CNC webinar guides veterans into CT-AFO careers

If you’re leaving the Armed Forces, you might be wondering where your training, calm under pressure and teamwork can take you next. British Forces Resettlement Services, set up in 2009 to connect the Armed Forces Community and their families with employers and training, teamed up with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary for a webinar built to answer exactly that.

More than 30 people joined to hear serving Authorised Firearms Officers talk about transferable skills, the realities of relocating, and how they’ve settled into new communities. What it means: you hear directly from people doing the job now, not just recruiters or adverts.

So what is the CNC and what does a CT-AFO do? The Civil Nuclear Constabulary polices the UK’s civil nuclear sites. A Counter Terrorist Authorised Firearms Officer is a specialist firearms role focused on protecting locations that are critical to national security. What it means: if you performed well in high-stakes settings, there’s a route where that experience counts.

Speakers set out the CNC mission and the Code of Ethics that guides everyday decisions, including fairness, respect, openness and accountability. For many service leavers this will feel familiar: standards-led work where judgement, discipline and professionalism are expected at all times.

James Graham, general manager at BFRS, explained why service leavers align closely with CNC roles, highlighting leadership, integrity, disciplined decision-making, situational awareness and resilience developed through military service. In his words, this path lets you keep serving in a highly professional role with national importance.

The session also walked through recruitment and the range of specialisms on offer. Attendees heard how to prepare applications, what assessments look like, and how previous roles can map to policing competencies across the force, not only CT-AFO posts. What it means: there isn’t one door in; there are several, and your experience helps to open them.

The CNC emphasised its support for the Armed Forces community, including holding a Silver Award in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme. Silver status recognises organisations that have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, ensure fair recruitment for service people, and make staff aware of supportive policies. The CNC says it is proud to support those who serve or have served, and their families. What it means: you should expect an employer that understands service life.

Serving officers also spoke about family life and settling into new towns. Practical advice included planning relocation early, asking about welfare support, and giving yourself time to learn a new system. What it means: transition is a process, not an overnight switch, and there is support along the way.

Before you click apply, build a short evidence file from your service record. Translate tasks into clear results, describe how you handled risk, and note moments where you used judgement under pressure. Use insights from the webinar to match those examples to policing competencies. What it means: show how you think, not just what you did.

If you’re ready to explore further, the CNC Jobs website hosts information for military personnel, and BFRS continues to act as a bridge between the Armed Forces Community and civilian employers and training providers. Use both to map your next steps and ask specific questions about training, locations and family support.