Mercs r us RAAF Recruitment

[L J R]

If you dig Adelaide that is..

[negative SOA]

I'm mot sure what you mean... Adelaide is treasury to a mild mannered population, its surrounding velds abound in rich culture and abodes, those from the mother country will be struck by its many similarities.

[cx da cxs]

Adelaide. The RAF retirement village. Don't blame them.

On another note:

Can you think of two words you can get from rearranging the word Navigator?

[MTOW]

Edinburgh, the main RAAF ASW base, is quite close to Elizabeth, which back in the 1950s and 60s was a very big reception camp for British migrants. Many got jobs in the area of the camp and settled in Elizabeth after moving out into mainstream Oz suburbia, making the area for quite some years more English than England. I don't know what it's like today, but back then, it was a case of 'spot the Aussie', and you had to listen long and hard to hear a Strine accent. 99% of the voices you heard were one variety of another of Brit regional accents.

[PommieB'stard]

Your passport is tied into citizenship. Three months to apply from signing up but 6 months from there (approx) for it to come through.
Your spouse will have to go through the normal waiting time and channels, it's just changed. Can't remember if it is 3 or 5 years.
Any kids that you have will be able to apply when you do.
Good luck down here
PB

[Charlie Luncher]

Taxing times

Dude
If you are non resident in UK you elect not to pay income tax you do however have to declare your earnings overseas on your annual tax return to the oz tax man. There are migrant agents that will advise you or it may be useful to contact one of the int banks such as Amex or HSBC for advice. I will cx with one of the grey hairs on the UK Forces pension, there are a couple who are tight enough having spent a time in the Northern Lands to know the best way around it all.
Charlie sends

[D-IFF_ident]

On the subject of Tax - should a serviceman be leaving the RAF to move outside of the EC, I understand it is possible to get a tax rebate based on a partial year's service. i.e. if you leave the UK to head to Oz in, say, Sep, then you will only have earned about 1/2 of your projected earnings for the tax year and, therefore, will have paid too much tax thus far.

As for pensions and transfers, I think there's a thread on ARRSE too, and I've yet to figure the best way forward.

[Siggie]

UK versus OZ pension tax

Charlie Luncher has asked me to post on Tax issues. As a mere whippersnapper, he does not yet qualify for her Majesty's recognition of excellent service, the RAF Pension. As posted previously on here, you have a few choices:

1. You can pay the minimum rate of tax in the UK on your pension and the Oz taxman will top up the amount of tax paid on that pension to the rate you would pay in Oz (about 40%, hopefully decreasing to 38% after 1 Jul 08).

2. You can elect to get your pension paid tax free in the UK (Inland revenue form 85 - I think!) and pay the whole amount in one go to the OZ taxman.

3. You don't declare it and hope that the OZ taxman won't notice an ex RAF type of XX years service arriving without a pension. (Absolutely no chance of that)

Another ex pat was interested in the scenario of having all of his pension paid into an offshore bank account and just leaving it there. He was very disappointed to learn, from the Australian Tax Office, that even if this money was never accessed, it was still classed as a 2nd income and therefore taxable at the previously proscribed rate.

It may be sunny over here, but Taxmen are Taxmen the world over, you won't escape paying what's owed to them - you would, however, lose your job if you got caught fiddling the system.

All of the tax advisors (I use H&R Block, a cheap and quick multi-office franchise) are conversant with the 2nd Income rates of tax and sorting it all out is not a problem.

[Ogre]

There must be something good about the jobs, when I moved over here I met up with an ex colleague who had been at Kinloss the same time as me. 6 weeks later he handed in his resignation, saying he was joining the RAAF in the same rank and trade as the left the RAF. No problems, just back in a blue suit Monday morning.

I must say though, it is not something I would contemplate. I like the fact I get to chose what I wear to work every day........

Ogre

[Charlie Luncher]

new arrivals

Pick up 3 more to maritime this month and we still have room for more, weather is even like an English summer/scottish heatwave 17c and rainy.
Charlie sends

[Hydraulic Palm Tree]

I made the jump to the Oz Army in Jan. Surprised more RAF RW pilots haven't jumped ship; come on in, the water is lovely and warm.

HPT

PS. Who is the CH47 QHI that is about to move over?

[PNVS]

I have also made the jump this year. As HPT confirmed the water is lovely and boy do we have room for more!

[propfails2FX]

How's 2 FTS looking on QFI's? Thinking of making the lateral jump that way if they're still hiring.

[Charlie Luncher]

QFIs

Prop
We have lost a few QFIs due to their ROSO ending and apparently they have had enough of four floored establishments, dodgy kebabs/rotis/satay cat, hangovers from hell and proper flying. So they have moved on to Fabian/Julian, kumquat and wheat grass shakes and flying by airoutes and george.
The main homes for QFIs are 2FTS in Perth/CFS at Sale and BFTS at Tamworth yee Har, being the military the choice is not always yours there are also slots within the FEGs(read Groups). Any specialist advice I can pass on your questions for you, the one about if my bum looks big in this flying suit, well buy a mirror.
Any further help just ask
Charlie sends

[caligula]

Charlie

Any thoughts on FJ pilot - front line rather than QFI?

Cheers

[Beartrap]

Tax on Pensions

Thee was some duff info provided earlier in this thread about taxation of pensions in Oz. Yes, pensions and lump sums taken after age 60 are tax free, but only if they come from a 'fully funded' scheme. By fully funded it means the individual contributed all the money to a fund that then invested it. RAF pensions are not - at least mine - is not from a fully funded source and I therefore will pay tax on it, at least I will if I ever reach the age of 60!There is some offset that reduces the amount of tax.MSBS, the RAAF pension scheme has two elements; the one (the employer benefit) that produces a pension as aopposed to a lump sum, is not fully funded and will also attract some tax.But the beer is cold, the red wine outstanding and petrol is less than 70p a litre!

[Charlie Luncher]

Once more around the buoy

Remusters and recruitment locally are in progress so they should have an idea of slots available for Lateral recruits:

Overseas Applicants | Defence Jobs

From a insider's point of view, of sorts, experienced Aircrew of all makes are always considered for all fleets. FAA is hurting due to Seasprite and are flush but the navy is looking for filthy submariners most likely to be based in Perth. Ground trades are in demand as well. Contact recruitment to see if your trade is required as they have the quotas.
I can answer, or at least find a someone who can, the general stuff about Oz and life over here in the colonies
Charlie sends

[GT521970]

You are one to speak of one choccy bar

There is heresay that the tap may be turned off for a bit, heresay at the moment but it is being bandied about ..

[Charlie Luncher]

Boredom

When people are bored they gossip especially the ones that feel threatened, they even put out slanderous comments about Choccy bars, notice you did not comment on the larger ladies.
Every offer is made on a case by case basis, Navy is short of sailors especially privateers not sure on the Army but can find out from our tame POHM Pongo.
Charlie sends
from a chilly 34c