Handing in the ID and walking out the gate {Waddington] also hurts for some Met Men and Women.
Until that fateful moment I had been "with but not of" the RAF almost continuously for 41 years, with most of the privileges and not many of the drawbacks.
This included 15 years in OMQs, included briefing student pilots and navs, Hunters and Lightnings, choppers and transport.
Only my medical history stopped me from joining up, so I had the best deal possible under the circumstances.
PS. The pension is brilliant, thank you very much!