Emotions on discharge!!!!
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
I must confess to having a tear in my eye on my last day. I resigned in the traditional manner, and carefully stuck my service ID card into the turd I had just dropped on the Commanding Officer's desk...
In a previous existence as a 41yr old F/Sgt ATechA & signed on to age 55, I thought that was that - plenty of time to get my 'Gallopers' yada yada. The guys in my Flight probably thought I was the sort who went to bed in RAF pyjamas, starched, pressed and with rank badges sewn on. On my 43rd birthday (late Nov) I applied to PVR, having decided I really needed a new challenge. When I announced this to a crowded crewroom, it really was quite comical - I don't think I have ever seen so many jaws drop simultaneously.
Anyway, pesky PMC held me to six months despite me waving a written offer of employment with a multi-national company. I worked out that if I took resettlement as 'work experience' and ditto for terminal leave, throw in Easter Grant and annual leave entitlement, I could start mid-Feb instead of mid-May. Luckily the Engineering and HR Directors agreed to hold the position open for me, so mid-Feb I cleared mid-week, took the Friday off (I figured the RAF owned me that) and started the new job on the Monday morning. Absolutely no time for second thoughts, no time for looking back - and no regrets.
One thing I had decided before taking up the job was to never talk about the RAF and my time in it - unless I was specifically asked. There is nothing more boring than someone banging on about "their time in the mob..." as I discovered when the foreman i/c the Engineering Lab turned out to be ex-LYN C/T Sootie who could talk about nothing else. I soon learnt to try and time my visits to check on my tests & experiments so as to avoid him and his inevitable "when I was..." endless reminiscences.
Good luck and enjoy your new career - I certainly enjoyed mine.
PS - for the first three months I enjoyed two salaries
Anyway, pesky PMC held me to six months despite me waving a written offer of employment with a multi-national company. I worked out that if I took resettlement as 'work experience' and ditto for terminal leave, throw in Easter Grant and annual leave entitlement, I could start mid-Feb instead of mid-May. Luckily the Engineering and HR Directors agreed to hold the position open for me, so mid-Feb I cleared mid-week, took the Friday off (I figured the RAF owned me that) and started the new job on the Monday morning. Absolutely no time for second thoughts, no time for looking back - and no regrets.
One thing I had decided before taking up the job was to never talk about the RAF and my time in it - unless I was specifically asked. There is nothing more boring than someone banging on about "their time in the mob..." as I discovered when the foreman i/c the Engineering Lab turned out to be ex-LYN C/T Sootie who could talk about nothing else. I soon learnt to try and time my visits to check on my tests & experiments so as to avoid him and his inevitable "when I was..." endless reminiscences.
Good luck and enjoy your new career - I certainly enjoyed mine.
PS - for the first three months I enjoyed two salaries
Last edited by Lyneham Lad; 6th Dec 2016 at 20:43. Reason: PS added.
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A lot of people on here seem a bit upset when they left and sort of slammed the door as they left. I sometimes look back in occasional anger at it (because it was at times really hard-the toughest job I've ever had in fact), but what's the point now? In all walks of life from the humble to the great, you are soon forgotten about and replaced y'know? Just got to bend with it. Most of my time in was pretty enjoyable but I wouldn't go back to it if offered, or turn the clock back to re-live it.
You are totally spot on LL, talking about the mob/old days at work is really boring. Stories in the pub with my ex branch/ship/ mates can be funny but I wouldn't want to relive it every time I meet them.
Got to move on. When you leave you immediately become entirely free from the servility of it and that is a fantastic thing in itself.
You are totally spot on LL, talking about the mob/old days at work is really boring. Stories in the pub with my ex branch/ship/ mates can be funny but I wouldn't want to relive it every time I meet them.
Got to move on. When you leave you immediately become entirely free from the servility of it and that is a fantastic thing in itself.
Al R:-
Very profound and very true, Al. I PVR'd after a mere 13+ years as I wanted to go on flying, which wasn't what the RAF had planned for me. No RAF Pension (missed that bit in QR's, but it wouldn't have changed my mind) and the gratuity went straight to Kidlington and the CAA in exchange for an Instrument Rating. I got my civilian flying career and thoroughly enjoyed it. The main thing I remember was the culture shock of being a civilian which was totally different from being in the Services. But it was 1973 and it seems that things have changed somewhat since then...
Good luck, Lamin, and don't be afraid to take some chances (in addition to PVRing!).
Those who retire to something are far more successful and fulfilled than those who retire away from something.
Good luck, Lamin, and don't be afraid to take some chances (in addition to PVRing!).
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I remember it being quite an anti climax.
I got in my car and put on the radio thinking to myself "I'll remember this tune forever."
It was some awful Gary Barlow dirge. I can't recall which.
I got in my car and put on the radio thinking to myself "I'll remember this tune forever."
It was some awful Gary Barlow dirge. I can't recall which.
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They say you are never more than 50m away from a rat. If that's true, then you are never more than 30m away from an ex-serviceman or woman. Embrace it, but never think you'll miss being able to shamble through the gates of places you did good things in.
Go out of your way to meet people you would never have met in Service life and you will just add to your experience.
Go out of your way to meet people you would never have met in Service life and you will just add to your experience.
Best wishes as a civvy Lamin...
I only did 12 and left the mob from Abingdon - from which I 'sped' in my 1500cc Hillman Hunter (I previously had owned a Hunter GLS with a Holbay engine but decided that it would be more difficult to aquire '5 star' fuel as a civvy
- it 'pinked' like a ba5tard on 4 star LOL ) - I just drove off without looking back because I had already made the mental break.
I spent a year working on jets in africa as a civvy (nice to be able to tell the Master Tech boss to foxtrot oscar when he had screwed up SRO's).
So anyway we had an occasional 'workbreak' but all my non drinking spare time was taken up with gliding in phenomenal conditions.
After 12 months it was back to blighty to get a real job/mortgage etc _ I never escaped from riggering and retired 12 months ago from 40+ years working on mostly military aircraft.
My wee preserved pension buys the occasional bottle of Old Pulteney
I only did 12 and left the mob from Abingdon - from which I 'sped' in my 1500cc Hillman Hunter (I previously had owned a Hunter GLS with a Holbay engine but decided that it would be more difficult to aquire '5 star' fuel as a civvy
- it 'pinked' like a ba5tard on 4 star LOL ) - I just drove off without looking back because I had already made the mental break.I spent a year working on jets in africa as a civvy (nice to be able to tell the Master Tech boss to foxtrot oscar when he had screwed up SRO's
).So anyway we had an occasional 'workbreak' but all my non drinking spare time was taken up with gliding in phenomenal conditions.
After 12 months it was back to blighty to get a real job/mortgage etc _ I never escaped from riggering and retired 12 months ago from 40+ years working on mostly military aircraft.
My wee preserved pension buys the occasional bottle of Old Pulteney
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Although I was not a "Lifer", my time in the RAF was probably the most defining period of my life. The RAF gave me opportunities and skills that one can only dream about in corporate life. A broad and rich plethora of experience. but the time had come to change direction. A direction over which I had more control and opportunity. My exit was more of a new door opening and I left with personal friends at the same time.
I PVR'ed at the right time and was well prepared when I left, moving straight into a job that paid ridiculous amounts of money, with loads of opportunity to travel and hold responsibility.
Have no doubt that what you have gained from your time in the service will allow you to associate with peers well above what you might expect. You will be sought after as the "grey eminence" who can operate at the highest corporate levels with confidence.
Seize the opportunity with both hands, you won't need to advertise your capabilities, it will be obvious.
Sometimes you might find yourself in company where a conversation about your past experience might arise. Stay as discreet as possible or as required, speak quietly, preserve your aura of sensibility and enjoy your success.
Imagegear
I PVR'ed at the right time and was well prepared when I left, moving straight into a job that paid ridiculous amounts of money, with loads of opportunity to travel and hold responsibility.
Have no doubt that what you have gained from your time in the service will allow you to associate with peers well above what you might expect. You will be sought after as the "grey eminence" who can operate at the highest corporate levels with confidence.
Seize the opportunity with both hands, you won't need to advertise your capabilities, it will be obvious.
Sometimes you might find yourself in company where a conversation about your past experience might arise. Stay as discreet as possible or as required, speak quietly, preserve your aura of sensibility and enjoy your success.
Imagegear
I was certainly emotional when I left - excited about my new job in civil aviation. Enjoyed my time in the RAF, but took the line 'that was then this is now'. I don't do reminiscing very well.
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Handing in the F1250 (and the car pass) driving out of Waddington main gate heading towards Woodhall Spa was emotional, thinking what have I done. Yet in some ways it was like being posted.. I kept my RAF shoes for some reason. Still have my No. 2 jacket hanging in the wardrobe, zip still works but it doesn't meet in the middle !!!
The old team kept in touch for probably 18 months and then slowly we drifted our different ways (no Facebook in those days).
The 5yrs, in the 70's, at Binbrook and its Simulator is still the most vivid and pleasing memory, although at the time winter on the hill was not pleasant especially commuting from Manby.
Wednesday's sports afternoon, Coarse fishing we would be bussed to a match on the Witham or Trent, a few beers on the way back. Thursday it was off to Lincoln or Grimsby college for more civvie certifications.
PVR'd in 1995 after 25yrs. Hired by US IT company, its Chairman ran for US President twice and for 3yrs was my mentor. Moved to US in 2002. Never thought my 2016 base salary would exceed 2016 Air Marshal salary - not bad for a Chief Tech (Band 6).
BUT no sports on a Wednesday and college is in your own time.
The RAF provided superb training and leadership experience, now a C level Exec leading global teams - yes I remember it all fondly but as they say its never the same going back..
Uptime
The old team kept in touch for probably 18 months and then slowly we drifted our different ways (no Facebook in those days).
The 5yrs, in the 70's, at Binbrook and its Simulator is still the most vivid and pleasing memory, although at the time winter on the hill was not pleasant especially commuting from Manby.
Wednesday's sports afternoon, Coarse fishing we would be bussed to a match on the Witham or Trent, a few beers on the way back. Thursday it was off to Lincoln or Grimsby college for more civvie certifications.
PVR'd in 1995 after 25yrs. Hired by US IT company, its Chairman ran for US President twice and for 3yrs was my mentor. Moved to US in 2002. Never thought my 2016 base salary would exceed 2016 Air Marshal salary - not bad for a Chief Tech (Band 6).
BUT no sports on a Wednesday and college is in your own time.
The RAF provided superb training and leadership experience, now a C level Exec leading global teams - yes I remember it all fondly but as they say its never the same going back..
Uptime
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
This is the most important thing for those approaching retirement.
Remember one Sqn Ldr Ops, worked in to his terminal leave as the station approached its first Taceval.
I am sure he was able to bank the thank you and goodwill.
Remember one Sqn Ldr Ops, worked in to his terminal leave as the station approached its first Taceval.
I am sure he was able to bank the thank you and goodwill.
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"One thing I had decided before taking up the job was to never talk about the RAF and my time in it - unless I was specifically asked. There is nothing more boring than someone banging on about "their time in the mob..."
Probably the hardest part of my PVR process, I had made the mental break when I decided to go but I was held to 18 months, even taking into account terminal leave, resettlement etc. it was extremely difficult to remain effective for the rest of the time.
My retirement after some 32 years coincided with the closure of HQ 2 Gp (formerly HQ RAFG) at Rheindahlen - and that meant that my departure was understandably rather bypassed at a final formal Dining-In night that concentrated on the end of some 40+ years of RAF HQs in Germany. So, with that out of the way, I ran my own Farewell dinner for some 65 people, the final formal event held in the RAF Mess. I had been senior living-in officer for most of the preceding 7 years by then and the Mess staff went out of their way to make it a success in all sorts of ways, and they succeeded beyond measure.
I then came back to the UK, posted to hold for my last weeks on one of our larger stations. When the final day came, I did a quick clearance, unknown to anyone - not a problem for I'd said my farewells where it mattered.
I then came back to the UK, posted to hold for my last weeks on one of our larger stations. When the final day came, I did a quick clearance, unknown to anyone - not a problem for I'd said my farewells where it mattered.
Gentleman Aviator
PS - for the first three months I enjoyed two salaries
Avoid imitations
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