Joining the RAF

Originally Posted by thulfi

And helping the armed forces really feels like youd make a difference I hope. Looking after the pawns in a chess game.

how about alone, unappreciated, served up on a plater, disowned, undervalued, a target for every fecking armchair genral in the world, and abandoned

ended with self pride ,a healthy distain for goverments, and a knowledge of life and experiance that most of the population couldnt comprehend let alone be able to do, we do what we do cos most cant and we steped up didnt back down and if your lucky walk out the other end, and all you want is a feck off theres the door bring the next muppet in, youve done your time, who are you again

Originally Posted by davepreston

how about alone, unappreciated, served up on a plater, disowned, undervalued, a target for every fecking armchair genral in the world, and abandoned

ended with self pride ,a healthy distain for goverments, and a knowledge of life and experiance that most of the population couldnt comprehend let alone be able to do, we do what we do cos most cant and we steped up didnt back down and if your lucky walk out the other end, and all you want is a feck off theres the door bring the next muppet in, youve done your time, who are you again

Then again you might enjoy it Edit, dave hated it so much that he's trying to get back in. Unlike the org if you don't like it you can always leave, after you have done your time of course.

i did

Originally Posted by davepreston

how about alone, unappreciated, served up on a plater, disowned, undervalued, a target for every fecking armchair genral in the world, and abandoned

ended with self pride ,a healthy distain for goverments, and a knowledge of life and experiance that most of the population couldnt comprehend let alone be able to do, we do what we do cos most cant and we steped up didnt back down and if your lucky walk out the other end, and all you want is a feck off theres the door bring the next muppet in, youve done your time, who are you again

really that bad? How come you say so?

cos thats how it is, trust me the last section are the good points, you do your job - say serve your max 22years then its what are you doing here? mmm your not required any longer bye, (i did

or as some will come along shorty to add , in your last stint (march out) you are officially the dogsbody irelivant of rank or time served, your going anyway so we can feck you about no end and theres nowt you will or more to the point can do about it (if you want the pension youve grafted all the previous years for)

but heres the kicker ,would i do it again, hell yes, would i go back in tomorrow, wheres my papers sign me up
because this is the priceless bit you cant get anywhere else

"ended with self pride ,a healthy distain for goverments, and a knowledge of life and experiance that most of the population couldnt comprehend let alone be able to do, we do what we do cos most cant and we steped up and didnt back down"

not to mention a few select people id take a bullet for and they me (i hope lol) and a automatic intial affinty for others that have done the same job, no matter where they served or when

and above all else remember 2 things
you ARE just a number, and always adhere to rule 1 (bottom of my sig)

[Bri w]

Have you thought of joining something like the TA medical corps? You'll still get to Afghanaraq et al, and you'll find out if you want the full all in job before you commit to it.

I would say go for it.
I spent 8 yrs in the royal air force and would go back tomorrow( came out early due to bad shoulder injury.)
I have also spent five years working as an emt in irelands version of the NHS and the politics of the job allmost gave me a breakdown even though i loved the job.
Every RAF station has a medical officer that works in a similiar way to a gp for the staff and their spouses. However i have also known the doc fly out on detachment in the back of a herc with the rest of us so its not all routine.Bear in mind i came out in 1999 so it might have changed a lot!!
I would allways recommend the forces to anyone.

[Winder]

I was in the Army for 7 years, been to Afghan twice and worked with the MERT out of Bastion. I was only a grunt that secured the HLS/done comms/stretcher bearer but the doctors and nurses out there done an awsome job. Most when not in the stan got to work in Frimlely/ Selly Oak etc so you wouldn't have to be a GP sittin in a med centre in some **** camp.
As an officer you will get treated a thousand times better than us lot did. And the RAF get treated like royality in comparison to the Army (in my experiance from every camp, exercise, tour i've been on), loads of adventure training opertunities, non contributary pension etc etc etc.
I'd say go for it mate, i been a civi for 6 months now and it's rather boring.

By the way don't call it a chopper, people will hate you ha ha

thanks a lot for the advice everyone. Some mixed views but on the whole it seems a positive move.

The fact that ex servicemen would go back in a second is very encouraging. I've had my fun at uni and it will be hard work, but 40yrs+ of a job needs to be enjoyable first and foremost. I think I'd regret it if I don't, and would be 30something depressed GP in a boring practice.

Originally Posted by davepreston

but heres the kicker ,would i do it again, hell yes, would i go back in tomorrow, wheres my papers sign me up
because this is the priceless bit you cant get anywhere else

"ended with self pride ,a healthy distain for goverments, and a knowledge of life and experiance that most of the population couldnt comprehend let alone be able to do, we do what we do cos most cant and we steped up and didnt back down"

not to mention a few select people id take a bullet for and they me (i hope lol) and a automatic intial affinty for others that have done the same job, no matter where they served or when

and above all else remember 2 things
you ARE just a number, and always adhere to rule 1 (bottom of my sig)

likes this.

Originally Posted by thulfi

And who cares, I'd rather be a RAF GP (worst case RAF doc scenario) than a standard GP. Still get the same RAF perks, and still get to go out to the warzone countries 3months in every year!

If it for you then great but not meaning to rain on your parade

be prepared for jumped up little ****s then that will **** on you at every opp. (rank doesn't really count this days) Expect to do time if you dare even crack a smile or make any lite joke PC or non PC. and don't ever socialise or you end up inside too.

Bitter - maybe - but having seen the crap that goes on these days where any enjoyment is leapt upon disaheartens me.
Everyone I worked with - wouldn't go back.