Is it really THAT bad??
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oxford
Age: 38
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is it really THAT bad??
Hi,
Im a UAS member that browses through these pages every now and again.
Im looking at joining up after Uni (if they'll have me!) but looking at the recent threads on this forum it would seem a bad idea!
Numerous threads have been saying that the RAF is terrible, in melt down etc.
Now, I don't know the inner workings of a job in the RAF but when im finding work a real pain in the
I try and step back and look at my position. Then I find that I have a pretty good deal.
All jobs have changed a lot in the last few years, especially after 9/11, money seems to have been made even more of a priority for all, so cuts are inevitable.
So im suggesting that we start a thread about the good things of being in the RAF. Even though im only a UAS member im gunna try and start.
1. I get free flying lessons!!
2. My gf loves the uniform
3. And the best bit, theres great camaraderie between forces members.
Now i'll let the real RAF guys/girls have there say...
Im a UAS member that browses through these pages every now and again.
Im looking at joining up after Uni (if they'll have me!) but looking at the recent threads on this forum it would seem a bad idea!
Numerous threads have been saying that the RAF is terrible, in melt down etc.
Now, I don't know the inner workings of a job in the RAF but when im finding work a real pain in the
I try and step back and look at my position. Then I find that I have a pretty good deal. All jobs have changed a lot in the last few years, especially after 9/11, money seems to have been made even more of a priority for all, so cuts are inevitable.
So im suggesting that we start a thread about the good things of being in the RAF. Even though im only a UAS member im gunna try and start.
1. I get free flying lessons!!
2. My gf loves the uniform
3. And the best bit, theres great camaraderie between forces members.
Now i'll let the real RAF guys/girls have there say...
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Scotland
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nope it aint that bad,I've been in 20yrs and enjoyed every minute of it.Still enjoying every minute too.
You do have to be realistic though and understand you will be joining a far smaller military and expect to do your fair share of OOA,deployments,extra duties etc etc.It is certainly a lot different from when I joined but I still wouldnt change my life for anything else and I still have another 11yrs left to go.
You do have to be realistic though and understand you will be joining a far smaller military and expect to do your fair share of OOA,deployments,extra duties etc etc.It is certainly a lot different from when I joined but I still wouldnt change my life for anything else and I still have another 11yrs left to go.
lower the tone!
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
Clearly your girlfriend has never seen the black and gold of the Senior Service - then she'd know why all the girls love a sailor 
) 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Marham
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Money is excellent, flying is sometimes fantastic often fun and never boring...
Social life is the envy of all civvies who come into contact with us.
You'll get to see plenty of the world and dispose of some of it!
Basically, I love it. Joined up as an airman in the early nineties, visited OASC and won a ticket to IOT and never looked back.
It's true that there has been a lot of negative press on here with regards to the RAF and some of it is indeed true however, the good outweighs the bad and although morale could be much, much higher... most people I know have no intention of banging out.
Social life is the envy of all civvies who come into contact with us.
You'll get to see plenty of the world and dispose of some of it!
Basically, I love it. Joined up as an airman in the early nineties, visited OASC and won a ticket to IOT and never looked back.
It's true that there has been a lot of negative press on here with regards to the RAF and some of it is indeed true however, the good outweighs the bad and although morale could be much, much higher... most people I know have no intention of banging out.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hemel Hempstead
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ghostie 31.
I've been doing this RAF stuff since 1968, and I bet some on here a lot longer than that.
Things to bear in mind are:
You will never be rich - unless you win the lottery
You will often have your weekends/bank hols/ private life etc buggered up.
You will spend much of each year in various sandboxes around the world.
You may well be shot at/mortared/rocketed etc...And thats just by the Yanks let alone your enemy.
You will be messed about by petty beaurocrats at every turn.
If you are married, there is a better than even chance you will be divorced.
If you do well and get promoted, you only get one flying tour as a Wg Cdr, so the flying might be all behind you by the time you are 40ish.
BUT,
You get to do things that you will remember for the rest of your life.
You will be part of things that lesser mortals read about in history books
You will make real friends that will stay with you where ever you end up in the world.
You will laugh a lot.
I've been doing this RAF stuff since 1968, and I bet some on here a lot longer than that.
Things to bear in mind are:
You will never be rich - unless you win the lottery
You will often have your weekends/bank hols/ private life etc buggered up.
You will spend much of each year in various sandboxes around the world.
You may well be shot at/mortared/rocketed etc...And thats just by the Yanks let alone your enemy.
You will be messed about by petty beaurocrats at every turn.
If you are married, there is a better than even chance you will be divorced.
If you do well and get promoted, you only get one flying tour as a Wg Cdr, so the flying might be all behind you by the time you are 40ish.
BUT,
You get to do things that you will remember for the rest of your life.
You will be part of things that lesser mortals read about in history books
You will make real friends that will stay with you where ever you end up in the world.
You will laugh a lot.
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No seriously - the RAF can't be that bad, that's why there have been a good few members of the RN and the AAC transfer over to it in very recent years. Those transferring away from the RAF to our 'senior' services can be counted on the toes of one hand!!!!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The AAC will go anywhere that will let them keep flying. So many have come Dark Blue that the appointers have been asked to put a stop to it.
...and we won't LET many of the RAF transfer to us.
...and we won't LET many of the RAF transfer to us.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh, education. Isn't it a marvelous thing to behold. Yes, the AAC is mainly helis. And here the education begins. Regardless of the bashing the AAC gets from the sideways walking members of the forum, the Army operate more helis than the RAF and the RN combined.
Let the flames and bigoted snobbery commence.
Let the flames and bigoted snobbery commence.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: wilts
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AAC do indeed operate more helis than RAF and RN!! but we operate more aeroplanes so there!!!
The airforce is going downhill fast, being away more than ever and having more taken away from you for doing so. The only thing that really keepsit going is the attitude of some of the people who work very hard.
As for choosing hotels, i spent 3 days in one last year... the rest was Iraq and other nice sandy places....
still, as long as your gf gets excited about you in your little tutor, who cares!
The airforce is going downhill fast, being away more than ever and having more taken away from you for doing so. The only thing that really keepsit going is the attitude of some of the people who work very hard.
As for choosing hotels, i spent 3 days in one last year... the rest was Iraq and other nice sandy places....
still, as long as your gf gets excited about you in your little tutor, who cares!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hemel Hempstead
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ghostie 31
Do not despair young chap. All these people are envious of your youth, and the fact that you still have a gf. Remember even truckiebloke, had to learn how to fly once long ago. He is probably too rotund these days from his extensive in flight rations to even fit in a Tutor. Enjoy it while you can.
Do not despair young chap. All these people are envious of your youth, and the fact that you still have a gf. Remember even truckiebloke, had to learn how to fly once long ago. He is probably too rotund these days from his extensive in flight rations to even fit in a Tutor. Enjoy it while you can.