Ploddalong,

If you listen to the more reasoned responses, then you'll be okay. Those that have experienced both careers tend to be able to see the best (and worst) of both worlds. There are many good things about mil and civvy controlling careers - both provide a challenging and rewarding career. I've done both. I thoroughly enjoyed my career in the RAF and am happy to have joined NATS.

The great distinction is that, outside of your day-to-day controlling duties in the RAF (or RN:ok: ), much much more will be expected of you. As others have said before me: Officer first, controller second. I left the RAF, as I was destined to sit behind a desk for the rest of my career. As your career as an officer progresses (as I hope it would), you are less and less likely to be involved as a coal face controller. That does suit quite a few, but did not appeal to me.

Good luck to you in whatever career path you choose to follow.

WJMcP


Chevvron,

As for the FC branch doing AAR. If the performance of the FC at MPA in 2000 was anything to go by:eek: , then not a lot of AAR would get done;) . Mil area radar mates are pretty handy at it.

Widger - that is a model/computer-generated picture, ye scurvy dog. How many artist's impressions of "our new mighty carrier force" have you seen in the past 30 years?
Plod -
The dark blue suits [flying department] live in Somerset. They will see parts of Somerset that tourists seldom visit. They will be allowed to dance with local girls on a strict rota, with marriage only permitted if it is accompanied with a farm. They will occasionally be allowed to drive a tractor.

Dances With Boffins
Don't forget sunny(?) Culdrose and Plymouth Mil!!

Hey Plodalong , where have you got your interview on the 6th?...i got mine on that day too.... bricking it a bit as i really want a career in the RAF now....im looking at ATC and Intelligence...

Chris

I got mine in cambridge at 1:30

Im bricking it too, but to be honest, it sounds like if you do you research, and you have a couple of answers already before you get there, you should be fine.

Good luck :ok:

40 good reasons to join the RN

1986 Barbados, Virgin Gorda, Florida, Puerto Rico, Boston
1987 Florida, Tortola, Barbados, Charleston, Norfolk Virginia, Cherbourg
1990-92 Conception Island, Florida, Grand Cayman, New Orleans, Guantanamo Bay, New York, Halifax, Gibraltar, Alexandria, Istanbul, Cairo, Djibouti, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharja, Qatar, Kuwait City, Cochin, Singapore, Penang, Corinth Canal, Patras and Mount Etna.
1994 Vicenza, Venice and Lake Garda
2003-2005 Tenerife, Tromso, Copenhagen

Plus numerous visits to Newcastle, London, Paris, Warsaw and many other places, defending Britain's Interests Worldwide!

Some of those whilst Widger was meant to be working for the RAF.:)

PS. Only 40 nights out in 15 years? Slacking a bit......

I think it's spreading a bit further now for Navy. Posts at HMS, I mean RAF Cottesmore and slots at Lossie and Valley if I am reliably informed. Prob many more out there.

If you decide to work for NATS, you have to be willing to earn very little in your first 3 years (£10k in year one and £15k in years 2 and 3) and out of that you will need to find accomodation in Bournemouth for the duration of the course. However by the time you have done 16 years you could be earning nearly £90k (if the NATS website is to be believed)

If you go for the RAF, you start on a lot more, and accomodation is provided (although you have to make a small contribution) however the earning potential over your career is diminished. And the sand gets everywhere. Oh and the lift in the extremly tall tower in a hot dusty country doesn't work.

If that were true it would mean the RAF only has about 4 aircraft given our current manning levels. However, my guess is you spend a large amount of your time and effort stressing about how to best insult the FC branch when, in truth, you don't actually have a scooby about air battle management and what we are trying to achieve. Best regards.;)

Adana kebab, what a great name for a scopey-very topical!

Ummm, an average of 4 aircraft serviceable per fleet is about right. What the Tornado's manage to lose out, the good old Jag picks up the slack.

Also, having done the JAMC and many elements of the TABM and been around the bizarres, it's obvious that many of you lot don't have that much of a scooby about air battle management yourselves.

There are a great number of your branch who are very switched on and have the wider picture about both jobs-strengths, weaknesses and where we can be mutually supportive. The fact is that both specializations are starting to finally smell the coffee, pull their heads out of their orifaces and work together.

From your post it seems that unfortunately you might be one of the blinkered mass who still thinks that a bunker is relevant. Tell me, do you look like a mole? Standing ready to be dis-abused of my rapidly reached opinion. :suspect: