is military for me
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is military for me
With the current state of the commercial business I am considering whether or not to see if the RAF will have me. Just wondering what you guys think, is it a good life? Will the gov. continue to cut back so there's nothing left to fly? Is it a good move?Fly over the world courtesy of Her Majesty and then see if an airline will give me a job?
many thanks.
many thanks.
There are still some great opportunities and so I would not be so quick to dismiss it.
You do, however, have to be commited to the way of life and I suspect your particular reasons bring you up short. Probably would not even get past the AFCO.
You do, however, have to be commited to the way of life and I suspect your particular reasons bring you up short. Probably would not even get past the AFCO.
Your reasons for joining must involve some positive commitment - it isn't just a financial consideration.
I'd join the RAF I joined in 1968 again like a shot if I was in your position.
Or the RAF of 1978, 1988 - and perhaps even 1998.
But would I join the RAF of today? Not b£oody likely!.
I'd join the RAF I joined in 1968 again like a shot if I was in your position.
Or the RAF of 1978, 1988 - and perhaps even 1998.
But would I join the RAF of today? Not b£oody likely!.
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Firstly, if you join the Forces as a pilot, you are an officer /soldier first and a pilot second.
The RAF as you probably know is very picky, and I hear that its not uncommon for them to drop people even half way through their training as they can afford to.
Decide whether you think u will like mil life first of all, then if the answer to thi is yes then try and join. Try all 3 services. However, with the army, if you get into Sandhurst, theres no guarentee you will be going to the AAC (helicopters)so you could end up not flying. If you go the NCO route again theres no guarentee u will be flying. I believe in the RN and RAF its different.
Hope ths helps
PM me if you need anymore info
The RAF as you probably know is very picky, and I hear that its not uncommon for them to drop people even half way through their training as they can afford to.
Decide whether you think u will like mil life first of all, then if the answer to thi is yes then try and join. Try all 3 services. However, with the army, if you get into Sandhurst, theres no guarentee you will be going to the AAC (helicopters)so you could end up not flying. If you go the NCO route again theres no guarentee u will be flying. I believe in the RN and RAF its different.
Hope ths helps
PM me if you need anymore info
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sorry if i've offended anyone, but i guess what i really want to know is what the lifestyle is like. How much of a social life do you get?food accommodation leave etc.
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Mate, the point the replies above were trying to make is that if you walk into AFCO/OASC with no information/service knowledge you will be likely to be shown the door. However if you really want to join the RAF , the social life can be great, and pay is reasonable, until Brown gets his mitts on his share. But you must balance against this the fact that time away from the UK is possibly an issue. ( why cant we invade barbados instead of iraq? ). My advice is, get the service knowledge and THINK very hard about your reasons for wanting to join up.
By the way, I'm originally from near you. I'm fron Shropshire.. near shrophire I presume?
By the way, I'm originally from near you. I'm fron Shropshire.. near shrophire I presume?
Avoid imitations
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"Mate, the point the replies above were trying to make is that if you walk into AFCO/OASC with no information/service knowledge you will be likely to be shown the door"
I think he has realised that - hence his question
I think he has realised that - hence his question
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Every young man should experience the military, it will do you a lot of good, no harm, and will set you apart from all your current mates who lack initiative, and you will learn a lot more about yourself than you do now!
Learn as much as you can about what you think you might want to do, then present yourself to a recruiter or whatever they call them these days, and give it your best shot. It will, however, need to be your very best, totally committed, enthusiastic shot, because you will fall otherwise.
Learn as much as you can about what you think you might want to do, then present yourself to a recruiter or whatever they call them these days, and give it your best shot. It will, however, need to be your very best, totally committed, enthusiastic shot, because you will fall otherwise.
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Great that you have expressed an interest in serving your country. However, the tone of your questions indicates to me that you are looking for a comfortable, financially rewarding and fun job and know nothing of service life.
My advice to you, as a former soldier of 34 years service and with a son currently serving as an RAF FJ pilot, is to look elsewhere. Service life, especially as an officer (you want to be a pilot), is not a bed of roses, requires a high level of commitment, a lot of personal sacrifice, is not family-friendly and the rewards are not material. I suspect you would find the loss of personal liberty, the obligations and the petty frustrations an unpleasant surprise.
Become a stockbroker and buy your own plane.
My advice to you, as a former soldier of 34 years service and with a son currently serving as an RAF FJ pilot, is to look elsewhere. Service life, especially as an officer (you want to be a pilot), is not a bed of roses, requires a high level of commitment, a lot of personal sacrifice, is not family-friendly and the rewards are not material. I suspect you would find the loss of personal liberty, the obligations and the petty frustrations an unpleasant surprise.
Become a stockbroker and buy your own plane.
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Justanother,
As a recruiter for the RAF, I agree with some of the posts regards your apparent motivation. That said, you are not expected to have any knowledge of the RAF when you first walk through the door. The recruiting climate is tough and we are only taking the best but if you are serious, go and have a chat with your nearest AFCO. If you want to know where it is or get the tel no, then PM me.
As a recruiter for the RAF, I agree with some of the posts regards your apparent motivation. That said, you are not expected to have any knowledge of the RAF when you first walk through the door. The recruiting climate is tough and we are only taking the best but if you are serious, go and have a chat with your nearest AFCO. If you want to know where it is or get the tel no, then PM me.
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Age a bar ?
Your age and experience may go against you.
About two years ago I discovered by chance that the upper age limit for Flight Ops Offr had gone up to late thirties. Looking at my financial and family circumstances, I decided it was worth further serious investigation. Having been in the OTC/TA since the age of 18 I was familiar with and mostly enjoyed the ways and workings of the armed forces. However, Flight Ops wasn't on offer when I left uni.
I went to three separate 'sessions' at the local AFCO, taking half a day off work for each (when in fact the whole paperwork / death by presentation process could have been completed in a 'oner'). I rapidly came to the conclusion that AFCO staff were only looking for potential recruits in their late teens or early twenties who could be moulded to the RAF's required shape. (Can't fathom why the upper age limit was extended when it was obviously not what was really required - can anyone enlighten me?) The clincher was some jumped-up AFCO corporal demanding to know why I hadn't returned his call within 30 milli-seconds, as if I was some teenage sprog straight out of college, rather than a mature adult with a reasonably demanding Monday-Friday job.
I was offering a unique skillset and range of experience to the organisation not a blank piece of paper. If you are the same you will chafe at IOT, before you even start working in the 'company' proper. Therefore, you have to want to do the whole forces 'bit' - it is not an alternative to Easyjet !! If you are in any way serious about this you should consider joining a RAuxAF or TA unit nearby before taking the plunge with the day job.
About two years ago I discovered by chance that the upper age limit for Flight Ops Offr had gone up to late thirties. Looking at my financial and family circumstances, I decided it was worth further serious investigation. Having been in the OTC/TA since the age of 18 I was familiar with and mostly enjoyed the ways and workings of the armed forces. However, Flight Ops wasn't on offer when I left uni.
I went to three separate 'sessions' at the local AFCO, taking half a day off work for each (when in fact the whole paperwork / death by presentation process could have been completed in a 'oner'). I rapidly came to the conclusion that AFCO staff were only looking for potential recruits in their late teens or early twenties who could be moulded to the RAF's required shape. (Can't fathom why the upper age limit was extended when it was obviously not what was really required - can anyone enlighten me?) The clincher was some jumped-up AFCO corporal demanding to know why I hadn't returned his call within 30 milli-seconds, as if I was some teenage sprog straight out of college, rather than a mature adult with a reasonably demanding Monday-Friday job.
I was offering a unique skillset and range of experience to the organisation not a blank piece of paper. If you are the same you will chafe at IOT, before you even start working in the 'company' proper. Therefore, you have to want to do the whole forces 'bit' - it is not an alternative to Easyjet !! If you are in any way serious about this you should consider joining a RAuxAF or TA unit nearby before taking the plunge with the day job.
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FrogPrince,
The process cannot be done in a 'oner' as you suggest. For a start, the presentations you attend are only run 2-3 times a month at most AFCOs and inveriably do not tie up with the actual day you come into the office. Moreover, there is a gap between the presentation and the interview for your benefit; you need time to take in the information and do your own research to prepare for the interview.
As far as the age limits are concerned, there is no policy of:
The age limits have been raised to capture the very person you describe; an older, more mature and experienced individual. The RAF has a good mix of all ages and backgrounds for good reason.
I sense a little bitterness at maybe not getting selected first time or thinking you knew better than the organisation? (the RAF has one of the most robust and effective selection procedures in the country - many companies and OGDs come to OASC for that very reason.) By the way, was the AFCO Corporal "jumped up" or did you just have a large chip on your shoulder from OTC/TA days?
Edited to include the age limit for pilot (17.5 to 23) and WSO (17.5 to 25). Although coming to the AFCO right on the upper age limit will probably not give you enough time to go through the process (approx 9 months).
I went to three separate 'sessions' at the local AFCO, taking half a day off work for each (when in fact the whole paperwork / death by presentation process could have been completed in a 'oner').
As far as the age limits are concerned, there is no policy of:
looking for potential recruits in their late teens or early twenties who could be moulded to the RAF's required shape.
I sense a little bitterness at maybe not getting selected first time or thinking you knew better than the organisation? (the RAF has one of the most robust and effective selection procedures in the country - many companies and OGDs come to OASC for that very reason.) By the way, was the AFCO Corporal "jumped up" or did you just have a large chip on your shoulder from OTC/TA days?
Edited to include the age limit for pilot (17.5 to 23) and WSO (17.5 to 25). Although coming to the AFCO right on the upper age limit will probably not give you enough time to go through the process (approx 9 months).
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Age
Oh, yes, I'm sure there's an element of 'what might have been' there. However, this forum shows it is possible to be an RAF FJ, ME, RW, bluntie etc. and still become bitter and twisted. 
'We all have regrets, but you can't say "Yeah, I should have f@@@ing done that".' Ozzy Osbourne.
The chip on my shoulder was knocked off very early on as a JNCO in the TA Int Corps. It was replaced by a confidence in my own capabilities developed over a decade pursuing two parallel careers - civilian and military. I still maintain that AFCO processes can't differentiate between the inexperienced and the older / more mature candidate.
My negative impression at the AFCO may have been misformed. However, the many postings on this forum (e.g. badly-managed course loadings, DAR etc.) show that the RAF ain't as well run as you suggest.
'We all have regrets, but you can't say "Yeah, I should have f@@@ing done that".' Ozzy Osbourne.
The chip on my shoulder was knocked off very early on as a JNCO in the TA Int Corps. It was replaced by a confidence in my own capabilities developed over a decade pursuing two parallel careers - civilian and military. I still maintain that AFCO processes can't differentiate between the inexperienced and the older / more mature candidate.
My negative impression at the AFCO may have been misformed. However, the many postings on this forum (e.g. badly-managed course loadings, DAR etc.) show that the RAF ain't as well run as you suggest.
Last edited by FrogPrince; 28th Nov 2005 at 19:55.
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justanother
remember
serving your country is not about money , it is about pride
raf is not just another job
being a pilot in raf is not like being in an airline,
quote :
__________________________________
( why cant we invade barbados instead of iraq? ).
___________________________________
the above is true therefore do stockbroking or pimp**g you can go to barbados
remember
serving your country is not about money , it is about pride
raf is not just another job
being a pilot in raf is not like being in an airline,
quote :
__________________________________
( why cant we invade barbados instead of iraq? ).
___________________________________
the above is true therefore do stockbroking or pimp**g you can go to barbados
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I think the answer to your question is:
Military lifestyle CAN be the right and most enjoyable lifestyle for THE RIGHT PERSON.
My advice to you is to get on a few visits, with all Services, and see where you fit in best, with the kind of people there etc.
I found that certain "types" got on better in different Services, and different units/squadrons for tht matter. The only person who knows if Mil lifestyle is for you is YOU
Plus do you mind time away from home? If the answers no then I sggest you rethink your options.
Regards
Military lifestyle CAN be the right and most enjoyable lifestyle for THE RIGHT PERSON.
My advice to you is to get on a few visits, with all Services, and see where you fit in best, with the kind of people there etc.
I found that certain "types" got on better in different Services, and different units/squadrons for tht matter. The only person who knows if Mil lifestyle is for you is YOU
Plus do you mind time away from home? If the answers no then I sggest you rethink your options.
Regards