Nathan's Story | The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity

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Nathan is a Command Qualified Submariner who has Combined Type ADHD.

I find it almost impossible to relax, luckily submarines at sea are busy and the environment or tasking they are subject to is constantly changing. I initially never thought I would never get far because I have always found mental arithmetic difficult which can be typical in ADHD.

I’ve been consistently well supported by other officers and encouraged by my peers simply to discover and practice what works for me

I’ve been consistently well supported by other officers and encouraged by my peers simply to discover and practice what works for me. I might never be the best at it, but it was certainly enough to get me through Submarine Command Course or ‘Perisher’.

Submariner looking out to another submarine

Whilst my ADHD was only diagnosed later in my career, I can’t think of a Commanding Officer I have had who couldn’t at least see something I did well, recognise it and help me develop it.

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People will tell you in the submarine service that ‘if it works it isn’t stupid’. I have certainly felt stupid over the years resorting to times tables songs meant for children, drawing out lists of sums in different colours and generally struggling to organise my life outside of the service. However, whilst my ADHD was only diagnosed later in my career, I can’t think of a Commanding Officer I have had who couldn’t at least see something I did well, recognise it and help me develop it. In the end, with a Captain who worked me pretty hard as a Watch Leader and got me to really take ownership of my development,

I started to believe that not only could I go further, but I might end up being considered good at it.

The RNRMC are so grateful to Nathan for sharing his story.

*All names are changed to protect the identity of the individuals.

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