Cyberspace comms specialist

[Dan Gerous]

Looking for some info about this trade. My nephew has applied to join the RAF, and they are pushing this with a signing up bonus. I have no idea what this trade is, as it has come in long after I left, and I can't really find out much about it on the RAF site or e goat. As best I can figure out 3 trade groups have merged at some point in the past, and this looks like a trade that covers ground radio,radar and what was,(still is?),the TCW. Can I ask anyone who has more knowledge about this trade, what is the general day to day nature of work in this job.

[downsizer]

Correct on all points.

Ask why the RAF are offering golden hellos. Retention is shocking.

Good quals and courses to be had then bang out.

[NutLoose]

Probably a pint and a shilling. ;)

i take it it you have read

https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/roles/roles-finder/technical-and-engineering/cyberspace-communication-specialist

[NutLoose]

Though the page does not want to load here which is a good advert for the roll lol.

[Dan Gerous]

Thanks Nutloose, I did see that page and that was what reminded me of TCW. Downsizer, is retention due to the job being rubbish/poor morale, or folk just leaving for better pastures? I'm not trying to put my nephew off, he actually wants to do avionic stuff, but the RAF are pushing this at the moment, and I couldn't tell him what this was. I can tell him about some of the stuff I got up to though.:E

[heights good]

It is C4I but the RAF rebranded it to make is sound more appealing. It is not in the main anything cool like hacking or stopping cyber terrorism, more fixing station websites or issuing passwords.... hence the retention.

[Stuff]

Retention is shocking.

Is it?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/659990/2017-08239.pdf

Page 82

TG4 ICT CIT, Average RoS 13 years 10 months

[downsizer]

Is it?

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/659990/2017-08239.pdf

Page 82

TG4 ICT CIT, Average RoS 13 years 10 months
ICT CIT is aerial erector, not the ICT we are talking about. And whilst the RoS is greater, 480 left in the three years between 14~17 and with more than 200 gapped posts I’d say so.

[Saintsman]

Whatever they call it these days, but telecoms is the trade I would join. Once you leave, there will be far more opportunities for a high paying career with that background.

Whilst Avionics may be at the sharp end (for most), post RAF you need to become a licensed engineer to do Civvy stuff and take home a decent wage. Plus, realistically, you will also have to live close to an airport.

[Stuff]

ICT CIT is aerial erector, not the ICT we are talking about. And whilst the RoS is greater, 480 left in the three years between 14~17 and with more than 200 gapped posts I’d say so.

My mistake. I think the correct line should have been:
TG4 ICT Tech, Average RoS: 15 years 3 months

and yes, according to the figures, 480 left in the 3 year period (which is down from the previous 3 year period) but there were 150 gained to trained strength this year alone.

I suggest what we are seeing is that some of the new joiners have a different mindset from "the RAF is a life-long career" to "the RAF is a way of achieving world-class training that will set me up for a second career somewhere else". I don't actually see a problem with either view. Those opting for an early exit to a second career will leave without achieving a pension-earning engagement and will be a lot cheaper to employ. I'd also suggest that to average 15 years 3 months RoS (and remember this excludes the FS and WOs who become TG4 ICT Man on promotion) means plenty of people aren't jumping ship as is being suggested.

[downsizer]

Over 200 gapped posts suggests otherwise IMHO. We’ll have to agree to disagree here I think.

[MATELO]

and yes, according to the figures, 480 left in the 3 year period (which is down from the previous 3 year period) but there were 150 gained to trained strength this year alone.


Is this new recruits, or is part of this figure made up of re-joiners??

[Dan Gerous]

Whatever they call it these days, but telecoms is the trade I would join. Once you leave, there will be far more opportunities for a high paying career with that background.

Whilst Avionics may be at the sharp end (for most), post RAF you need to become a licensed engineer to do Civvy stuff and take home a decent wage. Plus, realistically, you will also have to live close to an airport.

That is a good point Saintsman, I'll mention it to him. I was actually going to advise him to go avionics, so that is an interesting opposite view. The retention thing was what I was really interested in, and whether it was a case of folk getting out because they hated the job, or whether life in the RAF life had lost its appeal, and they could get jobs easily outside the RAF with a better lifestyle. The truth I suspect, lies somewhere in the middle.

Thanks everyone for your comments, and I'll pass on what I've learnt here.