Smujsmith - I left the RAF in 1973 as a Cpl Telegraphist after 12 years service. I had my gratuity of £300 safely tucked away in my bank but was quite upset to find out that anyone who left the RAF after 1975 could count all their service towards a pension (paid at age 60). Why the arbitrary date of 1975 was chosen I don't know but it affected me & lots of other folk too. I later found that I could not even count that 12 yrs RAF service towards my Civil Service pension after 30 years service as a Radio Office with GCHQ.