RAuxAF - tell me like it is....

[reverserunlocked]

Chaps,

I was in the RAF cadets many moons ago at our school CCF unit and being a confirmed plane buff, loved every minute of it.

Now 30, I'm shortly be moving house from Cheshire up to County Durham and wouldn't be too far from RAF Leeming, a base I remember well from my time as a cadet. I see that Leeming has a RAuxAF unit (a kind of TA for the RAF) attached, and it's something I'd be pretty interested in joining.

My motivations would be to get fit again (properly fit!), enjoy the social side, get the uniform on again, relish the sniff of kerosene in the air and feel part of a team. I run my own business from home these days and it can be a lonely experience.

What could I expect, and do those of you with some knowledge of these things think my expectations would be in some way met by the experience of joining up?

RU

[The Gorilla]

You must be mad!! What would happen to your run from home business when you have go and spend six to nine months in the Ghan or the eyeraq?
Nostalgia is a great thing but I wouldn't do this if I were you! :\
Why don't you consider volunteering to help out at your local ATC or CCF instead?

[airborne_artist]

Can you run your home business from a sandy or rocky place that's 3 to 6 hours ahead of UK time?

Join the ATC as an adult Instructor/NCO/officer. Up to 28 days pay, no war role, and lots of troops to give the runaround!

[Duncan D'Sorderlee]

...or you could ask the RAuxAF what it is all about and whether or not being a member would suit your lifestyle.

Try: http://www.rafreserves.com/the_units/UnitDetails.aspx?unit=82 for 609 (WR) Sqn RAuxAF at RAF Leeming

However, as has been intimated from some of the previous posters, most RAuxAF units are RAuxAF Regiment and are often deployed as Force Protection for current operations. I've heard, admittedly from an OC RAuxAF Reg Sqn, that they are performing creditably.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

Duncs

[Squirrel 41]

RU,

It depends on what you're looking for, and what skills you have (other than being a committed plane buff, which whilst enthusiasm is a great, it's not immediately applicable to most actual roles :hmm: ). Look closely at the web site, and remember that there are also the nation-wide units, as well as 609[WR].

As others have said, you've got to be prepared to do your weekend a month, two weeks on camp and depending on your role, 12 months in 36 on ops. Most businesses will need more time than this - my unit has lost several good people since 2003 precisely because of professional pressures.

Pls PM me if you have specific questions.

S41

[JagRigger]

I've just got in from a meeting with one of my local Aux Sqn's, and am considering joining too.

Mind you, my mates say I'm mad having done ( nearly ) 22 without getting shot at, to volunteer for a hobby that could be pretty dangerous to say the least

[Crossword]

Why join a TA/Aux/Res unit? My goodness, one can be called on to do what they wear a uniform for! That is, to be activated on order and perhaps sent to war.... agree with the national commitments or not.

The personal commitment isn’t just playing soldiers on weekends and summer camps these days. The world and the threat has changed quite a bit lately, as has the capability of western nations to respond to it and influence the result.

Unfortunately, joining a “I’ll choose what I fight over and only in my off-season” force isn’t available. Those are only found in the mainland EU these days.

Reverserunlocked

You need to understand that putting the uniform on is a commitment. If you are willing to do what the uniform calls for put it on. If not don't. That said, all the elements you say you seek and more are found there.

Good luck

[seac]

As the title says, I am finding myself VERY strangely attracted to the whole idea of he "Reserve".

Left HM RAF in '85 , then went out to Oman , was there when that "Jag" video was filmed , did GW1 as a civilian working for BAE , got the GW medal , since then worked for several multinationals , and now have my own company .

There is still no job I have enjoyed to the extent I did when I was part of squadron life . I know this is very much a case of "Rose tinted" , but as the title says , strangely atracted , and it may bring some purpose back to my life, after years of just being concerned about money.

[Wycombe]

As others have said, if you can meet the commitments (which as others have also said, are very different to what they were when I joined-up in 1985), go for it. Mobilisation is no longer something "so unlikely it's not worth worrying about", it is a virtual certainty. If your personal circumstances allow that, fine, but give it serious thought.

When my second mobilisation looked likely, my circumstances had changed entirely from those at the time of my first, so I had no choice for family reasons but to reluctantly pull the yellow and black.

After 17 years served, it was a big part of my life and I miss the ethos, cameraderie, banter, travel etc. to this day.

It is also now a fact that the Regular Air Force (in certain trades at least) cannot meet it's commitments without a constant re-force from the Auxiliaries - it was never meant to be that way, but that's what happens when you reduce the size of the regular Force and increase it's commitments all at the same time :ugh:

[buoy15]

Salvation Army has a quite smart uniform;) :ok:

[The Helpful Stacker]

I'm due out of the regular RAF next year and am seriously considering joining the RAuxAF. 504 Sqn (County Of Nottingham) will be my nearest sqn (seeing as I'm moving to Nottingham) and according to their website they have half their personnel working in a logistics role and half in a FP/RAF Regt role.

[airborne_artist]

Still, if the CGS is to be believed, now might be a good time to join. By the time you are combat-ready, he'll have everybody home for tea and medals :E

[microlight AV8R]

AA

What's the Central Gliding School got to do with it?

Hat & coat :O

[airborne_artist]

Microlight has a point.

Get yourself onto the staff of a VGS - not much JetA1 being burned, but plenty of stick time.

More catapult launches than Top Gun :ok:

[pr00ne]

The Helpful Stacker,

Your "local" unit is in fact at RAF Benson which is near Oxford, a fair way from Nottingham no?

Might not the Auxiliaries at Waddington be a little closer?

[TommyOv]

reverserunlocked

I say go for it if you can commit to at least the minimum requirements and are prepared for the inevitable call up. I can personally vouch for 609(WR) at Leeming as I was on the squadron for a couple of years myself.

I believe they've now moved onto a Force Protection role along with most of the RAuxAF so you'll spend more time in green than in blue, but if you can see yourself being away from your family/business for 6 months (which is how long I was away for) then give them a call. Aside from this, you can expect a great bunch of people and some good laughs. Any questions then feel free to PM me.

Cheers

[Blodwyn Pig]

do you get a choice of what you get to do when you join the auxAF?

i mean i used to work on aircraft, so would you expect to do something similar?...or could you be sent off to live in a ditch playing silly buggers wearing cammo stuff with the regiment?

[Wycombe]

In my time, you approached the Unit you want to join directly. Still the case as far as I know.

At my former Unit, they used to do "Information days" where you could go along and find out what it's all about. Also still the case as far as I know (the Sqn in question still has it's own recruiting cell).

BTW, not all of the RAuxAF is about Force Protection. The one I served on has a role working on aircraft.....cue "they are all useless oxygen thieves" comments from Aircrew incoming!

[Squirrel 41]

Blodwyn,

Check out the website for the avaliable branches and trades. Being ex-regular will be a big help, though my unit has several who are doing different jobs than when they were in as regulars. I've found it to be a very positive experience, but there are good and bad in every organisation, RAF reserves no exception.

S41

[reverserunlocked]

Thanks for all your replies chaps, some definite food for thought there.

Part of my motivation for setting up my own business was the ability to dictate my own destiny to a certain degree, and be able to spend time pursuing goals that as an employee might be not be possible. Sadly from the tone of most posters here I've come to the conclusion that the realistic demands of a business, even a small-time home operation won't mix with a role in the RAF reserves if I have to be away for months at a stretch.

Looks like I'll just have to go back to finishing the PPL and fish out that old poster of the RAF fleet for the wall of my study....

[The Helpful Stacker]

The Helpful Stacker,
Your "local" unit is in fact at RAF Benson which is near Oxford, a fair way from Nottingham no?
Might not the Auxiliaries at Waddington be a little closer?

Really?

Clicky (http://www.504squadron.org/about/about.php)