Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side??

[Permanent Sand]

Thought I would pose this question to those that have taken the plunge, and left the military for whatever reason.

I have noticed a larger than normal amount of experienced people leaving or close to making that decision. The main reason seems to lie with the present situation most of us have to put up with. Tents, sand, dust, nearly half the year away from home.... and let's be honest, we're stuck with it for a few years to come.... You all know!

But back to my question. Does anyone have regrets about leaving or has it been the best thing since sliced bread?

Permanent Sand.

[Roadster280]

Personally speaking, I have not looked back since taking the plunge 5 years ago.

I do miss the odd thing about the mob, such as the camaraderie, and the alcohol fuelled jolly japes, and the big toys to play with. I don't miss the stupidity of bulling boots combat high, nor penny pinching procurement.

I suppose I was lucky, I joined a company full of ex-servicemen initially, and worked on some major telecoms toys. Made a nice transition.

I now have a FAR higher standard of living, and salary wise, I left as a sergeant, and now earn Lt Col/Wingco money. I would not have made such progression in the mob.

I've seen more of the world since I left than when I was in, but that's just because of my job.

For me, it came down to why I joined. I joined in the Cold War to serve my Queen and country. Having achieved the mission, I left to further my family life. No regrets whatsoever about joining or leaving.

The grass is just the same as it was on the other side of the wire. It's just that I'm allowed to walk on it now. Oh, and say what the fcuk I like about dcikhead officers. In my company, not being a "yes man" has taken me far (literally!), and I have the mob to thank for that.

[rock_dove]

I left the RAF about a year and a half ago after 5 years. Do I regret it? Most definately! I left not because of money or constant detachments (a big reason why i joined RAF in first place!) but for numerous reasons, the main ones being the downsizing, civilian contracting everything, no re-engagement opportunities (at that time, for my trade and rank), little or no thanks or appreciation from MOD/Government for the job we do, trade restructuring etc and the list go's on. I left thinking that civvy street was a wonderful place with no Officers or SWO'S to blight my day, but in fact there are, just minus the shiny shoes and hat! Finding a decent job has been a nightmare since leaving, to date i have been a security guard, salesman, Offshore Worker, Delivery Driver and am currrently training as a service engineer on photocopiers, being paid less than half of the money I would be on had i stayed in the mob.

I left the RAF thinking everything was doom and gloom, but it isnt nearly as bad as you think it is, bear in mind you get all your medical and dental for FREE, something that in this day and age is very rare, you also get a good pay going in every month, your job is pretty much safe whilst serving your engagement, (even if you are a chimp, its nearly unheard of to be 'sacked' in the RAF). It is a good number, its worth putting up with all the :mad: that gets thrown your way for the positives that are there. Well, of course, that is in my opion, which im sure plenty of people out there will disagree with, which they are entitled to do, but i miss it and i am going throught the process of joining again, as NCA hopefully! REMEMBER Look Before You Leap!!!:ok:

[camlobe]

Posts #1 and #2 show two different sides. Mine more resembles #1.

Left on the third tranche after 18 years. The RAF gave me everything. Three square (as a singley), free clothing, dry accomodation, lots of travel at HM's expense, loads of aviation at no cost, loads of booze either free or cheap, good friends, responsibility, sadness when friends lost, joy at bumping into old mates, tax taken care of, free medical care (all of a questionable nature) etc, etc.

Was it good? Yes. Any regrets leaving? Most emphatically NO. It was the right time for me. Had adapted to numerous changes, most not for the better of the RAF or the individual. Huge changes around the corner that were beyond what I was willing to adapt to. Option to leave accepted. I look back on what were in the main, good times.

Are things outside the wire any better than in? That is entirely down to the individual. The civvy world is full of bad bu99ers, who will rip you off in the blink of an eye. If you can't look after your own affairs, you are an easy target. Unlike the RAF, there is no 'common standard' of anything in the civvy world. If you are brave enough to have a go at something yourself, then you don't always feel as if you are up against the system. You can make things work to suit you. And if you are careful, you can earn an awful lot more on the outside. I have always advised people that if they wern't happy at what they were doing, then change. I followed my own advice.

However, if you are happy being a 'follower', you will be walked over on the outside the same as in the mob.

In short, if you are unhappy in, think very carefully before you jump. If you can stand up on your own, you can succeed on the outside. But, don't expect it to be handed to you on a plate. You do have to work for it. And if you do, you will reap the rewards.

When I left, I gained civvy qualifications as part of resettlement. Worked for different firms for a few years (two of these went to the wall owing a lot of people a lot of money) to learn the ropes in the civvy world. Set up my own business a couple of years ago. Haven't looked back. And I do it in an honest and honourable manner. You don't have to bring yourself down to the low standards that seem to exist everywhere out here in the shark pool. Remember, forewarned is forearmed.

Best thing since sliced bread? NO.

Right thing for me and my family? YES

[MrBernoulli]

Left just over a year ago. Grass is not necessarily greener, just different. But I don't miss the desert and the chicken****. I stay in hotels wherever I go but every trip includes a night out of bed i.e. in the cockpit - tiring!

Do I regret it? No. Thoroughly enjoying it now I have got my head round the whole glass cockpit thing. Just got back from Barbados. Wonderful.

[JessTheDog]

Civvy street is far easier in terms of work-life balance. The money tends to be less, but if FQ charges continue to increase by double digit increments, then money will be less of an incentive to stay. I have yet to hear "just get on with it" in the workplace although there are some of the same problems - the difference is that, when I knock off I know it is for the night or weekend and when I go in early, I leave early.

[mingthemerciless]

I was in the green lot for 10 years. Very luckily got into the orange lot and took a pay rise on leaving. Now left hand seat home 98% of all nights and earning a decent salary. do I miss it? No not at all.:)

[The Gorilla]

I left three years ago after 28 years in blue and haven't looked back. Better quality of life, no stress, the ability to say no or yes if that's what I want. More chances to progress into management junior and senior, a company that pays handsomely for any overtime incurred as a result of operational problems and above all respect for the individual. As Jess says you never hear just get on with it or do as you are told out here. IMHO based on my experiences the grass is greener in Civvy street.

Yes if I am honest the first 18 months were a little hard being on training pay but I now earn more than I did when I was in mob for a lot less hours and a lot less hassle. The only things I miss are all the wonderful people I worked with, but that would have happened eventually any way.

Just a thought, a lot of military guys are leaving/have left. Where I work we have quite a few with many more applying weekly. If you defer the decision to go you may miss out on all the good jobs especially if the exit rate turns into a stampede!!
:hmm:

[Dan Winterland]

Left the mob in August 2001 on resettlement, almost exactly 1 month before Sept 11th of that year (ring any bells?) and had the distinction of being made redundant from my first airline job before I had actually left the RAF! I could have stayed in, but decided not to - it was the right decision.

I did 17 years in and the job was going the way I didn't like - and it certainly hasn't got any better from what I hear from mates who are still in. It turns out I wouldn't have lost that first job after all, but I found another with an overseas company and now have a lifestyle I could never have acheived while in the mob.

The grass isn't alway greener as my first experience of civilian employment prooves - there is less security. But I don't regret the move.

[FormerFlake]

The grass is brown on both sides. It depends on what shade of brown suites you.

[BEagle]

No Des 'strangely' Browne, that's for sure.....

[flipster]

Me?

Driver (Airframes), left 18 months ago.....best thing I ever did!

I definitely miss the people in the Mob and the closeness that aversity brings - but I certainly don't miss the politics, back-biting and endless (and needless) triv.
I swapped my light blue bus driver's uniform for an orange one and couldn't agree more with Ming:

No paperwork, no reports
No tents in the desert
Home every night
See the family lots (for me, a good thing),
No jet-lag
Lots of appraoches and landings
No very long, boring cruises at FL nose-bleed with cruise pilots
Reasonable promotion prospects (not terribly high on my priority list, though)

but, most importantly,

I know what days I'm working for 15 out of the next 18 months...maybe even longer.

The view from the office is just as spectacular and I work with some really great people (a lot ex mob). However, one might be tempted to say that the 'lunatics still run the asylum' but that is the same in any line of work but, now, I can leave that at work!

For me, the grass is most definitely more lush but Rock Dove's advice of 'look before you leap' is absolutely spot on.:cool: :cool:

Oh, and no-one is shooting at me!

[What Limits]

I have been out for seven after 22 years. The thing that will always sway it for me is that in civvy street you have choices.

Other things that make it so much better than being 'in' are that you can often find yourself in a position to earn more money in direct proportion to the effort put in. The idle few almost always get found out and dealt with.

I also enjoy the inevitability of the roster - mine is carved in a tablet of stone - so I can plan my life as far ahead as I want. No changes, no deployments unless I want them!

The Army was good, civvy street is better.

[Rigga]

Being in a QA position, I can see a trend forming here!

I left as a Sgt in 1999, after 24 years, and I am still in the Aircraft Maintenance trade, but on SL/winco pay, and doing at least OC Eng's job - mainly because I can't find where Roadster280 works!

The grass out here is very much the same as inside, quite green, with many puddles, and mossy or bare areas. But, if you watch where your going, it can be very green all the way.

You can work to you own ability/ambition and people talk to you - not to your shoulder badges!

[Roadster280]

mainly because I can't find where Roadster280 works

Take the BA2227 from LGW....

[ORAC]

Left at my 44 option date. Doubled my salary plus I have my pension on top. Spent 6 out of the last 7 years abroad in Paris, LA and Madrid. I now have a career to 65 instead of 55 and am working on a second pension as well.

I miss some things, but was it the right decision? Undoubtedly, I just should have done it 6 years earlier.

[Akrotiri bad boy]

Had a smashing super great time in the RAF and don't regret a thing. I definitely don't regret getting out, it was difficult at first, had to spend a lot of my own time re-educating myself but it's worked out. I work half the time I used to but earn twice the money I used to. The biggest difference is equality, you get judged for what you know and not by the badge on your arm.

Come on in, the water's great!:ok:

[Mel Effluent]

Left in 2004 after 27 years in and don't miss Service life one bit, especially as I feel that the Ministry of Defence should revert to its original title of the War Office to reflect its true mission over the last few years.

I was lucky to get a truly rewarding (in more than the financial sense) new job; and just grin when I remember being told: " If the grass is greener on the other side, it's probably because they spread more s**t around".

[Megaton]

Left 18 months ago after 16+ yrs as an engineer. Now flying L'Airbus for a major and don't regret leaving for a nanosecond. No long detachments, no postings to transient HQs, no staff courses, no GDT, the list is endless. We do pool drills and first aid annually but it's with a class full of young women rather than Regt Gunners (no offence meant). Having been damned with faint praise by my third RO my career was effectively over but I am considerably better off for leaving in many ways. And my current employer is as secure as HM Govt!

[Now a 'J' Bloke!!]

And my current employer is as secure as HM Govt!

So ...not very... then???:eek:

'J' Bloke!!:cool:

[Blodwyn Pig]

i got out after 7 1/2 years in early '91, at the time i almost doubled my wages for much the same job as i did when i was in.
one of my mates summed it up perfectly, " best thing i ever did was to join up, second best thing i ever did was to leave!"

i know visit a certain airfield in the west country on occasion, seeing quite a few chaps i used to be in with, quite a few are just doing their time, and most of the people i encounter seem to have a similar lack of enthusiasm.

i think when you leave you get a better quality of life, you get choices that you dont get in the RAF, you know when you knock off there's no way your going back into work, if you work weekends you get paid for it, and as has been mentioned, you can make plans in the future without fear of trip to a hot sandy placethats not of your choice.

[jayteeto]

Everyone is different, some it suits, some it doesn't. I took a big pay cut by flying as a civvie helicopter pilot. The work pattern more than makes up for this. A fixed (Plan years ahead fixed!!) 4 on/4 off shift pattern with 20 working days leave (ie 4 days leave = 12 days off). The most pleasing thing is no secondary duties, just turn up, service the helo, fly, go home.
Down sides?? I work with the same three people (policemen) all the time on 12 hour shifts. Top blokes, but we dont socialise outside work at all, not even a Xmas party. This means you have to face the outside world to socialise and it is VERY VERY different to the military.
So if you cant cope without happy hour and the mess, then stay in. If you can cope with the real world and like having free time, lots of lovely free time, all to yourself, with no secondary duties, did I mention free time?? Then give it a whirl.