Church mice airborne_artist? You should have seen how we lived on a Yeoman of Signals pay! Dad loved the Navy dearly, but left for the family's sake: in civilian life he became a staunch member of the TGWU and served for years as the local branch secretary. (He'd have become a full time official if he hadn't been too left wing for the Union Leadership's liking.)
All three arms of the military have needed representation for many years. As Shagster pointed out, the RAFA have a ready made organization but regardless of the increase in serving members, we (I include myself) are far too out of touch with present conditions to be of any real help. The only way you're going to get a federation is to organize yourselves. There is the rub.