RAF Reserves

[gareth herts]

Morning all

Have decided at the ripe old age of 35 to have a crack at applying for the Reserves as there is a Squadron which specialises in my line of work. Had a good natter with the Adj on the phone yesterday following a visit to my local careers office. I was definitely the oldest person in there!

Has anyone here got any advice or experiences they would like to share regarding the Reserves - particularly for those who have not previously served?

Thanks in advance!

Gareth

[Wader2]

Gareth,

I presume you mean the Royal Auxilliary Air Force and not the R Aux AF Regiment, or perhaps the RAF Reserve? Do you know which one? At 35 you are probably physically too old for the Regiment.

Do you have any civilian skills to bring to the party like medical?

[airborne_artist]

Wader

You can join up to the age of 50 as a Gunner, or 55 with previous service. To be fair to GH, the RAF's own web site calls the RAuxAF the Reserves:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/careersandroles/rafregimentgunner.cfm

[gareth herts]

Gareth,

I presume you mean the Royal Auxilliary Air Force and not the R Aux AF Regiment, or perhaps the RAF Reserve? Do you know which one? At 35 you are probably physically too old for the Regiment.

Do you have any civilian skills to bring to the party like medical?

Hi Wader

It won't be the Regiment - I wouldn't last ten minutes!

I'm applying for RAFAUX 7644 PR SQN (which is part of what all seems to be classed as the Reserves these days) as PR is my civilian specialism.

Gareth

[Wader2]

A_A,

You may indeed be able to join the Regiment up to ages 50/55 but that is theory not practise.

A nephew, the one who subsequently joined the TA and then bottled out when the mobilisation papers arrived, was just 28. He went to Honington and 'survived' the acquaint course but was advised that he was too old for the rigours of the regiment.

When he joined the TA he was steered away from the fit and running around in warpaint bit and pointed towards a truck. He is built like a racing snake but is probably wholly unfit.

[airborne_artist]

Wader2 - SAC Gary Thompson, killed in Afg six weeks ago, joined the RAuxAFR aged 48. He was 51 when he died, which I think makes him the oldest fatality.

RAF press release (http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive.cfm?storyid=57CC6278-1143-EC82-2E35B5DA4DDFB0B4)

[Squirrel 41]

GH,

7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn RAuxAF to give it its proper name, is a very valuable - and poorly understood - RAF asset. It's quite small, but the personnel I've met from there have been top-notch. So, if you want to make a contribution, give it a go. :cool:

The inevitable caveat follows: ANYONE who is thinking about joining the Reserves today must do so in the Expectation that they are going to be deployed, and that operational dets will come around at least once every five years, if not once every three years.

I would suggest that this means that anyone looking to join who is not in a job where their employer is by nature sympathetic (e.g. civil service, which doesn't have much of a choice) or is part-time or self-employed, thinks long and hard about joining up because - as a Reservist myself - this is likely to harm your normal civilian career. And yes, it is as simple as that: most employers understand once... but when it's a rolling commitment, it's a different matter.

So do give it a go - it's a great experience, and I wouldn't miss it for a second: but remember, like all service personnel a cost will be borne by your family, and unlike regulars, you may well pay a professional cost as well.

PM me for further.

S41

[TommyOv]

Gareth

Don't worry about your age mate, especially if you're not going to be Regiment.

When I was in the RAuxAF there were plenty of guys just joining in Regiment and Force Protection roles who were much older than you, so don't sweat it.

As squirrel says though - expect to deploy with some frequency...

Enjoy:ok:

[gareth herts]

Thanks for all the info thus far folks - both here and via PM. I knew PPRUNE would help in this instance!

Gareth

[XV208 SNOOPY]

GH
The military training for RAuxAF has undergone a step change in the last 12 months. Both the Basic Recruits Training Course and Reserves Officer Initial Training (ROIT) course have been rewritten, with Halton and Cranwell now playing a pivotal role. If you are going for a commission, expect to take around 12-18 months to get through training. The final assessment on ROIT now sees RAuxAF potential officers joining the main IOT Sqn and having to pass the same leads to the same standards on Exercise Decisive Edge.

Good luck.

You will enjoy every moment of it!

:D:):ok::ok:

[gareth herts]

Thanks folks

Snoopy - sounds like the brochure I was given is out of date! Thanks for the info.

As an aside I was also given a DVD to watch by the careers office - I hope no one decides to join up from the lure of working on Jags or being posted to Coltishall!

[CirrusF]

I'm 45, former TA Para, still as fit as I was in my twenties when I was in TA (by my logged rowing times), and have ATPL. I wrote to the AAC a couple of months ago to ask if they wanted any fixed-wing pilots. I got a holding reply from them a while back - but no further news since. I guess they are not that desperate for oldies just yet.

[Beatriz Fontana]

7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn RAuxAF to give it its proper name, is a very valuable - and poorly understood - RAF asset. It's quite small, but the personnel I've met from there have been top-notch.(Ah, Lord Beaverbrook's squadron I believe.)

That's because most of them are professional PR / Media types! Top bunch of people because they know their particular part of the media backwards before joining up, so the lesson there being choose your squadron carefully.

Mate of mine joined the RAuxAF last year at the age of 42 and is loving it.

[SPIT]

Hi
Just a quick question, "are the VR(T) as officers with the ATC liable for call up to serve in Afg and/or Iraq ??? :confused::confused:

[Squirrel 41]

Spit --

Er, no. The old war appointed RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was distinct from the VR(Training) [VR(T)] of the Air Cadets.

For the spotters about, the war appointed RAFVR was amalgamated into the RAuxAF in 1997. As a result, the four flights of the war appointed RAFVR - 7006 Intelligence, 7010 Photo Interpretation, 7630 Interpretation and 7644 PR all became Squadrons of the RAuxAF, but with the suffix [VR] after the Squadon number (hence 7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn, RAuxAF).

IIRC, the RAFVR does still exist as a wartime measure to allow for the rapid expansion of the RAF if required - but virtually no-one is in it - the VR Sqns are all RAuxAF personnel, the Air Cadets are RAFVR(T), and the other wierd hybrids including the RAF Reserve (RAFR) are different beasts.

To be honest, if the whole thing were called the RAF Reserve, it would be much more intuitive - RAuxAF remains a confusing and potentially "separate" identity, whatever the glorious history.

S41

[LBGR]

University-types are still RAF(VR), are they not?

[Pontius Navigator]

When we used to wear No 1s you often saw the lapel badges - VRT sometimes an A and also an R. I suppose the VRT ones are still around.

As for amalgamating all the 'separate' air forces it would certainly reduce the confusionwith the brown jobs. However there is a strict pecking order in the AFA. An RAFR officer of higher rank is superior to any RAF officer of lower rank whereas an RAF officer of the same rank is always superior no matter what his seniority.

And no cracks about Harrier pilots.

[XV208 SNOOPY]

GH,
If your Sqn has not put any one through the ROIT course for some time, it may well be worth while your Sqn Training Officer (if you have one) giving Cranwell a ring.

Within OACTU A Sqn, a post has been established to run ROIT. Your Sqn should be able to contact them and get the latest update as to what is now involved.

I understand there is a Officer Cadet on the present ROIT course aged over 50, and sources tell me they are putting some of the younger people to shame!

Like all things in life, you get out what you put in. Put in the effort and the rewards will be great. You will meet and work with some fantastic people, go to strange places and do strange things, it will be hard and at times you will question why you bothered as a volunteer. However, when you look back and chew the fat with your oppo over a few beers, you will realise why you do it.

And it is not for the tin on your chest as the PM would like to think !!!

[teeteringhead]

Interesting point about the confusion in different sort of reserves - particularly apropos the VR(T).

I recently saw a VR(T) recruiting brochure, and on about very other page it said: " ... but you will have no mobilisation obligations." ;)

[gareth herts]

Morning all

Received a reply from the Squadron this morning and have been invited to Halton for a training weekend next month.

Once again - a big thank you for all the wisdom and advice thus far.

Gareth

[Squirrel 41]

Gareth

Good for you - good luck, relax and enjoy yourself.

S41

[FrogPrince]

Cirrusfrance,

7 Regt AAC(V) has only ever accepted ex-Regular (RN, RM, Army and RAF) pilots and is now facing the axe, so don't hold your breath for a reply.

6 Regt AAC (V) is composed of groundies - AH re-fuelers, re-armers, communicators etc. No aircrew, save for some of the permanent staff.

Sorry,

FP

[JessTheDog]

Go for it!

I joined the RAuxAF and, after a year, enjoyed it so much I joined up full-time. It was different from the 3 years TA (infantry) I had experienced prior to this, more relaxed and trade-orientated.

The liability for overseas service should not be viewed lightly. It is a lot different than from when I joined 12 years ago, when our main expectation was to support ever-predictable JMCs - the deployments and losses of RAuxAF sqns underlines this.

[gareth herts]

Interesting experience at the RAFCO this morning as I attended a presentation for potential Officer applicants - I was hoping some of what was discussed would be relevant to The Reserves and took the opportunity to ask a few questions.

Twelve of us in attendance and other than myself only one other attendee knew anything about the RAF's current equipment and even he didn't recognise a Sea King! I can't really understand why people don't do some homework - even if it is only for a presentation like this, the guy doing the presenting after all will be conducting their filter interview if they decide to proceed. Nothing like making a good impression eh!

Most novel however was the video shown while we were waiting for one or two stragglers to arrive - a total crash-fest including the SU-27 at Lviv, Harrier at Lowesoft, F-15 HOC HUD footage, Sea Knight (I think) falling off the back of a ship, F-14 breaking up over a carrier etc etc. I think the guy who put it on thought it was funny but certainly the folks sat next to me thought it was in extremely bad taste and I was certainly a little surprised!

Snoopy - I was told today that Reserves only do two weeks at Cranwell but I'll wait for the gospel on that one when I see 7644 next month. Not that I'm doubting your previous response, it just seems a large differential!

Finally, if there is anyone here who serves at RAF Brampton would they be kind enough to send me a PM? I'm staying at the station next Friday for the annual XV Squadron dinner with my Pa and would like to take the opportunity to grab a natter with one or two serving members if it can be arranged.

Many thanks!

Gareth

[Regie Mental]

Gareth

With respect, it's clear from Snoopy's message that he knows what he is talking about.

How long it takes you to get through the system, presuming you are selected by the Sqn, pass OASC, BRC and ROIT, depends upon how much time you can give but 12-18 mths is certainly a fair estimation. The residential phase at Cranwell is indeed a fortnight although there is a lot of distance learning in the lead up to it.

Thereafter you will need to complete further training before you can be deployed but deployed you will be and so only sign up if you are prepared to do so.

RM

[gareth herts]

No issues at all with Snoopy's info - he's been extremely helpful and indeed the differential in what I now know and what I have been told from elsewhere has hopefully highlighted one or two things that need to be reinforced to anyone in a similar situation to my own.

I firmly believe that if anyone goes ahead with signing up to the Armed Forces, whether it be as a regular or reserve, that they should expect to do whatever is asked of them. If that means deployment then deployment it is.........

Cheers

Gareth

[MarkD]

Twelve of us in attendance and other than myself only one other attendee knew anything about the RAF's current equipment and even he didn't recognise a Sea King!Times change. I remember attending an orientation session for potential Glasgow UAS candidates and the knowledge level was well north of that. That was 1990 though.

[blue monday]

No issues at all with Snoopy's info - he's been extremely helpful and indeed the differential in what I now know and what I have been told from elsewhere has hopefully highlighted one or two things that need to be reinforced to anyone in a similar situation to my own.

I firmly believe that if anyone goes ahead with signing up to the Armed Forces, whether it be as a regular or reserve, that they should expect to do whatever is asked of them. If that means deployment then deployment it is.........

Cheers

Gareth

Completely agree, i deployed as a reservist when asked, enjoyed it that much then i joined full time

[gareth herts]

Finally, if there is anyone here who serves at RAF Brampton would they be kind enough to send me a PM? I'm staying at the station next Friday for the annual XV Squadron dinner with my Pa and would like to take the opportunity to grab a natter with one or two serving members if it can be arranged.

Thanks Mr X for the natter over a pint in the bar - you know who you are!

The XV dinner was a blast incidentally - met some great guys right through from WWII, Victor, Bucc and Tornado eras including the current OC. A good time was had by all!

[khisanth]

I have been thinking about signing up for a while now, but I am just worried about what my employer would think or say.

How has it been for people on here when they were deployed? I guess you could be away for up to 3 or 4 months, maybe more, so how does that affect your job? I know legally your job has to be there for you etc, but if you were the employer wouldnt you think "I want someone here all the time, not going off for months at a time. We would be better making this guy redundant at some point and get someone who will be here all the time" ?

[Trim Stab]

How has it been for people on here when they were deployed? I guess you could be away for up to 3 or 4 months, maybe more, so how does that affect your job? I know legally your job has to be there for you etc, but if you were the employer wouldnt you think "I want someone here all the time, not going off for months at a time. We would be better making this guy redundant at some point and get someone who will be here all the time" ?


I was until recently in the TA, and that was my experience exactly. When the need for reduncancies arose, my name was high on the list because my history of constant negotiations for weekends off counted against me - and the last straw was when I told them I had volunteered for deployment on Herrick.

It does, however, depend a lot on your employer. Some employers are extremely TA friendly. BT, for example, even gives TA soldiers an extra two weeks annual leave so that they do not need to use their holiday allowance for annual camp. Unfortunately my employer did not fall into this category, as they demanded more flexibility than the TA allows.

Unfortunately I had to leave the TA completely after my redundancy, as I had to move to Germany for work. TA unfortunately doesn't pay the bills so always has to come second to your main career.

[Squirrel 41]

khisanth,

I would echo everything that was said on here two years ago. But Trim is spot on with this:

TA unfortunately doesn't pay the bills so always has to come second to your main career.

Truer words were never spoken, and too many keen-as-mustard reservists forget this to their cost. The best way is to have a frank chat with your employer. Pls feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.

Best of luck,

S41

[VMD+12]

khisanth,

Be advised that the operational deployments are normally for 6 months and with pre-deployment training, leave and post deployment decompression etc, you can find yourself away from your employment for 12 months, not the 3 - 4 months you mention. If you work in the NHS and you join one of the medical RAuxAF units, your deployments are shorter and with less pre-deployment training. I understand that your employer can receive some financial offset for your absence.

[Trim Stab]

I would echo everything that was said on here two years ago. But Trim is spot on with this:


Quote:
TA unfortunately doesn't pay the bills so always has to come second to your main career.
Truer words were never spoken, and too many keen-as-mustard reservists forget this to their cost. The best way is to have a frank chat with your employer. Pls feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.



Squirrel - part of the problem is that many reservists careers are completely out of step with their civilian careers. It is not, for example, unusual for a TA paratrooper soldier to have a high-flying parallel civilian career in (say) the city with a civilian salary and responsibility many times higher than typical for their military (full-time) rank. These soldiers are not cost-effective, as their compensation if depoyed (linked to civilian pay) is too expensive.

Reservists should have a parallel civilian career which offers direct value to the military (eg medics, engineers) and where civilian and reserve career progression is linked.

[Squirrel 41]

TrimStab thought:

Reservists should have a parallel civilian career which offers direct value to the military (eg medics, engineers) and where civilian and reserve career progression is linked.

I'd offer that this isn't true in my experience, but that what are required are skills - so a friend who was in intelligence reserves and was an electronics engineer during the week was very useful. It's about what you bring to the party - not just about direct equality of career in my experience.

S41

[Trim Stab]

I'd offer that this isn't true in my experience, but that what are required are skills - so a friend who was in intelligence reserves and was an electronics engineer during the week was very useful. It's about what you bring to the party - not just about direct equality of career in my experience.

Perhaps my comment was rather sweeping, and there are indeed cases where reservists bring unusual and relevant skills from their civilian professions. However, career synergy works the other way too - my former employer might well have taken a more benign view of my TA infantry service if it bought benefits to the company I flew for.

If I can get another job back in the UK I might look into the RAF Reserves. It might make it easier to negotiate weekends out of my schedule if I am doing something that is easier to justify to the employer.

[khisanth]

thanks for that everyone.

My problem is that I work in a small office recently opened so if I went I would have no replacement. I doubt my employer would support me especially if it was 12 months!
I casually asked if there were any reservists already in the company (Canadian company) and there doesnt appear to be any.

Its really frustrating as I am one of those keen as mustard people!

[glynogwen]

Hi,

I am a NHS paramedic aged 39, I am interested in joining the RAF Reserves as a medic, Does the role of paramedic fit in well with the RAF? and where would my base be?

thanks
Keith

[Mr C Hinecap]

Keith

Your first stop should be here:

RAF Reserves - Homepage (http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/)

Many questions will be answered.

[Regie Mental]

Keith

You would be based at either Lyneham (prior to moving to Brize) or Leuchars. Both squadrons have different roles and it's for you to choose who you join. Suggest you give them a call and if still interested they will invite you along to see what they do and what they can offer you whereupon you can make an informed decision.

RM