Thoughts / experience of joining RAF please...

[El Saxo]

Hello .Org, sorry I haven't been around much, been on a bit of a downer lately as some of you will know, mostly work & money related. I'm selling the SV soon too (hopefully only a temporary break from biking), but that's another thread for another day...

I've been giving some thought as to whether joining the RAF might be a good move and would like to hear from anyone that's joined recently or is serving at the moment as to what the state of things is & how the reality matches up (or not, as the case may be) to what they advertise on the website etc.

From what I've looked into, the idea of trying to join as an intelligence officer or similar sounds appealing - I'm 30 so my age is ok, I meet the qualifications required, I think I have experience that would transfer well to a role like that and it's exactly the kind of work I enjoy and do well at (analytical work that requires attention to detail and some lateral thinking / problem solving). The prospect of getting a degree and travelling to different parts of the world are a couple of big plus points too!

I would have to work on the fitness requirements but that's easily done given a bit of time before applying - I'm a bit out of shape at the moment but not too bad! :lol:

Anyone got any pros / cons to joining up at the moment e.g. what are my real chances of actually getting into a role like that? Interested to hear people's viewpoints, good or bad.

I'm right at the end of my tether with my current job and I need to find a way out but there aren't many options around at the moment!

Thanks in advance :D

[anna]

Not really able to help with your query but have one of these :grouphug: Hope it works out for you where ever your next step takes you.

[Bluepete]

Dont do it, it makes you gay!

Just ask James!

In reality, are they recruiting? A friend of mine is a helicopter pilot out in Afganistan. He is facing the possibly of losing his wings to become an Air Traffic Controller.

If you still have your bike, come out to play this weekend, we'll edumacate ya!

Pete ;)

[El Saxo]

In reality, are they recruiting? A friend of mine is a helicopter pilot out in Afganistan. He is facing the possibly of losing his wings to become an Air Traffic Controller.

If you still have your bike, come out to play this weekend, we'll edumacate ya!

Pete ;)

That's exactly what I mean Pete, not even sure if it's a realistic option at this point as I've heard about cutbacks in the armed forces in the news recently (what isn't being cut back at the moment?), IIRC I even saw Richie mention something about the possibility of redundancies in the Army.

Can't come out to play on the bike sorry mate, the SV is SORN'd at the moment. I'm supposed to have put it up for sale by now really but I kept putting it off! :lol:

[G]

It's amusing they are making all the cuts yet advertising navy and army during prime time TV.

It's a long drawn out process, everybody considers it when they are feeling down and out, they know that and try and sift those people out.

I think unless you joining as cannon fodder you don't stand much chance of a chance.

[El Saxo]

I fear you might be right G. I've been doing some trawling of other forums related to the armed forces, reading threads about applying etc and I get the impression that intel posts are closed to recruitment for the foreseeable future. :(

Ironic really that when I was younger I was always of the 'there's no way I'm spending my days having orders barked at me' persuasion but lately the very thing that has me so utterly disillusioned and depressed with my current job is that I am treated like nothing more than a number and reminded of it every day and it's a complete lack of direction and / or clarity from management that is the root of most of my frustration. If only I could go back and give my 18 year-old self a reality check! :lol:

[Stenno]

In the last three years we've had 3 ex RAF technicians join us, aged 30-36 now. All were offered redundancy. Another is looking to join us.

I guess it's a way out of a situation if you're looking for one, but it doesn't seem to allow for much of a home life if you can be posted abroad.

Good luck.

[metalmonkey]

I don't know about the RAF, but my mate in the army loves it.

If there is no jobs in the forces, I know that MI5 and SIS were looking for intel officers maybe look into that.

Dude everyone is treated as a number pretty much now, I had my own number that was my id for want of better word. I thought it was kinda funny being ordered about, I was so anti that being free thinking it the way I was taught ect. All I can suggest is finding some you like doing, something your good at then figure out how to make money doing it. Only you can do it as well, its a bitch but you have to live with your choices no one else.

If you haven't travelled go do it now!

[dizzyblonde]

A lot of Ooompah Loompahs at Willy Wonkas are ex RAF, all glad to have left. Try asking TheGr33k or Jamesunhill. IIRC James got the end of his officers training and basically was pushed out, due to lack of jobs. Tiz why hes in Oz.
Matt tried to get in when he'd done his degree.....virtually impossible to get in. It wasn't due to his hip replacement, it was due to the type of job they wanted to use his 'skills' in..

[P-J]

ARMY all the way dude! RAF is for duffers ;)!

Seriously though if you are considering a career in any of the forces make your first stop the careers office. Find out what jobs are available and the current intake turnaround timescales then you will know exactly were you stand! Oh and do you yourself a favour go in armed with a bucket load of questions and time to take everything in!

In my biased opinion the British Armed Forces is one of the best careers you can have but it ain't for everyone...Easy in, not so easy out!:smt101

PJ

[stewie]

What trade you thinking of going for Andy ? Certain trades are closed atm but it might be worth a run down to your local careers office and see what they say mate, don't expect an easy life though, the moneys crap, you will spend of time 'out of area' in other words, Afghan, and its not a democracy either, yoy will get messed about, however if you want to 'do your bit' learn a trade and make life long friends and experience life give it a go, good luck.
Google ' E goat ' for a bit of gen info

[grh1904]

I echo what's been said before.

I spent just under 12yrs in the RAF, ex Pers Admin, (Personnel Administrator).

Like others have said, visit the offices & ask questions, lots of them & do your homework/research on what is available.

Make sure you know what it is YOU want & will what is on offer/open for recruitment satisfy YOUR demands.

I only urge this caution based upon my own experiences. While I enjoyed my time, I did leave with a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. I joined up 2 weeks & 1 day after my 17th birthday, it would've been even earlier than that if it hadn't been for having my wrist in a plaster cast for 6 weeks!!! followed by the all clear by the RAF docs.

At the time I joined (July 1986!!!!!!!! oooohhhhh so lonnnggg ago now) there was quite a lot of recruitment going on, especially within my trade - and looking back I think was "guided" in that direction by the recruiters, with hindsight I wonder if perhaps I should've waited a year (maybe even gone to college) & gone in as a different trade.

As well as looking at what trade you want to do, also look at what's likely to happen to that trade in years to come. A lot of trades might look rosy but is it a job that's likely to be civilianised or one that they could cut back on when yet more cuts are made to the defence budget????

What has promotion been like in the trade you want for the last couple of years, is a trade that's likely to offer reasonable prospects to either specialise or seek advancement. When I was in the RAF differed slightly from other branches in that you could only extend your length of service dependant on promotions.

Sorry if this seems a bit long winded, just my 2pence worth as I'm an ex shiny & it was my trade that did recruting, pay, postings, promotions and remusters (that's when an airman/woman applies to change branch.

[appollo1]

I'm an ex shiny & it was my trade that let anyone in when recruting, fecked up peoples pay and never tried to help them resolve the problem, got all the best postings due to my trade, now we are on the higher pay band and don't actually do anything to help people other than be able to tell them "you have to call JPAC"


ammended properly for you ;)

[stewie]

By the way don't be swayed by what they sat at the careers office, they will have quota's to fill and may try and guide you towards a trade that needs filling, for instance when I joined up I wanted to be an armourer but was put off and ended up becoming a 'rigger', an airframes mechanic, well I would have been if I hadnt failed the course and ended up as a driver #-o anyway I had a good 10 yrs at it, but what I'm getting at is find the trade you want to do and be prepared to wait for it to open, don't be afraid to question the careers guys thouroughly until you are totally happy with the answers you get.I had a brill 10 yrs as a regular from 76-86 and have just gone back as a reservist at a large secret airbase in oxfordshire ;), you will find a lack of morale at present because of the SDSR but that should hopefully come back once people know if they are to be made redundant or not, its still a good thing to do though so as others have said check it out, btw here is the the proper link to the goat
http://www.e-goat.co.uk/forums/cmps_index.php

[ThEGr33k]

I was in the RAF for 5 years. Meh. Not really very cool tbh. Forces in general will take over your life too much for my liking.

My main problems I had were;

-Understaffed all the time so spend most of the career doing 6 x 12 hour shifts then 2 days off.
-Promotion to Corporal was 10 years unless you enjoyed your office/nco's private bits.
-Lack of life due to positions available, and all the hours.
-Poor care in many ways, food was crap, facilities in general were ancient, id say 95% are still from before the 70's.
-Officers, the vast majority were jumped up *****s who loved nothing better than to prove you were their puppet.
-Sgts, a very large number of those were nearly as bad as the Officers.

Good parts, decent pay (well if you work "normal" hours). Erm, good initial at least training. Proud to be in a reasonably respected job, so bragging rights.

I was in Communication Information Systems, which is basically electronics, computers, phones, radio and radar.

Certainly wasn't a great experience over all for me. But then a lot of people seemed to like it so, if you like all the above its cool! Final point... I had to work an 18 month notice, so be warned, if you dont like it, well you are stuck!!!


Army all the way p-j, dont talk wet :p

[appollo1]

I am in Her Majestys Royal Air Farce and have been for 20 years now.

So any questions you want to ask directly, as most people that have replied so far never managed to do their full service, then ask away young man!

[Ian P]

I wouldnt even consider joining up at your age. If you realy want to join the services Army all the way. who wants to wear a blue uniform.

[grh1904]

ammended properly for you ;)

Yes I did all that that you so kindly ammended for me :smt016:smt016:smt016

What's all this JPAC stuff?????, I left in 1998 so this must all be after my time, when I was in if you had a pay problem we filled in a an actual paper form and sent it to PMC Insworth by "POST".

[ravingdavis]

My Dad has been serving in the Army for the last 26 years and has given him a hell of a lot. He served 20 years as a soldier in the ranks and was then commissioned and became a Captain. You can whinge and complain about being a mere 'number' or 'cannon fodder' but it is a career that can give you a hell of a lot if you are willing to make the best of it.

I can only really speak from what its like as the son of a Soldier but there have been times when Dad has hated the job and times when he has loved it. It is definitely not for everyone and the only person that can ever know whether it is good or not is YOU. Go to a recruitment office, see what the opportunities are, listen to what the recruitment bloke says. Do listen to what people here say however remember people put a bias on their story depending on their own feelings. Try to balance this out and get a neutral opinion and decide whether or not it is right for you.

It is a lifestyle choice and not a job. A lifestyle choice that you make not only for yourself but for you family, and future family.

[Jayneflakes]

A friend of mine joined the RAF after his boyfriend passed away. He loved it for a while, but was away in scary places a lot. I know a couple of girls who are in the Navy, they report much unhappiness too, despite many years of service.

Armed Forces is not a career to be undertaken lightly, especially if you are hoping to get away from unhappy places.

[Jayneflakes]

A friend of mine joined the RAF after his boyfriend passed away. He loved it for a while, but was away in scary places a lot. I know a couple of girls who are in the Navy, they report much unhappiness too, despite many years of service.

Armed Forces is not a career to be undertaken lightly, especially if you are hoping to get away from unhappy places.

[SV Mad]

El Saxo,
It seems you are in a little bit of a dilemma. I can understand that the private sector is not too good at the moment and a lot of people are looking to the security of the forces. Have you considered the Royal Navy? I have been serving now for 22 years (10 to go). I work in the Navy Command HQ and we have recently implemented a new intelligence branch and will be (subject to SDSR outcome) recruiting officers. Promotion prospect are good (promoted on merit not time served), service life is great, and pensions are good. I would always recommend the Armed Forces, where life is good to those who work hard (and play hard of course). In a time of uncertainty, job security is very hard to come by.
PM me if you want more info or go to www.royalnavy.mod.uk.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Cris.

[El Saxo]

Thanks for all the comments and kind words folks - lots to think about & is much appreciated :)

I was talking it over with a mate last night in the pub as well and realised that there's no point in me applying for anything just now anyway as I'm unfit - haven't done any serious exercise for over 6 months and there's no way I would pass the physical / medical!

I think I've decided the best thing to do is start working on my fitness now and by the time I'm up to the required standards (which will probably take at least a few months) I'll have had plenty of time to research things and think about what I want to do. Even if I decide the forces aren't for me by that time, at least I'll be in good shape! :lol:

Until then I'm going to try & stay positive, be grateful I have a job that pays ok in the current climate etc and keep my fingers crossed for that lottery win! ;)

[ThEGr33k]

Sounds like a fair plan. If there are any specific questions then feel free to ask away in here, ill try and be as positive as possible :D

[husky03]

mate your too old and you've missed the boat i'm afraid-get fit by all means but i'd be concentrating on finding a different job in civvie street.

[Richie]

RAF are making 5000 redundancy's in the next 4 years, since the RAF are only 45000 strong thats a big Hit.

[MisterTommyH]

I applied for and got a bursary for WSO in the RAF, but changed my mind before taking the money. Not going on was the best thing I ever did.

Of the people I know in there the trades tend to like it more than the officers I know, despite what the trades think about Ruperts having it easy. Of the officers, which is what I believe you're going for, the pilot hates it with the deployments, the training officer loves it and the regt officer also likes it. Remember of you are going to join at 30 they will expect a lot more from you at IOT as you will have more life experiance than the 21 year olds joining.

With regard to the fitness, don't let it put you off starting the process. If you start now, by the time you get to a test you'll be on shape.

Good luck if you choose to go for it.

[stewie]

RAF are making 5000 redundancy's in the next 4 years, since the RAF are only 45000 strong thats a big Hit.
I could be wrong here but Im sure the number is 39,000 before redundancy, scary stuff all the same, there were 110,000 of us when I left in 86.

[ThEGr33k]

We better hope there are no big wars on the way because we will be screwed! :(