From the Military to the Police: A Family Tradition

From the Military to the Police: A Family Tradition

Thames Valley Police takes pride in offering seamless transitions for veterans into policing, acknowledging the valuable skills gained in the military. Inspector Andrew Fiddler, a testament to this tradition, shares his journey alongside his son Callum, who is carving his own path from the military into the police force. Andy was in the privileged position to be able to oversee Callum’s recent attestation and issue his warrant card.

Andy, Callum – can you share your career journeys so far, and what motivated you both to move from the military to the police?

Andy: I joined the military at 16 straight from school, and spent my first two years in the Army, before moving to the RAF where I joined the RAF Police. I always wanted to end up in policing, but also wanted to join the military and gain valuable life experience and skills. I was moving from one disciplined service to another, where there were ranks, uniforms, and obligations that were similar. At 22 I joined TVP as I felt this was the right time for my family as we were expecting Callum’s arrival.

Callum: I served in The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, First Battalion, which was an armoured infantry unit based in Wiltshire. Overall I think what motivated me the most to follow in my Dad’s footsteps into policing was the achievements and success he has had in the police service.

Andy, what were your initial thoughts when you learnt about your son’s ambitions to join the police?

I was very proud. He had followed in my footsteps into the military and now is doing the same in Policing. The day of his attestation into the Police was one of the proudest moments of my life. Being able to be part of that attestation and to issue him his warrant card made me so proud.

Callum, what are you most looking forward to in your policing career?

The thing I am looking forward to most is knowing that I’ve made a difference, and that every day will present new challenges and opportunities to tackle and learn from. My aim within the police now is to work hard, and become a Firearms Officer.

Andy, what skills and qualities do military veterans bring to the police, and how have these qualities contributed to your own success?

You bring a variety of skills from the military – leadership, selflessness, communication skills, being able to deal with change, pressure, and making decisions in tough circumstances. It is also the ability to learn quickly and work as a team, understanding that everything is achievable when you put your mind to it. All these have gotten me to where I am today, and I see these in my son as well.

Andy, how does Thames Valley Police encourage and support military veterans in joining the ranks, and what initiatives are in place to promote this career path?

As the TVP military recruitment lead, I have been working really hard over the last 18 months or so to really promote TVP within the military community. We attend most of the British Forces Resettlement events around the country in the large garrison towns, and work with CTP on various other strands of resettlement and recruitment into policing.

Just like the military, we feel that TVP is a family, and here are also employment opportunities for family members, whether as an Officer or Police Staff. We also offer a £2,500 relocation payment in your first moths pay if we are your first employer since leaving the military.

Callum, what has been the best bit of advice that your father has given you ahead of your move into policing? 

That there are endless things you can achieve within the police. You can choose your own career path. Also that every day has different opportunities and challenges. Lastly, to make sure I use the skills I have learnt from my time in the military, as they are easily transferable into policing.

Andy, what advice do you have for any military veteran who is considering to start a career in the police service? 

Enjoy, embrace, and be proud. Policing is like no other job, you never know what your next incident will be or what tomorrow will bring. If you want something in policing, whether that’s promotion or a specialised role – go and get it. Put your mind to it, use those skills you picked up in the military, and you’ll get there. Never be afraid to ask for help or reach out for support and look after each other. As I said before, policing is a family.

If you would like more information on how Thames Valley Police supports military veterans, visit our Military Resettlement page.

 Armed Forces Military Resettlement Police Officer