RyanEdin
I am guessing you are in Edinburgh, so drop a line to the SATCO at RAF Leuchars and he can sort you out a visit. Likewise, get on the train to Prestwick and visit both the Civil and Mil en route controllers in the same building.
As for the life - expect to work pretty hard on the Joint Air Traffic Control Course and during your first tour trying to get endorsed. Expect to play hard as well. Assume that once you have some controlling tickets at your first unit you will be eligible for deployment and that those deployments will come around every couple of years for the rest of your time in.
You did not indicate whether you are looking for a commission or to join as a direct entrant sergeant. Different routes to Shawbury but the same professional training. You will have more responsibility as an officer but plenty will be expected of you as a senior non-commissioned officer as well and the old and bold will resent your instant access to their Mess. As an officer you will spend longer as a flight lieutenant than most other branches until promotion to squadron leader.
As for NATS - a cadet only earns about £10 000 pa in training but you will soon overtake your military counterparts. The training is longer and less forgiving and you still have little choice about where you end up working. You will get paid extra for the responsiblities that the RAF will just expect you to take - training team, examining officer, etc.
Lots of ex-RAF try to convert to civil controlling, not all get through the re-programming process as the two streams have differing methodologies based around the same rules. Those who do get through the training tend to do well and their fellow ATCOs will allow them to take on the extra jobs that they were used to doing in the RAF. A lot of civil ATCOs will just turn up and do their shifts and nothing else.
Sort out some more visits, do your homework and good luck.
