Flying Officer Ross Clarke, 26, joined the RAF nearly eight years ago, with A-levels in maths and geography. Postings in the UK have included deployment to Canada, Oman, Cyprus and Italy. As an airframe technician he served on the Harrier force before early selection for an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship and national certificate (BTEC) in aircraft engineering. A 'varied and challenging personal development plan included quality management, health and safety, and various university short courses in subjects like international relations'. The aim was to become eligible and competitive for commissioning into the RAF's engineering branch, and he was duly selected in 2004.

Unfortunately he was injured during initial officer training, and decided to use the time on further personal development projects. These included NEBS management, a diploma in administrative management, a certificate in safety management and an environmental management course. He also used the recently opened defence electronic learning centres, as well as becoming a sub-aqua instructor and a scuba equipment servicing technician.

Engineering officer training has focused on a Higher National Diploma in aerospace engineering, the European computer driving licence and a project management module, as well as other formal courses. Through the accreditation of his RAF training and the other courses he has undertaken, he is now eligible for a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Lincoln, which he starts this month using ELCs to fund it.

He intends to develop this into a master's degree in due course and become a Chartered Engineer. He also wants to enhance his portfolio of other management qualifications so that he has as much as possible to offer the RAF and any subsequent employer. With this in mind, he has just applied to join the Chartered Management Institute's chartered manager programme.