RAF as a short-term career?

[Godwinson324]

Hello all!

Although, I have a career choice in mind after university, I heard that a few of the graduates of my school went into a short military career (a few years) before settling down with a job in the city.
I am currently a cadet in the RAF Cadet Force in the school and certainly been enjoying it. I was also lucky enough to get into one of those 'chipmunk trainers' at RAF Benson as a part of a RAF cadet force trip earlier and got to fly over Oxfordshire. I don't intend to pursue a life-long career in the RAF but I am very interested in seeing some kind of military service for a few years. (maybe 1-5?) I had a look at Intelligence Corps, Royal Navy and etc but I suppose I have already had a taster in the RAF through school - not to say that the school RAF is anything like the 'real deal'...

Do you think it is a good idea for me to serve in the RAF for a few years or should I not bother at all? I am interested to hear opinions.

[tarantonight]

Hello all!

Although, I have a career choice in mind after university, I heard that a few of the graduates of my school went into a short military career (a few years) before settling down with a job in the city.
I am currently a cadet in the RAF Cadet Force in the school and certainly been enjoying it. I was also lucky enough to get into one of those 'chipmunk trainers' at RAF Benson as a part of a RAF cadet force trip earlier and got to fly over Oxfordshire. I don't intend to pursue a life-long career in the RAF but I am very interested in seeing some kind of military service for a few years. (maybe 1-5?) I had a look at Intelligence Corps, Royal Navy and etc but I suppose I have already had a taster in the RAF through school - not to say that the school RAF is anything like the 'real deal'...

Do you think it is a good idea for me to serve in the RAF for a few years or should I not bother at all? I am interested to hear opinions.

Mate - I am guessing you are not yet 18 from what you have said and your whole life is ahead of you. Also, considering of course this is a genuine enquiry.

I am not going to preach or criticise, but if you were my son I would advise you to consider long term what you want to do. My opinion is that you should not use the military as a stepping stone - you either want that type of career, or you don’t. Individuals from a privileged background (I say this generally, it may not fit you), whe hold a Commission for a few years before that lucrative job in the City don’t do it for me. The cost of training people is ever increasing and has never been cheap.

The Military (and Emergency Services) need round pegs in round holes. Just my opinion, but you did ask.

Others may have a different view.

TN.

[Easy Street]

The kind of really short careers you mention have traditionally been more of an Army thing. It’s possible to do Sandhurst, serve a satisfying tour as a platoon commander and leave in a fairly short space of time having gained valuable leadership experience and made lots of useful social connections to take forward. Other corps, and a handful of RAF and RN branches offer a comparable combination of quick training and early large-group leadership. But forget about flying, and in most branches the satisfying tours are a few years away.

Connections are the valuable commodity for anyone pursuing a second career; the Army wins on numbers in the City and (as TN suggests above) attracts a greater proportion of the already-well-connected to its ranks. It takes a certain degree of self-confidence to do what you are proposing... I suppose if you have it, then why not? But probably in the Army, I would suggest.

[muppetofthenorth]

was also lucky enough to get into one of those 'chipmunk trainers' at RAF Benson as a part of a RAF cadet force trip earlier and got to fly over Oxfordshire.
Are you sure? We haven't used Chipmunks for AEF since 1996?

[PPRuNeUser0211]

Are you sure? We haven't used Chipmunks for AEF since 1996?
i suspect he uses the speech marks for a reason....

As someone above said, assuming you're discounting flying as a career (best guess at the moment is about a 10 year minimum, but more realistic is 12), then a couple of branches would allow you to do a relatively short career. However, as is also pointed out above, the army has generally done a better job of providing for that kind of thing.

​​​​ If I'm honest, you're more likely to get something fulfilling in that time as there's a good chance in most of the RAF branches that the first job you have will be something fairly benign to allow you to find your feet.

caveat:not a recruiter but not an old suffer either....

[gijoe]

Good advice above. Done 2 colours of uniform and the bit about the Army is true.
If you want to fly - then make that the only thing you want to do otherwise you simply will not get through.
If you want to shoot guns,lob grenades, jump put of the side of a C130 or A400, do lots of Adv Trg, lead a group of 30 or so men (all men so far in the Inf) then do AOSB and go to RMA Sandhurst...and leave after 4 years of so when your self-confidence will be much improved and you will find a job - not necessarily the long-term career you want - easily and you can fire and manouevre forwards from there.
The RAF is a different beast - man the equiment vs equip the man/lady.
There is not a whole lot of difference between Int Corps and RAF Int.
Over to you.
(Agree about Chipmunks above - they are long gone and might just indicate that you are not serious about flying. There will be youngsters that will tell you the bore of the pistons of the Tutors because that is all they want to do. Motivation?)

[Imagegear]

The RAF is a different beast - man the equiment vs equip the man/lady

I hope that your comment is an attempt at banter or fishing with a bent nail, because it could not be further from the truth.

The RAF of today will always focus on the man/lady, their attributes, capabilities, skills, education, team and leadership abilities from the outset. An applicant will no more get to handle a calculator until the required minimum standards are attained.


IG

[Easy Street]

As a RAF person myself I’d say that response was uncalled for, IG. I think most of us recognise that the RAF and RN have a greater focus on equipment than does the Army. One look at the relative equipment and personnel budgets will tell you that. You are right to say that each person is highly valued but that is also related to the fact that the RAF and RN have a higher proportional demand for advanced technical skills which take time and money to imbue, and therefore have more of a need to retain people. I think the OP got a pretty good set of responses to a question some on here would see as provocative; it would be good to leave it at that for once.

[Union Jack]

Hello all!

Although, I have a career choice in mind after university,

Your moniker alone would appear to suggest that the Army would be your best answer, and it would certainly help us to know what long term "career choice" you have in mind".


Do you think it is a good idea for me to serve in the RAF for a few years or should I not bother at all? I am interested to hear opinions.
Committing oneself to a military career of any length should not really be regarded as a "bother" and, although I'm obviously pleased that you had a "look" at the Royal Navy, I would seriously suggest that you look no further. You've had some very good advice from other posters, and my only other advice would be to use Gieves for uniform!:ok:

Jack

[Imagegear]

Easy - Your comment is noted and I accept that perhaps I was more than a little sensitive to what seemed to me like a poke in the ribs.

You will know that it is necessary to become an Officer first before moving on to other roles, and that was the key to my response.

I have amended my post accordingly,

IG

[heights good]

I hope that your comment is an attempt at banter or fishing with a bent nail, because it could not be further from the truth.

The RAF of today will always focus on the man/lady, their attributes, capabilities, skills, education, team and leadership abilities from the outset. An applicant will no more get to handle a calculator until the required minimum standards are attained.


IG

That description does not represent what I see on a daily basis....

[gijoe]

I hope that your comment is an attempt at banter or fishing with a bent nail, because it could not be further from the truth.

The RAF of today will always focus on the man/lady, their attributes, capabilities, skills, education, team and leadership abilities from the outset. An applicant will no more get to handle a calculator until the required minimum standards are attained.


IG

Nope - absolutely typed in all seriousness and if you don't understand it then you are part of the RAF problem that sees itself as far better than it is.

[gijoe]

That description does not represent what I see on a daily basis....

Agree totally. Mon-Fri, 9-5, no PT and beards. At times, more civvy than element of HM Forces.

[charliegolf]

Agree totally. Mon-Fri, 9-5, no PT and beards. At times, more civvy than element of HM Forces.

Five o'clock? On a Friday? Really?:E

Back to the OP: I did 8 years DE non-commissioned aircrew and I firmly believe it was the making of me as a person (imagine what I WOULD have been like!). Whilst I only did 8 though, I THOUGHT I was going to be a lifer- just didn't pan out that way. But the point was, joining and flying was the most important thing in my life at the time. It wasn't ever a CV tick. You have to decide what's driving you in that regard.

CG

[trim it out]

What’s the return of service for an RAF pilot post OCU?

[Easy Street]

What’s the return of service for an RAF pilot post OCU?

Six years. Which given the recent pace of flying training can in no way be described as a “short term career”! ;)

[trim it out]

Same across all the services then, so the Army being the short term solution (for an aviation career) is moot now. Probably better off choosing your service based on geographical location and role rather than long term/short term career prospects.

[Easy Street]

Same across all the services then, so the Army being the short term solution (for an aviation career) is moot now. Probably better off choosing your service based on geographical location and role rather than long term/short term career prospects.

I don’t think anyone suggested that Army aviation was a feasible short term career option. “Forget about flying” was my advice.

[Bergerie1]

I've never been in the military, only done civil flying. But, in my view, if you want to fly give it your all. Don't dabble with it - do it properly or not at all.

[trim it out]

I don’t think anyone suggested that Army aviation was a feasible short term career option. “Forget about flying” was my advice.

Apologies, I may have got the wrong end of the stick and read it as the Army being the shorter aviation career option (although it does have the types with the shortest CTTs so if money is your driver then it’s a good option 👀).

[BVRAAM]

Don't you think it would be polite to at least acknowledge the responses you've been given?

I know it's 2019 and people are busy, but if you can't even manage a quick look on PPRuNe when you're taking a dump, then there's something wrong.

[orca]

Excellent. The delicious irony of the wannabe querying the approach of the wannabe!

[gijoe]

Same across all the services then, so the Army being the short term solution (for an aviation career) is moot now. Probably better off choosing your service based on geographical location and role rather than long term/short term career prospects.

Sort of what I said...get in, shoot lots of guns, enjoy it, get out and get proper job.

I think we are all agreeing that flying, Crab or TWA, is not something to attempt half-heartedly. Firstly, you won’t get in and, secondly, you won’t pass.

_______
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[Godwinson324]

Thank you all for the helpful responses! I apologise those who seem to have been offended by my 'absence' but I have been facing internet connectivity issues for the last two days and I was having trouble accessing the internet. Thankfully, the technician came by and fixed up the router today.

[Asturias56]

can't help it but I keep reading the title as "RAF as a short-term carer?" - maybe redeployed in next years SDR to help the NHS???