New 'holding generation'??
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New 'holding generation'??
Going through the the FJ training system and month 17 of holding out of a 3 year career is getting frustrating. Although nowhere near the 'bad old days', I am getting hints of worse to come. Anyone got any gen???
Join Date: Jul 2002
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It's not worth it mate! Get out now before they can screw you on ROS! They deserve it and you deserve better. Plus you are working for a much of oil grabbing evil mercinaries (the labour government)
Good Luck Plum
The Col
Good Luck Plum
The Col
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Part-time Job?
How long does Admin Offr Trg take these days?
By my reckoning, you could have just about completed this and a first tour as OC PSF, just in the time you have been holding!
Better still, you would have the inside track on all those lovely allowances!
STH
By my reckoning, you could have just about completed this and a first tour as OC PSF, just in the time you have been holding!
Better still, you would have the inside track on all those lovely allowances!
STH
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In same boat, valley clogged up at the moment.
Nothin u can do about it tho i suppose, just have to get on with it and try and amuse myself for another 3 months, done 3 already
flash
Nothin u can do about it tho i suppose, just have to get on with it and try and amuse myself for another 3 months, done 3 already
flash
With the holds in the FJ training system rapidly ramping up then, anyone got any hints as to good places to get your name down for? Preferably, I'd like to keep wearing a flying suit, get airborne every so often (even if it's nowhere near controls!), and not have to sit and make everyone tea, nor sit on an ops desk all day, nor wear blues 
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
'Nothin u can do about it tho i suppose.......'
Might I suggest a course in Defence Writing? Or are RAF officers communicating in yoof-speak txt msg gibberish these days?
Might I suggest a course in Defence Writing? Or are RAF officers communicating in yoof-speak txt msg gibberish these days?
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Believe me BEagle, I have tried to enrol myself on courses such as the one you recommend as I have to do them some time but, as I am holding and can still get chopped, I do not yet qualify apparently?
Never mind tho eh
cheers BEagle
Never mind tho eh
cheers BEagle
Champagne anyone...?
Ah.....holding. Much splendidness.
I tried to use my holding time (several years) wisely but sadly was told that I couldn't do ISS and OCC as I wasn't professionally qualified yet. Despite actually having been in the RAF longer than most of the other people on the courses. Really helpful thanks.
All I'll say to you holding folk is to use your time wisely if you can. The RAF will try and shaft you and put you in mindless pointless jobs. If you can sort your own jobs out then do it. If you don't you'll end up being a dogsbody/photocopier/coffee maker.
I did some interesting stuff whilst holding like the MoD, Fg Trg review team, In House bid teams, CAA London etc etc - might all sound dull but it gives an insight into what the rest of the RAF is doing and how it all works.
However, don't forget that no matter how high profile the job you do is or how well you do it, none of it will count for anything in your future career. You'll still be told you need to go off and do ground tours to "broaden your service knowledge". 14 years down the road I'm still getting that rubbish thrown at me
Enjoy it boys and girls - it starts wearing thin after about 3 years and a 7 year slog to get to the Front Line is just great.
I tried to use my holding time (several years) wisely but sadly was told that I couldn't do ISS and OCC as I wasn't professionally qualified yet. Despite actually having been in the RAF longer than most of the other people on the courses. Really helpful thanks.
All I'll say to you holding folk is to use your time wisely if you can. The RAF will try and shaft you and put you in mindless pointless jobs. If you can sort your own jobs out then do it. If you don't you'll end up being a dogsbody/photocopier/coffee maker.
I did some interesting stuff whilst holding like the MoD, Fg Trg review team, In House bid teams, CAA London etc etc - might all sound dull but it gives an insight into what the rest of the RAF is doing and how it all works.
However, don't forget that no matter how high profile the job you do is or how well you do it, none of it will count for anything in your future career. You'll still be told you need to go off and do ground tours to "broaden your service knowledge". 14 years down the road I'm still getting that rubbish thrown at me
Enjoy it boys and girls - it starts wearing thin after about 3 years and a 7 year slog to get to the Front Line is just great.
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5 forward and 6 back,
The best holds are definetly seasonal and abroad. In other words if you've got April through to September I would try and get somewhere sunny, not too difficult if you've got no 'commitments' back home. Although you may get an Ops job you can definetly find time to get on courses (sailing, wind surfing etc...). As for flying you can usually get a chance to get airborne with some of the dets. Unless you hold with the Rotary or ME boys you won't get much flying in. FJ Sqns are rarely best as back seat rides are generally like rocking horse sh!t, unless you hold at Colt which seems to have loads of T-bird opportunities (or you possess a lumpy jumper!!). All in all I would bid for 84Sqn if they still take holding guys.
Best of luck - Plum
The best holds are definetly seasonal and abroad. In other words if you've got April through to September I would try and get somewhere sunny, not too difficult if you've got no 'commitments' back home. Although you may get an Ops job you can definetly find time to get on courses (sailing, wind surfing etc...). As for flying you can usually get a chance to get airborne with some of the dets. Unless you hold with the Rotary or ME boys you won't get much flying in. FJ Sqns are rarely best as back seat rides are generally like rocking horse sh!t, unless you hold at Colt which seems to have loads of T-bird opportunities (or you possess a lumpy jumper!!). All in all I would bid for 84Sqn if they still take holding guys.
Best of luck - Plum
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I managed to wangle an HGV course at St Athan years ago when I was holding. Not sure it's so simple these days, nor that it's still done down there.
Or go and do a 12 month MSc or something, others have done it.
Or go and do a 12 month MSc or something, others have done it.
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Have you thought about a re-role to helicopter or multis? The time I subsequently didn't spend in the FJ hold got me 3 years down the road in a great type of flying that I couldn't appreciate through the haze of the "Linton push for FJ only" mentality. Some of my holding chums from the same course subsequently were forced to/came across later in any case. I always admired their ability to continue to hold and return for refresher trg.
If you are mad keen to fly jets, then stick at it. If you want to get on and fly now and be given, at no expense, the skills to fly helicopters and get on into the heart of operational flying down on the ground where it's all happening, then have a reassess of your situation.
Send me a PM if you want some more thoughts.
Ivan
If you are mad keen to fly jets, then stick at it. If you want to get on and fly now and be given, at no expense, the skills to fly helicopters and get on into the heart of operational flying down on the ground where it's all happening, then have a reassess of your situation.
Send me a PM if you want some more thoughts.
Ivan
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I held for three months with 84 Sqn in Akrotiri. I used to work Monday to Friday, 8am til lunch. Managed to take loads of 'top drawer' leave out there too. And, as I'd done the dunker course I managed to get loads of flying in the 'spare' front seat.
Needless to say I left the island as a good waterskier with a wicked suntan. To his day it stands as my best time in the RAF. Going back to flying training was certainly a shock for the first few weeks after that.
Needless to say I left the island as a good waterskier with a wicked suntan. To his day it stands as my best time in the RAF. Going back to flying training was certainly a shock for the first few weeks after that.
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5forward 6back
Top tip for holds mate. Boscombe Down. Fast Jet Test Squadron/Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron. Worked on ops desk for a while after linton and it was brilliant. Flew almost every dy in about 6 different types. Best kept secret for holding officers. (Not anymore though!
Good luck
Top tip for holds mate. Boscombe Down. Fast Jet Test Squadron/Heavy Aircraft Test Squadron. Worked on ops desk for a while after linton and it was brilliant. Flew almost every dy in about 6 different types. Best kept secret for holding officers. (Not anymore though!
Good luck
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Gibraltar is a good bet for an overseas hold. Reasonable Officers mess by the harbour; right next to the Town centre; an hours drive from the Costas one way and fantastic beaches and the Algarve along the coast the other way.
They are usually more than happy to accept a couple of holding officers at any one time; Ok, it's a bit of a sleepy hollow but a few months in the sunny Med beats a few months manning an Ops desk in a draughty bunker, in Norfolk.
They are usually more than happy to accept a couple of holding officers at any one time; Ok, it's a bit of a sleepy hollow but a few months in the sunny Med beats a few months manning an Ops desk in a draughty bunker, in Norfolk.
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E-gads, the holds come round again, I only did eighteen months as an operations officer at Marham, then off to Linton where it was fast jet or bust, then after finishing the course was told about the 24 month wait to go to Valley. Thankfully there was only a 2 week wait for Shawbury. The rest is history, it's sad but these things are cyclic, running at a about 12 years per revolution. I'd like to say it's not like that in the civi world but I'd be fibbing!! My advice is enjoy yourself, one day you'll be on your Squadron trying to avoid your secondary duties and ISS whilst getting the courage up to ask the boss not to send you back to Oman for the third time in as many months cos the misses is going to divorce you etc etc!!