Thoughts / experience of joining RAF please...

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!

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

[anna]

Not really able to help with your query but have one of these 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

Originally Posted by Bluepete

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!

[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.

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!

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.

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..

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!

PJ