A bitter pill
This whole problem became increasingly obvious for me towards the end of my time in the RAF. Sadly you are not valued, you do not matter to anyone except your family and you will never earn what you deserve. If the ‘love of the job’ or King and Country is no longer enough then there really is only one option. As much as it pains me to say it (I didn’t and don’t hate the RAF) the only option is to walk out. Leave and do something else. Hopefully enough others will do it for someone to sit up and take notice. Though I doubt they ever will. And the military will continue to be overlooked until it’s potentially too late.
Civvy street may not be any better (and before LJ says it, the pensions aren’t as good) but it sure as hell isn’t any worse.
Sorry to be the doom monger but hoping for a good payrise is sadly a fools enterprise. You’ll just pay higher taxes to pay for the pay rises of those who were able to stamp their feet and demand more.
BV