Emotions on discharge!!!!

[Lamin]

Well the big day is soon approaching, 31 years and 7 months as an ID card holder and uniformed body comes to an end through PVR.

I know its the right decision and I have an exciting future planned, a big move and a new career shaping up nicely. The thought of staying in churning SJARS, collecting Stats and observing chiselers would pain me.

My resettlement time has been used wisely and to my advantage and all remaining leave and terminal time is occupied with trips, holidays and preparing to move.

However the final big day when I hand in the membership card say goodbye and then realize I cant walk back on unescorted seems bit daunting. Am I focusing on it to much, will it come and go with no big affair or will I back flip over the barrier with joy?

I dreamt of joining the RAF since probably 10 years old, cadets at 13 and then straight in at 17--------I leave at age 49 + as a FS. It now seems to have gone in blur and I am wondering what my next ambition will be?

How did / will everybody else approach it?

[Army Mover]

How I summed it up on my last day was, when I reached the main gate and waved goodbye to my former colleagues, nobody was going too care much if I turned left, or right. Best of luck on the outside, it's great fun. Just to warn you, yes, SJARS will be gone, but stats and chiselers are everywhere :)

[Shack37]

How did / will everybody else approach it?


Lamin,
I left at an earlier age and with less time done in 1971. I confess I felt a little lost to the extent of overstaying my welcome by 3 or 4 days on base. One of those days included a "Do" in the NAAFI bar attended by the Staish where I had a gingerish beard and was wearing a colleagues uniform. I left next day and after some interviews started a new occupation also involving much travelling. Personally I never looked back after that but like many others I have fond memories of my time and continue to be in contact with lifelong friends made back then.

[JAVELINBOY]

I retired in 2015 from a thin blue line service after 43 years, no plans to do anything else quite content to do whatever I wanted when I wanted, tinkering with a sports car and motorcycle and anything else SWMBO wants doing. I don't miss the old job but miss some of the people I left behind. After a year of retirement I did start thinking I needed something else to do, found myself a casual job with a local funeral directors, not much money in it but it suits me and what I do make pays for my hobby vehicles.
Stepping into the Civvy world will come as a bit of a surprise they don't work like the Services, quite a culture shock but you soon learn their ways. I wish you well for the future.

[cliver029]

I left in '74 straight into 3 day week etc etc.
Not much future for anyone with NBS skills in Swaffam so commuting into London for 6 months on a weekly basis. Back to live in Swaffham courtesy of a friendly computer company. Then to Cambridge (still there BTW) , lots of fun whilst in the RAF but found myself 10 years adrift of every one from outside the service at first, soon caught up and then had fun with one of those jobs where you say "and they pay me to do this?". Did I miss the RAF, it was all I knew at the time, so I'd be a liar if I said no, after all I do follow pprune don't I :>)

[The Oberon]

Well the big day is soon approaching, 31 years and 7 months as an ID card holder and uniformed body comes to an end through PVR.

I know its the right decision and I have an exciting future planned, a big move and a new career shaping up nicely. The thought of staying in churning SJARS, collecting Stats and observing chiselers would pain me.

My resettlement time has been used wisely and to my advantage and all remaining leave and terminal time is occupied with trips, holidays and preparing to move.

However the final big day when I hand in the membership card say goodbye and then realize I cant walk back on unescorted seems bit daunting. Am I focusing on it to much, will it come and go with no big affair or will I back flip over the barrier with joy?

I dreamt of joining the RAF since probably 10 years old, cadets at 13 and then straight in at 17--------I leave at age 49 + as a FS. It now seems to have gone in blur and I am wondering what my next ambition will be?

How did / will everybody else approach it?
I PVRD to coincide with my 22 year point as a Chf.Tech. I was asked if I wanted honorary mess membership but I had left because I didn't like it anymore so couldn't see the point. I'd doubled my wage within 12 months without all the tripe that caused me to leave. The main thing is that you have enough time to get another pension which you will probably find is more than your RAF one. Good luck, you won't regret it.

[Exrigger]

I left after a total time of 31 years (1999), could not stay in until age 55, but in hindsight it turned out good for me. Had plenty of good times, some not so good, but didn’t miss the life like I thought I would. I still needed a job and did worry a bit and got talked into a low paid job due to having a pension, which in hindsight was a good stepping stone for where I finally ended up.

As I left after clearing, I felt strangely unmoved and only concerned about my ability to gain a decent job doing something I could enjoy, and get my teeth into something different but still utilised my particular skills and knowledge.
To a certain extent some could say I was still ‘in’ as my work has been within the aerospace industry supporting the services, and despite the large numbers of ex, and in some places serving military personnel, it always surprised me that a large proportion of civilian management that had not served did not understand the ‘military’ environment, actually that applies to some that had been, and still are, in the military to be honest.

I have now retired and am quite content overall to do most of what my better half decides is for my own good. So, enjoy the big world outside the military environment, I reckon it is as good in some areas and better in others, depending on who you work for and where, the good thing is it is now your choice.

[Al R]

I spoke with a client this week, overseas, from where he'll retire. He was trepidatious about how he'd feel, not what he'd do. I was the same, but spent a year on gardening leave. I didn't even remember the looming big date, until the chief clerk called and sarcastically asked me if I had any thoughts on clearing, handing my ID in, that kind of thing etc. Thankfully, I had enough credits in the bank with the right people still in post who knew me, and I cleared in two hours flat. The chief clerk fumed I didn't have my ID or dog tags, but he was looking at someone booted and suited, who had officially been a civvy for two days.

I expected I'd be emotional, but I wasn't. I wondered if I'd offer some kind of nod to the guy on the gate as a symbolic final farewell, but didn't. I wondered if I'd be a little choked up. But I couldn't be. I had been employed for almost twelve months with a very demanding FTSE 100 company and I had moved on. The system had moved on too, I was long forgotten. I still drive past Wittering and look with fond affection at the Regt office bolted onto 1(F)'s old hanger and smile - I spend more time seeing clients there now, than I ever used to spend chatting with folk in the NAAFI, or whatever it morphed into. In a way, I haven't left I guess.

I hope he won't mind me repeating this, but I spoke with a VSO a couple of years back, and we discussed his final days 'in office'. He left Main Building with not much of a fanfare at all, and contrasted his final days with those of a WO, who knew everyone on station, and who could conjour up 36 years worth of willing participants to a beer call at the drop of a hat. Command can be a lonely place. My final day in uniform, on the other hand, was being amongst the first on the scene when a T4 rolled on take off, killing Jack London. Mine was a sad one instead, I didn't have the time or luxury to be self absorbed.

One thing I do know. Those who retire to something are far more successful and fulfilled than those who retire away from something. And on that note, I'm shortly off in the direction of Waddington. Fingers crossed for minimal fog.

[langleybaston]

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!

[kintyred]

Lamin,

As a former blue-suiter (PVR after 30 years in 2013) thank you very much for your contribution....I wonder if our paths ever crossed? I had a fantastic time in the Service but knew that the time had come to go. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring my new world. Have all my problems disappeared? Of course not, but my service has taught me the skills I need to deal with them. I stay in touch with the friends I made but have many new friends as a result of my retirement. All the big decisions in life are bound to make one apprehensive (how nervous was I at the prospect of saying 'I do'?!) but if your judgement says it's the right thing to do then you won't regret it. I'm so glad I made the decision to join....what a blast it was...but equally, I'm glad I've moved on. I'm sure you will be too. I wish you all the very best for the future.

PS I've still got my ID card!

[Sloppy Link]

I went for a gradual normalisation into civilian life by going straight into the reserves, it has kept me emotionally sound.

[MACH2NUMBER]

Retired as a pretty senior officer, 38 years in service.. Handed in the ID cards etc. Expected to find the pension on time and the gratuity. Wrong, took 3 months to sort out and no interest on the missing gratuity. Also imagined a letter of thanks, but that took 6 months.
When your gone you can be forgotten.

[NutLoose]

Clearing was easy, I signed most of it myself with various coloured pens and signatures, medical, PMC, clothing stores and the section were the only ones I bothered about, the rest seemed pointless to me and who the heck was going to chase me for the others.

Biggest regret was the friends and companionship you invariably lose as civilian street just does not have the same attitude and support.

I handed in my ID (the old white plastic credit card version that fell apart months before I left) and that was it, I visited a couple of weeks later for the section Christmas do and was signed onto Brize by my ex boss even though I was still technically in the RAF.... It would be another 27 years when I visited RAF Cosford museum, before I stepped back onto an RAF establishment.

You will find you are to a certain amount brainwashed when you come out, and I mean that in the nicest way, you could always recognise ex RAF who were freshly out by the shoes. For some reason ex RAF shoes seem to always be in vogue. :)

You will be ok :)
..

[Pontius Navigator]

Mach2. I wrote my thank you letter myself :) AOC signed it. Then duly filed. Wonder whatever became of it.

[langleybaston]

My thank-you from the Director-General of the Met Office added, as if an afterthought :

"please feel free to make any comments or suggestions" or words to that effect.

Ridiculous, because all my pithy comments, helpful suggestions, criticisms and general "all for it" contributions had been studiously ignored by all of my line managers for 41 years.

And, no, I don't know where mine is either. It was probably of the "laugh and tear up" variety.

[Basil]

How did / will everybody else approach it?

A Yorkshire Pruner colleague, when asked by his Flt Cdr what he'd do replied: "Cartwheels - up the A1!" :p

[Hangarshuffle]

Lamin you clearly loved the job and the RAF and that's a fantastic thing, really. And you sound pretty well sorted mentally as well. And sound positive.
As I've said before on similar threads you will be presently surprised how actually easy civvy street really is.
I mean I'm not trying to paint it like the magic roundabouts garden, but it is easier, people are generally nicer, more polite and treat you with more respect.
Important point- I'd had a bloody hard paper round in the FAA before I left-a lot of time in not so nice corners of the globe where our lovely flag flies - but Id saved a fair bit in cold hard cash because of this, and that saved money plus the grat plus the pensh went a long, long way in easing my little mind an awful lot.
Keep some cash handy mate for yourself, never mind what everybody else wants.
Good luck man, and well done.

[Saintsman]

I PVR'd after 14 years because promotion had effectively died. As I was getting my blue card signed I got a bollocking for some minor thing.

I knew I'd made the right decision there and then.

Loved the work but didn't like the (un-nessessary) bulls*t that came with it, particularly from ars8holes who'd been promoted because they were useless and promotion was the easiest way to get rid of them.

[Pontius Navigator]

You will meet retirement with a sense of loss. No longer will your life be controlled by some staffer somewhere. Now you can go to bed when you want, rise at noon, read the papers in bed. In short you control your own life.

This euphoria will last about a week.

Then SWMBO will chip in with can you paint this . . . can you prune that . . . Soon the jobs build up. What took one woman 5 days and one man 2 more days now takes you more than a week. The realisation sinks in and you wonder how you found time for work. You need an electronic diary to plan and deconflict appointments a year or more in advance. No longer are you busy for children's/grand children's birthdays, plays, sports etc. You become an unpaid child minder and so it goes on.

[microlightgary]

I'm in the same boat Lamin, my last day at work is next Friday (16th). I too spent my childhood years aching to join up, I became a cadet at 13 and joined as an Apprentice at 17. I've thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of my 30 years and have no regrets. I'm leaving to continue full-time the part-time job I've been doing for the last 4 years so effectively I'm up and running already which is a relief. Guaranteed terrible pay but I think I'm striking the right work/life balance; we'll see!
As to leaving, everyone I've spoken to say the last little act where you hand your ID over is massively underwhelming. The young clerk says "Thank you, is there anything else I can help you with?" and you toddle off out the door into a new life! Endex, no duff :ok:

[Two's in]

I must confess to having a tear in my eye on my last day. I resigned in the traditional manner, and carefully stuck my service ID card into the turd I had just dropped on the Commanding Officer's desk...

[Lyneham Lad]

In a previous existence as a 41yr old F/Sgt ATechA & signed on to age 55, I thought that was that - plenty of time to get my 'Gallopers' yada yada. The guys in my Flight probably thought I was the sort who went to bed in RAF pyjamas, starched, pressed and with rank badges sewn on. On my 43rd birthday (late Nov) I applied to PVR, having decided I really needed a new challenge. When I announced this to a crowded crewroom, it really was quite comical - I don't think I have ever seen so many jaws drop simultaneously.

Anyway, pesky PMC held me to six months despite me waving a written offer of employment with a multi-national company. I worked out that if I took resettlement as 'work experience' and ditto for terminal leave, throw in Easter Grant and annual leave entitlement, I could start mid-Feb instead of mid-May. Luckily the Engineering and HR Directors agreed to hold the position open for me, so mid-Feb I cleared mid-week, took the Friday off (I figured the RAF owned me that) and started the new job on the Monday morning. Absolutely no time for second thoughts, no time for looking back - and no regrets.

One thing I had decided before taking up the job was to never talk about the RAF and my time in it - unless I was specifically asked. There is nothing more boring than someone banging on about "their time in the mob..." as I discovered when the foreman i/c the Engineering Lab turned out to be ex-LYN C/T Sootie who could talk about nothing else. I soon learnt to try and time my visits to check on my tests & experiments so as to avoid him and his inevitable "when I was..." endless reminiscences.

Good luck and enjoy your new career - I certainly enjoyed mine.

PS - for the first three months I enjoyed two salaries :)

[Hangarshuffle]

A lot of people on here seem a bit upset when they left and sort of slammed the door as they left. I sometimes look back in occasional anger at it (because it was at times really hard-the toughest job I've ever had in fact), but what's the point now? In all walks of life from the humble to the great, you are soon forgotten about and replaced y'know? Just got to bend with it. Most of my time in was pretty enjoyable but I wouldn't go back to it if offered, or turn the clock back to re-live it.
You are totally spot on LL, talking about the mob/old days at work is really boring. Stories in the pub with my ex branch/ship/ mates can be funny but I wouldn't want to relive it every time I meet them.
Got to move on. When you leave you immediately become entirely free from the servility of it and that is a fantastic thing in itself.

[Chugalug2]

Al R:-
Those who retire to something are far more successful and fulfilled than those who retire away from something.
Very profound and very true, Al. I PVR'd after a mere 13+ years as I wanted to go on flying, which wasn't what the RAF had planned for me. No RAF Pension (missed that bit in QR's, but it wouldn't have changed my mind) and the gratuity went straight to Kidlington and the CAA in exchange for an Instrument Rating. I got my civilian flying career and thoroughly enjoyed it. The main thing I remember was the culture shock of being a civilian which was totally different from being in the Services. But it was 1973 and it seems that things have changed somewhat since then...

Good luck, Lamin, and don't be afraid to take some chances (in addition to PVRing!).

[Union Jack]

. . . can you prune that . . . - PN

I see what you did there - nearly 13500 times to date!:ok:

Jack

[Tashengurt]

I remember it being quite an anti climax.
I got in my car and put on the radio thinking to myself "I'll remember this tune forever."
It was some awful Gary Barlow dirge. I can't recall which.

[Bigbux]

They say you are never more than 50m away from a rat. If that's true, then you are never more than 30m away from an ex-serviceman or woman. Embrace it, but never think you'll miss being able to shamble through the gates of places you did good things in.

Go out of your way to meet people you would never have met in Service life and you will just add to your experience.

[longer ron]

Best wishes as a civvy Lamin...

I only did 12 and left the mob from Abingdon - from which I 'sped' in my 1500cc Hillman Hunter (I previously had owned a Hunter GLS with a Holbay engine but decided that it would be more difficult to aquire '5 star' fuel as a civvy ;) - it 'pinked' like a ba5tard on 4 star LOL ) - I just drove off without looking back because I had already made the mental break.
I spent a year working on jets in africa as a civvy (nice to be able to tell the Master Tech boss to foxtrot oscar when he had screwed up SRO's :)).
So anyway we had an occasional 'workbreak' but all my non drinking spare time was taken up with gliding in phenomenal conditions.
After 12 months it was back to blighty to get a real job/mortgage etc _ I never escaped from riggering and retired 12 months ago from 40+ years working on mostly military aircraft.
My wee preserved pension buys the occasional bottle of Old Pulteney

[ImageGear]

Although I was not a "Lifer", my time in the RAF was probably the most defining period of my life. The RAF gave me opportunities and skills that one can only dream about in corporate life. A broad and rich plethora of experience. but the time had come to change direction. A direction over which I had more control and opportunity. My exit was more of a new door opening and I left with personal friends at the same time.

I PVR'ed at the right time and was well prepared when I left, moving straight into a job that paid ridiculous amounts of money, with loads of opportunity to travel and hold responsibility.

Have no doubt that what you have gained from your time in the service will allow you to associate with peers well above what you might expect. You will be sought after as the "grey eminence" who can operate at the highest corporate levels with confidence.

Seize the opportunity with both hands, you won't need to advertise your capabilities, it will be obvious.

Sometimes you might find yourself in company where a conversation about your past experience might arise. Stay as discreet as possible or as required, speak quietly, preserve your aura of sensibility and enjoy your success. :ok:

Imagegear

[reynoldsno1]

I was certainly emotional when I left - excited about my new job in civil aviation. Enjoyed my time in the RAF, but took the line 'that was then this is now'. I don't do reminiscing very well.

[Hydromet]

...found myself a casual job with a local funeral directors,
Hope you're enjoying your new undertaking, Javelinboy.

[Uptime]

Handing in the F1250 (and the car pass) driving out of Waddington main gate heading towards Woodhall Spa was emotional, thinking what have I done. Yet in some ways it was like being posted.. I kept my RAF shoes for some reason. Still have my No. 2 jacket hanging in the wardrobe, zip still works but it doesn't meet in the middle !!!

The old team kept in touch for probably 18 months and then slowly we drifted our different ways (no Facebook in those days).
The 5yrs, in the 70's, at Binbrook and its Simulator is still the most vivid and pleasing memory, although at the time winter on the hill was not pleasant especially commuting from Manby.
Wednesday's sports afternoon, Coarse fishing we would be bussed to a match on the Witham or Trent, a few beers on the way back. Thursday it was off to Lincoln or Grimsby college for more civvie certifications.

PVR'd in 1995 after 25yrs. Hired by US IT company, its Chairman ran for US President twice and for 3yrs was my mentor. Moved to US in 2002. Never thought my 2016 base salary would exceed 2016 Air Marshal salary - not bad for a Chief Tech (Band 6).
BUT no sports on a Wednesday and college is in your own time.
The RAF provided superb training and leadership experience, now a C level Exec leading global teams - yes I remember it all fondly but as they say its never the same going back..

Uptime

[Pontius Navigator]

without looking back because I had already made the mental break.
This is the most important thing for those approaching retirement.

Remember one Sqn Ldr Ops, worked in to his terminal leave as the station approached its first Taceval.

I am sure he was able to bank the thank you and goodwill.

[NutLoose]

"One thing I had decided before taking up the job was to never talk about the RAF and my time in it - unless I was specifically asked. There is nothing more boring than someone banging on about "their time in the mob..."

What you doing here then? :E

[The Oberon]

This is the most important thing for those approaching retirement.

Remember one Sqn Ldr Ops, worked in to his terminal leave as the station approached its first Taceval.

I am sure he was able to bank the thank you and goodwill.

Probably the hardest part of my PVR process, I had made the mental break when I decided to go but I was held to 18 months, even taking into account terminal leave, resettlement etc. it was extremely difficult to remain effective for the rest of the time.

[ICM]

My retirement after some 32 years coincided with the closure of HQ 2 Gp (formerly HQ RAFG) at Rheindahlen - and that meant that my departure was understandably rather bypassed at a final formal Dining-In night that concentrated on the end of some 40+ years of RAF HQs in Germany. So, with that out of the way, I ran my own Farewell dinner for some 65 people, the final formal event held in the RAF Mess. I had been senior living-in officer for most of the preceding 7 years by then and the Mess staff went out of their way to make it a success in all sorts of ways, and they succeeded beyond measure.

I then came back to the UK, posted to hold for my last weeks on one of our larger stations. When the final day came, I did a quick clearance, unknown to anyone - not a problem for I'd said my farewells where it mattered.

[teeteringhead]

PS - for the first three months I enjoyed two salaries Lyneham Lad Moi ausssi but only for about 6 weeks - the tax sorts itself out but it took me a while to get the NI contributions back, you'll probably find that both employers deduct!

[mopardave]

What you doing here then? :E
that did make me laugh!

[ShyTorque]

Lyneham Lad Moi ausssi but only for about 6 weeks - the tax sorts itself out but it took me a while to get the NI contributions back, you'll probably find that both employers deduct!

Only if you remain in UK.... I emigrated whilst carrying out my "resettlement course" ;)

[Tashengurt]

I had to give 18 months notice for my PVR. I had to defer uni for a year.
Still,if they were happy with me packing their parachutes...

[Pontius Navigator]

Had the pleasure of serving with a transport pilot who, having PVRd, was grounded and posted as an Ops Officer at a northern base. While there was a certain twisted logic in not 'wasting' flying hours on him there was no benefit in keeping him. He spent 18 months keeping a seat warm only on the hours that he was rostered.

At least he mentally separated from the Service well ahead of time.

[The Nip]

I served for 31 years. I have no bad feelings about anything. It was good and not so good. I left after an 'interesting' TFH tour. Didn't want to do that at my age again.
First time I have lived in a home I have owned.
Not completely out of the system. The other half is now in her 38th year and still a few to go.

[mahogany bob]

After 42 years flying I found that the RAF divided into 2 very distinct catagories :

A. The never say no,eccentric,flexible,humorous,hard working / drinking,sports loving ( mainly ) , loyal and sometimes cranky people of all ranks and trades who kept the force going 24/7.

B. The small- minded ,pedantic ,humourless, self career dominated ,party pooping paper pushers who spent most of their time giving group A a hard time.

I miss group A a lot and group B not at all!

[NutLoose]

Spot on, from an ex member of A

[langleybaston]

A civvy member A

[Arclite01]

Mahogany Bob

Those two groups also exist in most larger organisations in Civvy Street !! - sadly Category B are usually the Managers and also more highly paid, people for whom the process is way more important than the product or the people

I would like to put myself in Category A

Arc

[Mick Strigg]

I found it very difficult to leave after 35 years of not knowing anything else. My emotions were rife, so much so that I declined all offers of "leaving do's" etc. as I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold it together. On my final day, I saluted the White Ensign and then drove out of the station in tears! Subsequently, I found it very difficult to be "outside" and had to do something about it.

In short, I didn't want to go, but I knew I had to. However the two did not reconcile themselves until I joined the reserves, giving me access to group A again and the knowledge that I was still in the bosom of the family, whilst contributing. I thoroughly recommend it.

[Tengah Type]

I did a full career of 37 years as aircrew and was then invited to stay as a reservist under the old RO scheme. After a further 14 years, due to a change in family circumstances, I eventually retired after 50+ years in blue.

I retired to run a business in an overseas country, which keeps me very busy. After so long in blue I was surprised that the transition was so painless. I do not yearn for the "Good old days", but do sometimes think about them, mainly with affection.

When I can ,I meet up with other old friends/reprobates to chew the cud.

Life goes on and you will survive, but for the Service itself you are the "hand in the bucket of water, take it out and no hole remains". However keeping contact with old friends and colleagues is still important,

Best of luck for the future!!

[Hangarshuffle]

Am amazed by Micks and Tengah Types post above, in a warm way really - that they loved their respective service's so much.
Now wondering about my own time in and why I disliked it as much when I left ....but broad church and all that.
I still think civvy street is a piece of cake compared to service life and that anyone looking for a positive start will love it after service life. HM Prison 2016 looks easier and better than life as a Junior Rate RN at current if I'm truthful.

[Pontius Navigator]

TT, except that the more hands withdrawn from that bucket reveal how little water is there.

[Basil]

I only asked if PVR would pay my gratuity pro-rata; the answer was "No, you'd get nothing!" promptly followed by a ground tour :{

[ricardian]

Joined as a 16 year old Boy Entrant in 1959, demobbed as a Cpl in 1973 and, thanks to RAF skills & training, joined GCHQ as a Radio Officer. I never missed the RAF as my last 3 years were spent instructing the RAuxAF at Mountbatten which felt like a "half-civvy" job; and I realised that I no longer appreciated all the ********* that came with being a comparatively elderly JNCO.
Spent 30 years with GCHQ, mostly working alongside ex-forces or ex-Merchant Navy bodies and (mostly) in posts/places where it was a joy to come to work. Now enjoying retirement in the peace and quiet at 59 degrees north. Sadly Mrs R passed away a couple of years ago but I keep busy editing the local monthly newsletter, etc.

[NutLoose]

I remember one of my colleagues asking about PVR in the 70's where it cost a significant amount of money and took about 6 months to process, the WO in SHQ gave him the figures and times, but then asked him not to apply yet but to come back in the afternoon.

Arriving back the WO informed him he had been onto PMC and because of a manning glut had got the terms down to free to leave and would next Monday be ok... He was gone just like that.

[racedo]

Reading through this I guess the ones still around are able to reply...............

I am aware of friends of my parents (public services not military) who stayed in the jobs they doing until final last day they could 65 / 60 or whatever and within 12 months one of the couple was dead. Both my parents retired early and enjoyed it, one still doing so.

Never really gave it much thought until a conversation at lunch on a Uni Course I was doing.

Psychologist taking course listened in and said there was a part of people that became institutionalised and once you take that away there are many people who cannot cope with this.

He indicated that it was similar to Prisoner being released after 30 years on inside and human nature not being able to cope.

He didn't know the statistics but said marraige break up, alcohol abuse, early death etc can often be caused by a sudden termination in what someone had been doing for 30-40 years where a future plan hasn't been put in place.

Also something he was looking at was Redundancy and effect on people.

Gave it not much thought at time but having done 2 rounds of redundancy I treated it like a bereavement and gave myself a couple of months for it to work through the system. It worked for me but doesn't mean it would work for everyone.

Question is for those leaving (left) is whether there is someone who talks to your head about impact ?

Oh and good luck to the guys entering civvy street and thank you for your service.

[Basil]

Remember the effect upon SWMBO who is accustomed to running the show alone on a daily or weekly basis. Big shock having large wilful child who thinks he's the boss in permanent residence ;)

[MACH2NUMBER]

Left after 37 years, joined the local golf club, a walking Club, developed my garden and generally kept busy by my household C-in-C! Keep in touch with my Sqn, attend various reunions and enjoy life. Don't get too tense about it.

[langleybaston]

...............Remember the effect upon SWMBO who is accustomed to running the show alone on a daily or weekly basis. Big shock having large wilful child who thinks he's the boss in permanent residence ...............

Ditto, not that I am large. Situation slightly eased by being allowed to do my last 6 months working from home: it suited the MoD, it suited me, and it eased senior management to the sight of the dogsbody around the house.

I once took a phone call from my boss in the bath. He commented on the strange echoes.

[VIProds]

I applied for a resettlement coarse & was given a list of Radar/Computer Companies that participated in the scheme, Companies like ICT/ICL, Burrows, IBM & RCA (Fylingdales). By return of post, IBM asked me to go down to their London office for "Logic Tests" & an interview. At the end of the interview they offered me a six weeks Mainframe Computer Course & a job at the end of the course.


Because of my security clearance, I was the only engineer that was allowed in the Bank of England, H.M. Treasury & the Home Office (where I installed & maintained the very first Police National Computer). I was also the only engineer allowed into The Tomes Newspaper, this wasn't about security but about the very powerful Print Unions at the time.


We were asked to wear a dark suit, white shirt & plain tie as one moment you could be talking to a computer operatorthe next moment being called up to see the Deputy Governor or Lord Beaverbrook !!


The only regret that I had was sitting in a Central Line underground carriage looking at all the miserable faces & thinking it was only a few months ago that I was up at 70,000ft at Mach 0.93 doing TACAN Air to Air flight trials in a K1 Victor Tanker, but that is the only regret that I had leaving the RAF.

[NRU74]

racedo,
I think the 'institutionalised' bit applies also to young men who have served in relatively low grade positions in,say, the infantry, for a relatively short time in the Army but who had a tremendous amount of support from NCOs and junior officers during that time.
In 'civvy' street many of them are completely lost and this is reflected, sadly, in both the prison system and those agencies providing support to those who have fallen by the wayside eg Salvation Army, church groups , charities etc.
I've dealt with them in the Criminal Justice system and they are not well equipped to deal with post service life.
(I don't know the solution I'm afraid)

[racedo]

NRU

I used to think that as well and maybe "institutionalised" is the wrong term to use, possibly "loss of sense of purpose" may be more correct.

Neighbour who did 30 plus years in a large airline has been retired 2-3 years, he uses my recycling bin as well as his own, lots of crushed beer / cider cans and they not mine.

If it was the odd one (not the alcohol context) I would think yup maybe but seeing so many people not cope with not having to get up and go to work everyday and life just fading away.

[NutLoose]

I once took a phone call from my boss in the bath. He commented on the strange echoes.


Runway wet, wet, wet, comes to mind..

[Basil]

I think the 'institutionalised' bit applies also to young men . . .
My wife thinks I've always been institutionalised: Mum, MN, RAF, wife ;)

[MPN11]

Ah, the memories. A fairly enjoyable and interesting 29 years, when the lure of Redundacy became too much to resist. I wasn't going to get any further promotion, and saw nothing but 5 more years in Staff Appointments. I think it was 16th or 19th August 1992 when SASO MATO called me in, and handed me the blue letter confirming my release date the following January. In return, I handed him a Leave Pass covering the intervening months, padded by a few weeks of duty leading the RAF Service Weapons Shooting Team to the USA. Having largely cleared my desk already, I headed home just after lunch. Some time in January, I returned to RAF Uxbridge, cleared the Station and handed in my F1250. And that was the end of that part of my life. Period. Move on.

I took over the part-time appointment of RAF Shooting Secretary (some here know me in that role), and was house-husband to SWMBO who was still on the staff at Bracknell until her Redundancy came through some 18 months later. The most difficult part of the first few weeks was having to decide what to wear in the morning, and it took many years before I wanted to wear anything blue!! Then 10 years of my part-time job, involvement in local and National politics before a 2nd retirement and emigration to Jersey.

We are now both fully occupied in planning long-haul holidays! This dit written on my iPad, sat on the terrace, in Stellebosch, Western Cape, ZA ... we will have clocked up 63,000 miles travel this year when we get home :)

The RAF is but a distant and nostalgic memory, with contact retained with a few old mates ... and with too many others already having departed the fix.

[teeteringhead]

Remember the effect upon SWMBO who is accustomed to running the show alone on a daily or weekly basis. Big shock having large wilful child who thinks he's the boss in permanent residence Indeed so Basil.

Or as Milady Teeters famously put it once:

"I married you for better or worse ............. but NOT for lunch!"

[Pontius Navigator]

, possibly "loss of sense of purpose" may be more correct.

seeing so many people not cope with not having to get up and go to work everyday and life just fading away.
Indeed, ths big change is to plan ahead and actually accomplish the plan. In my last tour I had the luxury of mapping out the day's activities as I cycled to work. Cycling home I would reflect that I had done only a tenth of them.

On retirement came the void. However when they actually stopped paying me I was in a boutique hotel in Key West. A month later I was back in uniform as an RO but wholly in charge of my activities. When they stopped paying me a second time I was in the airport lounge bar in Acapulco.

SWMBO will soon get used to having a subordinate handyman on tap.

In our Rotary Club an ex-chef and ex-painter and finisher have second careers as decorators. Getting involved in an organisation can give you a new sense of purpose.

[Pontius Navigator]

some it took many years before I wanted to wear anything blue!!
We are now both fully occupied in planning long-haul holidays! This dit written on my iPad, sat on the terrace, in Stellebosch, Western Cape, ZA ... we will have clocked up 63,000 miles travel this year when we get home :)
.

Ditto blues but SWMBO says green doesn't suit me.

You have set me a challenge. When I was a sprog I had a map of the World with the overseas trips I had done. I stopped after my first tour. Now I must try my retirement routes. We still have a bottle of Stellenbosch from our trip a few years ago.

[MPN11]

Ditto blues but SWMBO says green doesn't suit me.

You have set me a challenge. When I was a sprog I had a map of the World with the overseas trips I had done. I stopped after my first tour. Now I must try my retirement routes. We still have a bottle of Stellenbosch from our trip a few years ago.
Being fully-retired is, of course, essential for extensive travellng. When I left the RAF I moved from a 5-day week to a 7-day week of voluntary work! I was bloody glad to stop that after 10 years, and become an idle OAP :D

[ian16th]

We still have a bottle of Stellenbosch from our trip a few years ago. Only one?

I have lots :ok::ok::ok:

[NutLoose]

I still have a bottle of Remy Martin, in the smoked bottle with packed for NAAFI stores printed on the label (unopened) and and also the same for a bottle of Bacardi Gold rum, both from the late 70's.

[Pontius Navigator]

Ian, that we picked up personally :)

We had a four hour toitoiuyr around - it lasted 8 1/2 hours.

[longer ron]

NutLoose wrote

I still have a bottle of Remy Martin, in the smoked bottle with packed for NAAFI stores printed on the label (unopened) and and also the same for a bottle of Bacardi Gold rum, both from the late 70's.

If you need a hand to drink either of those 2 bottles - just let me know :)

[Tengah Type]

V1Prods

Bit of poetic licence I think. M.93 was certainly possible in a Victor K1, but only usually achieved on Airtests. 70,000 ft Never!!

[Pontius Navigator]

TT, true, the K1, like the Vulcan 1s had the Mk17 regulators which could only deliver 30mm Oxygen overpressure to 50k and no pressure suits. The Mk 2s originally had the Mk21 which could deliver 70mm at 56k.

Even on the Vulcan I only went over 50k 4 times and 555 on an air test once.

[VIProds]

TT/PN Parallax error maybe ??? I was sat behind & between the Captain & co-pilot & that's what I thought the instruments were reading - I wonder if that's how I failed Biggin Hill !!

[langleybaston]

or possibly Exlax?

Loosely, that is.