government was actively promoting Kazakh culture and identity, strongly implementing the Kazakh language throughout society. Therefore, Russian was actively discouraged. Just my luck!

Fortunately, in a relatively short amount of time, this new FCO scheme proved so successful that the FCO decided they needed this new, experienced asset. As a result, all officers who came in under this scheme were transferred to the regular, permanent FCO establishment. A pukka diplomat at last!

I can honestly say that my time in the Diplomatic Service was amazing. The opportunities to travel and serve in unique places were exhilarating. I served in all the so-called Axis of Evil posts, set up new missions, survived shootings, bombings and rockets, was rescued by the SAS, and helped evacuate Brits during the Arab Spring. It was a lot packed into such a short 15-year period.

At that time, I did not reflect much on the experiences and situations I was involved in. It was only after I left and read books penned by senior diplomats describing their glamorous lives that I thought, hang on, it is all very glamorous and high-powered at your level, but you are only showing a privileged glimpse; there is so much more.

I have decided to relate the reality of life in the diplomatic trenches as a mid-level diplomat in some of the most challenging and dangerous parts of the world. A book will follow! (subject to finding an agent or publisher, that is… not easy)

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