Operational Analysis Review

I really enjoyed working within the Land Environment Group, Military Engineering Team at DSTL for my placement. My colleagues where very welcoming and supported me through my placement. Though my degree background is chemistry I was able to apply my analytical techniques into my work, which was very rewarding. The placement has not only broadened my knowledge in defence, it has also allowed me to gain skills that I can take into any aspect in the future.

I feel that my colleagues really value me within my team. They have allowed me to develop myself within the team, starting with basic research tasks and as they year has commenced pushed me to deliver my own projects to present to customers. I have also been given a DSTL celebrating success award from my team to show their appreciation for the work that I have carried out.

The Team Leaders within DSTL go above and beyond to support you, through my year at DSTL I have had 2 Team Leaders who have both helped me to find work within the team and recommended me to other work that they think I will enjoy. They have pushed me to exceed within DSTL and have made my experience highly enjoyable. The management above (Group Leaders, Division Head) though welcoming to begin with have showed very little interest in my progress or weather I will be coming back. I would give TLs a 9/10 however above that about a 4/10 which averages out to a 7/10

I have been supplied with plenty of work while I have been on placement. It has been the right about to mean that I always have full days however I have not been under immense pressure. The team and my team leader have been really supportive in making sure that I have work and that it is suitable to my standard.

As stated previously as I grew within the team they trusted me with more and more responsibilities. I was able to produce deliverables and present them to the customer on my own. I was also given responsibilities to communicate with what the customer wanted for my task and present this back to the team. I also took on responsibility within the team as the Morale champion, checking how the team is feeling each month and how it could be improved.

Through my placement at DSTL I have gain not only knowledge within the defence industry but have also gained many life skills that I will be able to carry forward into any work I participate in the future. I have gone on a high impact writing course that was very successful in teaching my how I can best impact my work. This will help me in future studies and work.

The general atmosphere of the office is relaxed. Everyone within the area supports each other and are very friendly, someone always to say hello to when you go for a coffee. Saying this there is always plenty of work and activities to be getting on with. You push yourself as much as you need to to get the results. Plus there is always fun day trips and events to take part in, like riding tanks!

The placement at DSTL is very well organised. Before starting you meet for a introduction day, where you meet your team as well as other new starters. This allows you to feel more relaxed when you arrive on your first day. The team I joined always had work ready for me and alerted me of anything I might find interesting. My TL also kept me up to date with any activities/training that I should participate in.

There was a grad scheme within the DSA group that I was able to participate in. This gave me opportunities to get extra training and experience in the defence industry as week long courses. Along this I got opportunities to partake in training within the team along with my other colleagues. This was all very beneficial to my development and I was able to gain skills to take on in the future.

I have mixed reviews on the future employment prospects within DSTL. My team was very honest with me for the concerns within the organisation. And I have experience how hard it can be to work up the pay grades. However I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement and I will be applying back to DSTL after my final year at university.

While on placement there is a organisation called STEPS that puts on events for new starters. From this the placement students and graduates would meet up once a fortnight for socials outside of work. My team was very sociable having meals once every 2 months to catch up on a more sociable level. The company DSTL also holds socials like the Christmas party, New starter conference and summer ball.

My rent in Southsea which is about a 20-30 minute drive to work is £485, including bills. The petrol to and from work is about £20 a week. My other expenses including socialising is up to £50. I have found on placement a squeeze and have not been able to save as much money as I would have liked. Moving down from university in the north things are definitely more expensive.

The nightlife in Portsmouth is great, as long as you can afford it. There is a mixture of nice restaurants, pubs, cocktail bars and night clubs. Southsea has its own strip of bars which is a great place to start the nights. Then there is the choice of city centre or over to gunwarf for the clubs. There are also evening events like gigs and comedy nights going on regularly. In the summer there is always events going on down the sea front.

Outside of work I played hockey for the local team, training in the week and playing games on weekends. I also was able to join a gym close to work for £4 a month thanks to my CSSC card. There is also lots to do around the city like shopping, site seeing, mini golf and arcades. There are gigs on throughout the year as well as regular comedy nights. Summer time the beach is an activity all to itself, and there are always local events going on.