I have been reading with interest this thread and feel im in a very good position to help Martin, I spent seven very happy and rewarding years in the Raf Regiment as a gunner, and am at present working in Iraq for a private security company , earning the money to carry out commercial pilot training, which i will begin early next year. i have read the points presented and wish to reply from as someone who has been there, So here goes, I completed my training and was posted to II sqn , the airborne unit, where i completed parachute selection ( a further test that has to be overcome to be a paratrooper ) on completion and jump training i was awarded my wings, and more importantly at the time the extra 140 pound a month pay rise....... its more now ..... dont know how much though, Spending 4 years on II sqn i flew in many Raf aircraft in various roles, i did land in most of them without the need for parachutes, highlights included hands on flying of c130 Hercules in Africa ......If you ask the pilots will let you, Its the age old adage ,if you dont ask you dont get , numerous parachute jumps
and making friends that will never let you down.
After II sqn i was posted to Raf Odiham and was attached to a Chinook sqn for my final 3 years, The best three years of my life in the RAF, with much of the time spent aboard Chinooks, if work was quiet i would go and jump on whatever sorties were going, 6 weeks in Botswana where 3 feet over the Kalaharie at 140 knots on the ramp was an awesome experience!!!! And i was paid to do this!!!!!!
If you are an active type of bloke then definately go for the Regiment, and you will never regret your decision . So much variation and good times will be had . I have friends from Odiham who are flight ops assistants....... They hate it! all day in an office filling aircrews nav bags etc..... dnt mean to offend any opsies reading this , but they all said to me i wish i had joined the Regiment .....Yes Chris and callum you did!!!
At times i did think what am i doing here! such as in a trench in Germany when it rained all week , But there was always a night out with the lads to look forward to at endex.
The benefits offered by the Raf are endless, you can go for your PPL at one of the flying clubs they have, at Benson , Halton , believe there are more, but this is basically half price flying lessons at the weekends where you stay on the camp for free , so more expense removed ,
Qualifications can be earned by doing the excellent week long crammer courses provided by the education centres, every camp has one , so have a look in one as soon as you join ,
If you want you can apply for aircrew selection once in and qualified , as a few loadmaster friends will attest to , Essential you sew your para wings on your flying suit!!!!
So there is my biased opinion put to you , i would say join the reggie and have fun while earning cash for your dreams, Every WAF ( girl in the Raf ) loves the Rockapes ( Regiment guys ) YES THEY DO !!!!
By all means consider other trades but steer clear of drivers , suppliers , stewards , well in my opinion every other trade but Gunner .
Also ignore the thicky Rockape stigma , its simply not true anymore , you need a higher apptitude than Police, PTIs supply etc etc, the only ground trade that needs higher apptitude is the Aircraft technical ones, Of which i passed , I always wanted to be a Gunner since i was an Air Cadet so i did what i wanted , And that will be my closing statement to this tome i have written , The money isnt too bad ,regt get techie pay now too, Join the Raf to do what you want to do..... and you dont have to do the full Nine years either , i got out early to chase my goal, Best of Luck
Per Ardua ( Regiments motto ..... Through Adversity )
Ben