Is anyone happy??
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Not Really In Scotland
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Would you believe 28 years.......... The promotion was supposed to arise from an LUE change. I was foolish enough to want to believe that there was still some integrity left within my command structure. Now preparing to be shafted again, beginning to think someone doesn't like me. But that's a story for another time. Investors in people 
don't make me laugh.
don't make me laugh.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Nomadic
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Looking forward to a post from:
a. Someone who is still IN (No offence to the new guys who are enjoying themselves - and have ignorant bliss- but if that's OK then that's fine)
b. Someone who has posted more than 10 posts on Pprune
c. Any one who has seen it all (Questionable - and open to interpretation)
d. A PMA (or DG PERS - or whoever they are called) 'Career Manager'
e. Someone who is all of the above.
...as for me, well I am serving in my THIRD air force, and, after 27 years of flying military aircraft - they still pay me, I still complain, BUT I can walk tomorrow if it all gets too difficult. - Which I know will raise questions from some fellow Ppruners as to my answer to the question as posted....
a. Someone who is still IN (No offence to the new guys who are enjoying themselves - and have ignorant bliss- but if that's OK then that's fine)
b. Someone who has posted more than 10 posts on Pprune
c. Any one who has seen it all (Questionable - and open to interpretation)
d. A PMA (or DG PERS - or whoever they are called) 'Career Manager'
e. Someone who is all of the above.
...as for me, well I am serving in my THIRD air force, and, after 27 years of flying military aircraft - they still pay me, I still complain, BUT I can walk tomorrow if it all gets too difficult. - Which I know will raise questions from some fellow Ppruners as to my answer to the question as posted....
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: United Kingdom
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Happy
1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.
2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.
3. favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky: a happy, fruitful land.
4. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
NO
Content
1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
2. British. agreeing; assenting.
3. Archaic. willing.
–verb (used with object) 4. to make content: These things content me.
–noun 5. the state or feeling of being contented; contentment: His content was threatened.
6. (in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
YES
Still In:
30+ Years, though still waiting for the 'bar' (LSGC)
10+ posts on Pprune
The nemesis of PMA
Vision of the future? Oh Yes. Includes the RAF? No!> Self Employment
1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.
2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of mind.
3. favored by fortune; fortunate or lucky: a happy, fruitful land.
4. apt or felicitous, as actions, utterances, or ideas.
NO
Content
1. satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
2. British. agreeing; assenting.
3. Archaic. willing.
–verb (used with object) 4. to make content: These things content me.
–noun 5. the state or feeling of being contented; contentment: His content was threatened.
6. (in the British House of Lords) an affirmative vote or voter.
YES
Still In:
30+ Years, though still waiting for the 'bar' (LSGC)
10+ posts on Pprune
The nemesis of PMA
Vision of the future? Oh Yes. Includes the RAF? No!> Self Employment
Join Date: May 2004
Location: middleofnowhere
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yes, I'm happy
Yes I'm happy at the moment, and getting happier every day.
I reckon my happiness should peak in around
2 years, 6 months and 24 days
thats without adding ressetlement, terminal and saved up annual leave
The Future's bright, the future's not purple........
I reckon my happiness should peak in around
2 years, 6 months and 24 days
thats without adding ressetlement, terminal and saved up annual leave
The Future's bright, the future's not purple........
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK
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I'm happy I am leaving. I'm also kind of happy few issues of substance are being tackled by my managers, who seem to favour froth and blame. It reassures me as I look to the future with one certainty - I don't want to do this anymore.
As is often the case I'm looking back with fond memories of some interesting and odd things I've got to do, but the past few years have been tarnished by knee-jerk policies, short termism and superficial changes from the top. We're smaller and way busier but haven't truly grasped that we have to do business differently now.
I don't know how it will be outside, but I'm optimistic and I can't say that about the future of the Service right now. I'm just crossing my fingers I get out before Iran...
As is often the case I'm looking back with fond memories of some interesting and odd things I've got to do, but the past few years have been tarnished by knee-jerk policies, short termism and superficial changes from the top. We're smaller and way busier but haven't truly grasped that we have to do business differently now.
I don't know how it will be outside, but I'm optimistic and I can't say that about the future of the Service right now. I'm just crossing my fingers I get out before Iran...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Bunbury, Australia
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All good down here in Australia 
Looking back I enjoyed some good times in the RAF but it was time to move on. Certainly dont regret serving or leaving, a whole world to explore and lifes to short to stay if your not happy.
Keep up the good work boys and girls and if you ever get to the point that you dont enjoy the life in blue then move on.
Looking back I enjoyed some good times in the RAF but it was time to move on. Certainly dont regret serving or leaving, a whole world to explore and lifes to short to stay if your not happy.
Keep up the good work boys and girls and if you ever get to the point that you dont enjoy the life in blue then move on.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh
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I'm happy and I meet most of LJRs criteria except d (and therefore e).
Had lots of great jobs working with great people in some interesting and challenging situations. Of course there are some plonkers out there but that's true in any walk of life. And yes there is much that could be improved, but once again that's true in most walks of life. So to the moaning gits out there: grin and bear it or poke off and leave those of us who are happy to enjoy our lives without you constantly dripping.
Throw another co-pilot on the fire BEags I'm getting chilly old chap.
Had lots of great jobs working with great people in some interesting and challenging situations. Of course there are some plonkers out there but that's true in any walk of life. And yes there is much that could be improved, but once again that's true in most walks of life. So to the moaning gits out there: grin and bear it or poke off and leave those of us who are happy to enjoy our lives without you constantly dripping.
Throw another co-pilot on the fire BEags I'm getting chilly old chap.
Fly-Friendly
Join Date: May 2006
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Gents
People need to realise that in the RAF it is a two tier system. Those that never deploy and are fat dumb and happy and those that live in various deserts and are away too much and grumble about it.
90% of the deployments are done by 10% of the people !!
People need to realise that in the RAF it is a two tier system. Those that never deploy and are fat dumb and happy and those that live in various deserts and are away too much and grumble about it.
90% of the deployments are done by 10% of the people !!
Join Date: May 2007
Location: England
Age: 53
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R21
Do please be very careful what you assume! Some of us do enjoy ops, doing what we have spent many years training to do, seeing albeit slowly differences being made.
LJR
Why because it has taken me this long to finally get fed up of those determined to demean my job and generally grind down the morale of all around, when I easily comply with a and c of your criteria, do I qualify as someone with an opinion not worth others time?
Do please be very careful what you assume! Some of us do enjoy ops, doing what we have spent many years training to do, seeing albeit slowly differences being made.
LJR
Why because it has taken me this long to finally get fed up of those determined to demean my job and generally grind down the morale of all around, when I easily comply with a and c of your criteria, do I qualify as someone with an opinion not worth others time?
Guest
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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening's full of the Linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening's full of the Linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Waddington UK
Age: 63
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I am now in my 28th year of Service and I am still happy (99% of the time) - but as an aside, am I the only one who thinks that when some starred wonder says something like "if you aren't happy then you should leave" (and I have heard it said) then they are breaking faith with the troops - if the people (their most important asset) are not happy then at least an attempt to make them so should be made. A little could go a long way here..... poor HTD rates, poor accommodation, poor welfare care for dependants when deployed....If they at least pretended to care.
I will now get off my soap box.
I will now get off my soap box.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
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I was happy (9/10) when airborne. I was extremely happy (10/10) over a long sea leg with no land-based nav aids. I was not happy on the ground.
I am now extremely happy when I wake up in the morning and the day is there.
I certainly would not be happy in the present day RAF. So sad.
I am now extremely happy when I wake up in the morning and the day is there.
I certainly would not be happy in the present day RAF. So sad.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: UK
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11 years in, 5 to go. Was I happy on the front line? The flying was fantastic but the life sucked, so on balance "no". Am I happy in my support role now? Good flying, happy family, a resounding "yes".