Originally Posted by
ericferret
It is very difficult to get a decent apprenticeship (or any apprenticeship for that matter) in civvy street.
The armed forces provide decent training.
They are a stepping stone for those who are looking for a career in aircraft maintenance.
You have to start somewhere.
If you take the long view and not that long, after serving your time and putting in the effort to get through the licence exams you are employable.
Having retired a couple of years ago I am surprised by how fast wages have accelerated.
Companies apart from annual pay rises also have time served increments.
A shift supervisor with full increments is on about £90k where I used to work.
Surely that is not too shabby and not a bad end result after a short career in the military.
If I was faced with the recruitIng problem I would be selling the future, this is where you start but this is where you can end up.
The military appears to think it exists in a bubble, embracing a whole career view to retirement would encourage more people to enlist.
A proper partnership with civil aviation would benefit both parties.
Sounds like nothing has changed since the 1960's. I left school in 67, spent 2 years trying to get an apprenticeship. Joined the RAF in 69 and became a Halton brat. Did my time, joined BA and got my licenses. Saw BA run down its apprenticeship scheme and start recruiting full time from the services and Bae until that dried up. Didn't have an apprentice scheme for over a decade until an ageing workforce forced their hand and they started a new scheme.