A Dad, a lad and planes

[tartare]

Some stories sought, military forum dwellers.
The other night young 13 year old Tartaret and I were talking in the car.
`Dad,' he says, `I've decided I want to join the Air-Force (RAAF) as an officer cadet, do my degree, fly fast jets or C-17s and get some really good leadership skills, then get a corporate job.'
Bugger me, I just about drove off the road.
`That's very - advanced planning - lad, ' I said, wondering if I've utterly brain washed the poor little bugger.
Discussion commenced about competitiveness, eyesight, fitness, selection, being cut from training etc.
Then a few days of self analysis about living vicariously through one's son followed.
Despite a life long obsession with pointy things that fly, I've never served - my eyesight and maths wasn't good enough.
His maternal grandfather flew Hurricanes, Spits, Connies and some of the first 707s - photos are on our bookshelves, his logbook in a glass case. An uncle also on maternal side is a retired AM of the Indian Air Force who flew Jags... initials SR.
So it's in the blood.
I still sense that officer training would be a bloody good thing for a young man to go through - and having a goal like that would give him such a sense of purpose to carry him through the uncertainty and angst of teenage years.
A retired Oz army Major told me that the thing that really changed her was being continually pushed right outside her comfort zone as part of leadership development.
In a way it's not the flying that I think would be good for him.
It's learning how to lead people and how to work with a team.
I still think that even if he doesn't stay `in' for terribly long, it'd be a great thing for him to do.
He's still very young - but dead keen to do air-cadets as a first step.
I'd be interested in hearing some stories about the degree to which officer training shaped and influenced you, especially now, post your time in the various air forces that are represented on this forum.

[Basil]

I think officer training is a great 'finishing school' for young chaps (and chapesses :))

If you pass: achievement and confidence.
If you get canned: you either did your best or you know you could have tried harder and made it. Useful knowledge for your next adventure.

[racedo]

Seems good idea to me as gets him through the teen years where distractions of drink and drugs will be around and knowing that if he goes OTT then career wish goes as well.

Friends' son keen on sport when he a teen, his mother told him that they would bring him where ever he needed to be................yup many a wet cold sunday morning in January at 9am standing on a football field included that.

Single warning was IF you ever touch drugs then sport is out, leave drink alone until old enough but at Christmas having a beer allowed but not to excess.

Lad now 25 and still at home BUT while goes out on the lash at occasional weekends he has kept away from drugs, as have his sports playing mates.

Kids need a guiding hand to stay on right road with a combination of a gentle push and a big stick in background if needed.

Probably most important think is to ensure you are aware of their friends and their parents. If they have some standards and rules that are somewhere inline with yours then least they see a pattern of behaviour.

Teen in question had pal whose parents were dopeheads, the pal was on it at 14 and less playing sport which meant he could be dropped from circle of friends as no training no football matches etc.

Good luck with it.

[charliegolf]

Tartare,

I was not a Hofficer, just a lowly direct entry airman aircrew. I did 8 years- training, 2 tours on Pumas and a bit as a survival instructor.

I was a painfully shy boy and young man, but was willing to suffer any being in the spotlight stuff and nasty shouty sergeants, to have a go at my dream of flying. We airman aircrew did a much abridged but easily recognisable version of the then 16 week OT course, and it was demanding with a decent attrition rate.

I have absolutely no doubt that the experience had a formative effect on me which has lasted- at 35 years old I was confident that I could do anything I put my mind to, and have had a fairly successful second career in education since. The leadership stuff has served me well.

If HE is pushing for it, I'd throw my weight behind him.

CG

[dragartist]

Tartre,
Get him to read Richard de Crespegney book on QF32. The early chapters sound similar to your boys story.

[Al R]

If we're on the subject of reading for young officers, this made me smile.

How to be a Successful Subaltern (http://regimentalrogue.com/srsub/seccessful_subaltern.htm)

Especially the chapter about buttering up the wife of the boss.

Interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal recently, just 43% of CEO these days in the US have even a college degree.

[Melchett01]

And as a follow up to that Al, a study by Korn a Ferry International, admittedly a little way back now in 2006, found that:

Former military officers are over represented in the ranks of S&P 500 CEOs

Those same CEOs are more likely to deliver stronger performance

They tend to survive longer in post - I think they mean not getting fired rather then succumbing from a nasty paper cut

Military leadership skills enhance corporate success later in life

They are concentrated in the non-cyclical consumer and utilities sectors.

Have a look here tartare if you want a better idea, albeit slightly dated and US focused, of what sounds like an eminently sensible plan (probably too sensible for any officer type!):

http://http://www.kornferryinstitute.com/sites/all/files/documents/briefings-magazine-download/Military%20Experience%20and%20CEOs-%20Is%20There%20a%20Link%3F%20.pdf

All things considered, this sounds like a young chap who's definitely got his head screwed on.

[junior.VH-LFA]

If you want to have a chat about ADFA and RAAF Officer training, throw me a PM, I'll tell you and your boy how it is from a recent graduate perspective.

[TBM-Legend]

Once upon a time I couldn't even spell 'occifer' now I are one!

I loved it and the principals have guided my post service career as well not to mention some excellent "collegiate" friends for life...

[Tankertrashnav]

Rockape chum of mine left as a still relatively young wing commander to manage a supermarket. I wasn't around at the time but I should imagine a few of his contemporaries must have thought he was bonkers.

I think they changed their mind when in not many years he was managing director of the whole organisation, and eventually became chairman of the British Retail Consortium.

Don't think his service experience did his subsequent career any harm at all!

[tartare]

Gentlemen - thank you all for your very helpful comments.
Al - chuckled as I read my way through advice to a subaltern.
Lima Foxtrot Alpha - check your PMs.
Racedo - the no drugs deal is good advice - CG thank you.
Basil - your comment hits the nail on the head, even if he doesn't end up driving an F-35 or in the left hand seat of a C-17 - it would be a great finishing school.