RAF Reserves
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RAF Reserves
Morning all
Have decided at the ripe old age of 35 to have a crack at applying for the Reserves as there is a Squadron which specialises in my line of work. Had a good natter with the Adj on the phone yesterday following a visit to my local careers office. I was definitely the oldest person in there!
Has anyone here got any advice or experiences they would like to share regarding the Reserves - particularly for those who have not previously served?
Thanks in advance!
Gareth
Have decided at the ripe old age of 35 to have a crack at applying for the Reserves as there is a Squadron which specialises in my line of work. Had a good natter with the Adj on the phone yesterday following a visit to my local careers office. I was definitely the oldest person in there!
Has anyone here got any advice or experiences they would like to share regarding the Reserves - particularly for those who have not previously served?
Thanks in advance!
Gareth
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Gareth,
I presume you mean the Royal Auxilliary Air Force and not the R Aux AF Regiment, or perhaps the RAF Reserve? Do you know which one? At 35 you are probably physically too old for the Regiment.
Do you have any civilian skills to bring to the party like medical?
I presume you mean the Royal Auxilliary Air Force and not the R Aux AF Regiment, or perhaps the RAF Reserve? Do you know which one? At 35 you are probably physically too old for the Regiment.
Do you have any civilian skills to bring to the party like medical?
Red On, Green On
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Wader
You can join up to the age of 50 as a Gunner, or 55 with previous service. To be fair to GH, the RAF's own web site calls the RAuxAF the Reserves:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/ca...mentgunner.cfm
You can join up to the age of 50 as a Gunner, or 55 with previous service. To be fair to GH, the RAF's own web site calls the RAuxAF the Reserves:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafreserves/ca...mentgunner.cfm
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Gareth,
I presume you mean the Royal Auxilliary Air Force and not the R Aux AF Regiment, or perhaps the RAF Reserve? Do you know which one? At 35 you are probably physically too old for the Regiment.
Do you have any civilian skills to bring to the party like medical?
I presume you mean the Royal Auxilliary Air Force and not the R Aux AF Regiment, or perhaps the RAF Reserve? Do you know which one? At 35 you are probably physically too old for the Regiment.
Do you have any civilian skills to bring to the party like medical?
It won't be the Regiment - I wouldn't last ten minutes!
I'm applying for RAFAUX 7644 PR SQN (which is part of what all seems to be classed as the Reserves these days) as PR is my civilian specialism.
Gareth
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A_A,
You may indeed be able to join the Regiment up to ages 50/55 but that is theory not practise.
A nephew, the one who subsequently joined the TA and then bottled out when the mobilisation papers arrived, was just 28. He went to Honington and 'survived' the acquaint course but was advised that he was too old for the rigours of the regiment.
When he joined the TA he was steered away from the fit and running around in warpaint bit and pointed towards a truck. He is built like a racing snake but is probably wholly unfit.
You may indeed be able to join the Regiment up to ages 50/55 but that is theory not practise.
A nephew, the one who subsequently joined the TA and then bottled out when the mobilisation papers arrived, was just 28. He went to Honington and 'survived' the acquaint course but was advised that he was too old for the rigours of the regiment.
When he joined the TA he was steered away from the fit and running around in warpaint bit and pointed towards a truck. He is built like a racing snake but is probably wholly unfit.
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Wader2 - SAC Gary Thompson, killed in Afg six weeks ago, joined the RAuxAFR aged 48. He was 51 when he died, which I think makes him the oldest fatality.
RAF press release
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RAuxAF
GH,
7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn RAuxAF to give it its proper name, is a very valuable - and poorly understood - RAF asset. It's quite small, but the personnel I've met from there have been top-notch. So, if you want to make a contribution, give it a go.
The inevitable caveat follows: ANYONE who is thinking about joining the Reserves today must do so in the Expectation that they are going to be deployed, and that operational dets will come around at least once every five years, if not once every three years.
I would suggest that this means that anyone looking to join who is not in a job where their employer is by nature sympathetic (e.g. civil service, which doesn't have much of a choice) or is part-time or self-employed, thinks long and hard about joining up because - as a Reservist myself - this is likely to harm your normal civilian career. And yes, it is as simple as that: most employers understand once... but when it's a rolling commitment, it's a different matter.
So do give it a go - it's a great experience, and I wouldn't miss it for a second: but remember, like all service personnel a cost will be borne by your family, and unlike regulars, you may well pay a professional cost as well.
PM me for further.
S41
7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn RAuxAF to give it its proper name, is a very valuable - and poorly understood - RAF asset. It's quite small, but the personnel I've met from there have been top-notch. So, if you want to make a contribution, give it a go.
The inevitable caveat follows: ANYONE who is thinking about joining the Reserves today must do so in the Expectation that they are going to be deployed, and that operational dets will come around at least once every five years, if not once every three years.
I would suggest that this means that anyone looking to join who is not in a job where their employer is by nature sympathetic (e.g. civil service, which doesn't have much of a choice) or is part-time or self-employed, thinks long and hard about joining up because - as a Reservist myself - this is likely to harm your normal civilian career. And yes, it is as simple as that: most employers understand once... but when it's a rolling commitment, it's a different matter.
So do give it a go - it's a great experience, and I wouldn't miss it for a second: but remember, like all service personnel a cost will be borne by your family, and unlike regulars, you may well pay a professional cost as well.
PM me for further.
S41
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Gareth
Don't worry about your age mate, especially if you're not going to be Regiment.
When I was in the RAuxAF there were plenty of guys just joining in Regiment and Force Protection roles who were much older than you, so don't sweat it.
As squirrel says though - expect to deploy with some frequency...
Enjoy
Don't worry about your age mate, especially if you're not going to be Regiment.
When I was in the RAuxAF there were plenty of guys just joining in Regiment and Force Protection roles who were much older than you, so don't sweat it.
As squirrel says though - expect to deploy with some frequency...
Enjoy
GH
The military training for RAuxAF has undergone a step change in the last 12 months. Both the Basic Recruits Training Course and Reserves Officer Initial Training (ROIT) course have been rewritten, with Halton and Cranwell now playing a pivotal role. If you are going for a commission, expect to take around 12-18 months to get through training. The final assessment on ROIT now sees RAuxAF potential officers joining the main IOT Sqn and having to pass the same leads to the same standards on Exercise Decisive Edge.
Good luck.
You will enjoy every moment of it!
The military training for RAuxAF has undergone a step change in the last 12 months. Both the Basic Recruits Training Course and Reserves Officer Initial Training (ROIT) course have been rewritten, with Halton and Cranwell now playing a pivotal role. If you are going for a commission, expect to take around 12-18 months to get through training. The final assessment on ROIT now sees RAuxAF potential officers joining the main IOT Sqn and having to pass the same leads to the same standards on Exercise Decisive Edge.
Good luck.
You will enjoy every moment of it!
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Thanks folks
Snoopy - sounds like the brochure I was given is out of date! Thanks for the info.
As an aside I was also given a DVD to watch by the careers office - I hope no one decides to join up from the lure of working on Jags or being posted to Coltishall!
Snoopy - sounds like the brochure I was given is out of date! Thanks for the info.
As an aside I was also given a DVD to watch by the careers office - I hope no one decides to join up from the lure of working on Jags or being posted to Coltishall!
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I'm 45, former TA Para, still as fit as I was in my twenties when I was in TA (by my logged rowing times), and have ATPL. I wrote to the AAC a couple of months ago to ask if they wanted any fixed-wing pilots. I got a holding reply from them a while back - but no further news since. I guess they are not that desperate for oldies just yet.
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7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn RAuxAF to give it its proper name, is a very valuable - and poorly understood - RAF asset. It's quite small, but the personnel I've met from there have been top-notch.
That's because most of them are professional PR / Media types! Top bunch of people because they know their particular part of the media backwards before joining up, so the lesson there being choose your squadron carefully.
Mate of mine joined the RAuxAF last year at the age of 42 and is loving it.
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Spit --
Er, no. The old war appointed RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was distinct from the VR(Training) [VR(T)] of the Air Cadets.
For the spotters about, the war appointed RAFVR was amalgamated into the RAuxAF in 1997. As a result, the four flights of the war appointed RAFVR - 7006 Intelligence, 7010 Photo Interpretation, 7630 Interpretation and 7644 PR all became Squadrons of the RAuxAF, but with the suffix [VR] after the Squadon number (hence 7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn, RAuxAF).
IIRC, the RAFVR does still exist as a wartime measure to allow for the rapid expansion of the RAF if required - but virtually no-one is in it - the VR Sqns are all RAuxAF personnel, the Air Cadets are RAFVR(T), and the other wierd hybrids including the RAF Reserve (RAFR) are different beasts.
To be honest, if the whole thing were called the RAF Reserve, it would be much more intuitive - RAuxAF remains a confusing and potentially "separate" identity, whatever the glorious history.
S41
Er, no. The old war appointed RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was distinct from the VR(Training) [VR(T)] of the Air Cadets.
For the spotters about, the war appointed RAFVR was amalgamated into the RAuxAF in 1997. As a result, the four flights of the war appointed RAFVR - 7006 Intelligence, 7010 Photo Interpretation, 7630 Interpretation and 7644 PR all became Squadrons of the RAuxAF, but with the suffix [VR] after the Squadon number (hence 7644[VR] Media Operations Sqn, RAuxAF).
IIRC, the RAFVR does still exist as a wartime measure to allow for the rapid expansion of the RAF if required - but virtually no-one is in it - the VR Sqns are all RAuxAF personnel, the Air Cadets are RAFVR(T), and the other wierd hybrids including the RAF Reserve (RAFR) are different beasts.
To be honest, if the whole thing were called the RAF Reserve, it would be much more intuitive - RAuxAF remains a confusing and potentially "separate" identity, whatever the glorious history.
S41
Last edited by Squirrel 41; 5th Jun 2008 at 23:02. Reason: Edited for spolink
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
When we used to wear No 1s you often saw the lapel badges - VRT sometimes an A and also an R. I suppose the VRT ones are still around.
As for amalgamating all the 'separate' air forces it would certainly reduce the confusionwith the brown jobs. However there is a strict pecking order in the AFA. An RAFR officer of higher rank is superior to any RAF officer of lower rank whereas an RAF officer of the same rank is always superior no matter what his seniority.
And no cracks about Harrier pilots.
As for amalgamating all the 'separate' air forces it would certainly reduce the confusionwith the brown jobs. However there is a strict pecking order in the AFA. An RAFR officer of higher rank is superior to any RAF officer of lower rank whereas an RAF officer of the same rank is always superior no matter what his seniority.
And no cracks about Harrier pilots.
GH,
If your Sqn has not put any one through the ROIT course for some time, it may well be worth while your Sqn Training Officer (if you have one) giving Cranwell a ring.
Within OACTU A Sqn, a post has been established to run ROIT. Your Sqn should be able to contact them and get the latest update as to what is now involved.
I understand there is a Officer Cadet on the present ROIT course aged over 50, and sources tell me they are putting some of the younger people to shame!
Like all things in life, you get out what you put in. Put in the effort and the rewards will be great. You will meet and work with some fantastic people, go to strange places and do strange things, it will be hard and at times you will question why you bothered as a volunteer. However, when you look back and chew the fat with your oppo over a few beers, you will realise why you do it.
And it is not for the tin on your chest as the PM would like to think !!!
If your Sqn has not put any one through the ROIT course for some time, it may well be worth while your Sqn Training Officer (if you have one) giving Cranwell a ring.
Within OACTU A Sqn, a post has been established to run ROIT. Your Sqn should be able to contact them and get the latest update as to what is now involved.
I understand there is a Officer Cadet on the present ROIT course aged over 50, and sources tell me they are putting some of the younger people to shame!
Like all things in life, you get out what you put in. Put in the effort and the rewards will be great. You will meet and work with some fantastic people, go to strange places and do strange things, it will be hard and at times you will question why you bothered as a volunteer. However, when you look back and chew the fat with your oppo over a few beers, you will realise why you do it.
And it is not for the tin on your chest as the PM would like to think !!!
Gentleman Aviator
Interesting point about the confusion in different sort of reserves - particularly apropos the VR(T).
I recently saw a VR(T) recruiting brochure, and on about very other page it said: " ... but you will have no mobilisation obligations."
I recently saw a VR(T) recruiting brochure, and on about very other page it said: " ... but you will have no mobilisation obligations."
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Morning all
Received a reply from the Squadron this morning and have been invited to Halton for a training weekend next month.
Once again - a big thank you for all the wisdom and advice thus far.
Gareth
Received a reply from the Squadron this morning and have been invited to Halton for a training weekend next month.
Once again - a big thank you for all the wisdom and advice thus far.
Gareth