Military life - motivation?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Military life - motivation?
As an aspiring pilot, the RAF is an option for myself but i am worried that i don't have the motivation or 'want' to have the military way of life.
I couldn't think of anything better than to fly fast jets or even transport aircraft for the RAF and the fact that everything is paid for and there is a sense of secruity is a big part of it when considering career options. However i am not sure whether i want that 'way of life'. I know people say that if you dont want it 110%, then you will not get through selection/training.
I need some opinions on my attitude towards joining the military. People have said to me before that if i have ANY doubt about wanting to join, then dont bother but im after some more constructive advice. I cant think of anything better than flying fast jets on military ops but at the same time i would love to drive home from heathrow knowing that i can go fishing that evening or meet up with some people at the pub etc. I want to live knowing that if i want to leave my job i can, if i want to move house i can etc etc.
I apologise for the vagueness of this question and would like to hear any opinions or advice on my views.
I couldn't think of anything better than to fly fast jets or even transport aircraft for the RAF and the fact that everything is paid for and there is a sense of secruity is a big part of it when considering career options. However i am not sure whether i want that 'way of life'. I know people say that if you dont want it 110%, then you will not get through selection/training.
I need some opinions on my attitude towards joining the military. People have said to me before that if i have ANY doubt about wanting to join, then dont bother but im after some more constructive advice. I cant think of anything better than flying fast jets on military ops but at the same time i would love to drive home from heathrow knowing that i can go fishing that evening or meet up with some people at the pub etc. I want to live knowing that if i want to leave my job i can, if i want to move house i can etc etc.
I apologise for the vagueness of this question and would like to hear any opinions or advice on my views.
If you want to go home at night, join the airlines, but that won't always allow you to be at home. Try becoming an instructor at a flying club.
As you don't even know yourself if you have the motivation, you've no hope in getting in... May I suggust you look inwards rather than trying to get someone else to tell you what you already know yourself, but may be afraid to ask.
The RAF may be an option for you, but, if you're not motivated, you're not an option for us- sorry!
SB
As you don't even know yourself if you have the motivation, you've no hope in getting in... May I suggust you look inwards rather than trying to get someone else to tell you what you already know yourself, but may be afraid to ask.
The RAF may be an option for you, but, if you're not motivated, you're not an option for us- sorry!
SB
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
I want to live knowing that if i want to leave my job i can, if i want to move house i can etc etc.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Okay i have phrased this badly. Its not necessarily the motivation that im worried about, but more about the military way of life. I have the motivation to do anything i want to do and i doubt i would be considering a pilot job if i didnt. Its more of the military life and whether it suits me that i am concerned about. No use saying "find out yourself" because its very hard to actually know how you will feel after being in the RAF for 5 years.
I was in the air cadets, i have been on military bases and worked on them as well, but i still went home at the end of day.
I was in the air cadets, i have been on military bases and worked on them as well, but i still went home at the end of day.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I understand this point but you bring up the money issue. I fighting myself as to whether this is why i 'want' to join the RAF. I would love to get paid to fly, get paid to train, do excersises in the woods, go on a skiing course etc and of course, do not want a £70,000 loan for my trouble.
This is the issue i am trying to work out. After all my honest answer to "why would you like to join the RAF?" would be something like:
"Well, i get to fly fast planes with guns, travel the world and have a job that i am both proud of and extremly happy with, and whats more, you are paying for it all"
Wrong answer im assured.
This is the issue i am trying to work out. After all my honest answer to "why would you like to join the RAF?" would be something like:
"Well, i get to fly fast planes with guns, travel the world and have a job that i am both proud of and extremly happy with, and whats more, you are paying for it all"
Wrong answer im assured.
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Airline - turn up, work your detail with guys/gals you might not have worked with before, go home, do whatever you do with whoever you like (if they are free, you'll do lots of earlies/lates and weekends).
Military - wake up in mess/tent/container where ever you happen to be that day. Start work with bunch of guys you know well, banter with, who you back up to the hilt, and you know they'll do the same for you. Finish work, perhaps. Where conditions allow - go on the piss/pull/beach with them. More banter. Carry/get dragged back to bed.
Spot the difference?
Military - wake up in mess/tent/container where ever you happen to be that day. Start work with bunch of guys you know well, banter with, who you back up to the hilt, and you know they'll do the same for you. Finish work, perhaps. Where conditions allow - go on the piss/pull/beach with them. More banter. Carry/get dragged back to bed.
Spot the difference?
Guest
Posts: n/a
airbourne_artist, please dont ever transfer to the recuitment section of any military organisation. Going out on the piss/pull/beach is not my idea of job satisfaction. I like beer, i like girls and i like the beach but i fail to see the point in your mentioning of this.
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Going out on the piss/pull/beach is not my idea of job satisfaction. I like beer, i like girls and i like the beach but i fail to see the point in your mentioning of this.
or 
at this?
Guest
Posts: n/a
See, this is the type of people that i try not to get involved with yet they surround me in every walk of life.
How very very sad to persume that someone is gay or "un-cool" because they dont want to get drunk and pull girls they wouldnt even look twice at if sober.
I have this same problem with every single one of my mates who are all 18-21. "Oh here comes the loser that doesnt want to spend his paycheck on alcohol and throw it all up at the end of the night, after having to get carried home with some STI you got from a fugly girl in the bar"
You ******* sad acts.
How very very sad to persume that someone is gay or "un-cool" because they dont want to get drunk and pull girls they wouldnt even look twice at if sober.
I have this same problem with every single one of my mates who are all 18-21. "Oh here comes the loser that doesnt want to spend his paycheck on alcohol and throw it all up at the end of the night, after having to get carried home with some STI you got from a fugly girl in the bar"
You ******* sad acts.
Sparksfly, I think you've answered your own question. Mil life is full of crap but also full of great times with great mates around you, you seem to be only interested in the RAF teaching you to fly and swanning around? As to the birds/booze thats a part of Mil life (along with banter)!
Forgot to mention, if you are only 18-21 then maybe you need to experience a few more things before you try to join.
Forgot to mention, if you are only 18-21 then maybe you need to experience a few more things before you try to join.
I quite admire your strength of character, in abstaining from going out on the lash and pulling, yourself. I'd question whether your intolerance of other people doing so would allow you to fit into ANY employment in which working with others plays a part, however, and I'd suggest that your attitudes smack of immaturity.
There are plenty of youngsters in the forces who don't get bladdered, remain faithful to girls back home, but who still socialise, still know how to have a laugh, and who don't view their mates who do drink and f*** with open contempt. The need to be able to fit in is vital. (And it would be with BA, too. No-one likes a co-pilot who doesn't want to go out and have a good time with the rest of the crew when you have three days stuck in Houston, say.
There's an old phrase to the effect that "you don't want to go to war with a w*nker on your wing." Would your mates view you as "one of them" or as an isolated, rather supercilious and stand-offish cove? Who is the sadder act, here? Who is the w*nker?
But as an 18 year old Farnborough school boy, perhaps you've never experienced enough stress for alcohol, going out with mates, etc to be a valuable form of unwinding.
Advice:
Grow up.
Develop some tolerance of others.
Lighten up and take that stick out of your @rse.
There are plenty of youngsters in the forces who don't get bladdered, remain faithful to girls back home, but who still socialise, still know how to have a laugh, and who don't view their mates who do drink and f*** with open contempt. The need to be able to fit in is vital. (And it would be with BA, too. No-one likes a co-pilot who doesn't want to go out and have a good time with the rest of the crew when you have three days stuck in Houston, say.
There's an old phrase to the effect that "you don't want to go to war with a w*nker on your wing." Would your mates view you as "one of them" or as an isolated, rather supercilious and stand-offish cove? Who is the sadder act, here? Who is the w*nker?
But as an 18 year old Farnborough school boy, perhaps you've never experienced enough stress for alcohol, going out with mates, etc to be a valuable form of unwinding.
Advice:
Grow up.
Develop some tolerance of others.
Lighten up and take that stick out of your @rse.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Buxton
Age: 17
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Oh here comes the loser that doesnt want to spend his paycheck on alcohol and throw it all up at the end of the night, after having to get carried home with some STI you got from a fugly girl in the bar"
Guest
Posts: n/a
I have no problem with people doing this however when i become the target and the one that doesnt fit in, it starts to annoy me. I don't want to come across as a complete straight edge who doesnt want to have fun. I spent from the age of about 15 to the end of college going out, drunk 7 days a week having fun etc. You tell me to grow up, but this confuses me somewhat. I go out, have some drinks have some fun and i get told to grow up. I stop drinking and have fun being sober and now im getting told to grow up again .
This isnt a dig at people socializing and having fun, i do it too! I suppose im just angry that the best answer to my military way of life question was "go to the beach, get drunk and get carried home".
I think maybe i need to experience this when im older (not after i have 'grown up' but in 5 years time. My best mate earns £800 a month and spends £700 of it on booze. We get on great and he respects the fact i don't want to go on the lash every night and i respect the fact that he enjoys doing it.
So who's the w*nker? Still me i guess, i think the rest of my flight training will be more successful if i was hungover for my lessons and putting them on the credit card instead....
.This isnt a dig at people socializing and having fun, i do it too! I suppose im just angry that the best answer to my military way of life question was "go to the beach, get drunk and get carried home".
I think maybe i need to experience this when im older (not after i have 'grown up' but in 5 years time. My best mate earns £800 a month and spends £700 of it on booze. We get on great and he respects the fact i don't want to go on the lash every night and i respect the fact that he enjoys doing it.
So who's the w*nker? Still me i guess, i think the rest of my flight training will be more successful if i was hungover for my lessons and putting them on the credit card instead....
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Buxton
Age: 17
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i would love to drive home from heathrow knowing that i can go fishing that evening or meet up with some people at the pub etc. I want to live knowing that if i want to leave my job i can, if i want to move house i can etc etc
Still Gay though....................................
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Buxton
Age: 17
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay let me put it another way so that you understand. My advice to you is to go and get a bank loan and become an Airline Pilot. You will be wasting your time applying to the RAF as you appear to have neither the character or determination required to fly a Typhoon. Now stop wasting ours and your time. Serious enough for you?
Gay.................................................
Gay.................................................