Accreditation Status
- Instructor Member ()
Course Accreditation Status
Instructor Profile
Personal Details
On joining the Royal Navy as a university cadet aged 17, Glen MacDonald undertook basic training at Dartmouth Naval College before completing an MA degree at Aberdeen University studying History and International Relations. On return to the Navy he cut his teeth as a Seaman Officer in a string of sea going roles from Fishery Protection in UK waters to patrolling the seas around the Falkland Islands and Hong Kong. In later years as a Lt Cdr, much to the annoyance of the Service, he eschewed the traditional Warfare Officer career path and went on to fulfil a varied series of roles more to his liking! He returned to his alma mater and enjoyed two glorious years as the Commanding Officer of Aberdeen University Royal Naval Unit and her patrol ship HMS ARCHER, before heading up officer recruitment for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines across Scotland & Northern Ireland. He was the First Lieutenant in the Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and ILLUSTRIOUS, and served as an Operational Planner and Policy Officer with a NATO Joint Command HQ in Portugal. In his final appointment he was a Regional Staff Officer in support of the Royal Naval Reserve Units in Scotland & Northern Ireland before leaving at the end of his commission in May 2011 after 33 years of service. After leaving the RN he worked six years for Combat Stress (The Veterans & and Reservists' Mental Health Charity) taking on a new project as their Reserve Forces Liaison Officer in Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland. This involved him in efforts to raise awareness of mental health issues, and of the services provided by Combat Stress, amongst members of the Reserve Forces community. Glen then spent three years working for the military charity Poppyscotland coordinating their Unforgotten Forces Project which brings together 16 organisations in Scotland to support older military veterans. Nowadays he concentrates on his role as a self-employed instructor for the MHFA Armed Forces Community course. He lives in Fife, Scotland.
Glen qualified as an MHFA Armed Forces Community Course Instructor in Nov 2014 since when he has delivered well over 90 courses across Scotland and the north of England for a wide range of organisations and individuals including Scottish War Blinded, SSAFA, Citizens Advice Scotland ASAP, the Army Reserve, the RAF Reserves, Veterans First Point Scotland, Veterans Housing Scotland, BAE Systems, Ministry of Defence Singapore, Scottish Veterans Housing, Veterans Scotland, Legion Scotland, as well as former members of the regular armed forces.
Work Experience
1978 - 2011: Officer Royal Navy
2011 - 2017: Reserve Forces Liaison Officer - Combat Stress (The Veterans & Reservists Mental Health Charity)
2012 - 2014: Regimental Charity Coordinator - Home HQ Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
2017 - 2020: Unforgotten Forces Project Coordinator - Poppyscotland
2014 - Present: Instructor MHFA Armed Forces Community course
Qualifications
Mental Health First Aid for the Armed Forces Community Instructor Qualification
Level 5 Diploma in Management & Leadership
BSC level 2 Certificate in IT user Skills
European Computer Driving Licence
SQA Intermediate 1 Gaelic Language
Master of Arts Degree, Aberdeen University
Certificate of Naval Officer General Training
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