Life after the RAF
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A thread about life after the RAF, populated by folk telling us how they all made the right decision yet, despite in some case being out for years and years they are still in here posting in the Military Aircrew thread 
4 years to to my 38 1/2 point and I do so hope that there is more to life than dribbling on in here to look forward to
4 years to to my 38 1/2 point and I do so hope that there is more to life than dribbling on in here to look forward to
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Last official day in RAF next Monday after 9 years. Currently on terminal leave getting 2 wages. 
Already happy I made the jump and even in the current financial climate had 3 job offers on the table all paying more than the RAF. Life in the RAF was great but so many more opportunities to further yourself in Civvy Street.
Already look fondly on my service but everytime I see a news article on current Ops or hear of the death of another serviceman it reinforces my belief that I made the correct decision. I am in a job where I easily get financial help in order to get additional resources such as equipment and personnel, bliss!
Enjoyed it but no regrets.
Already happy I made the jump and even in the current financial climate had 3 job offers on the table all paying more than the RAF. Life in the RAF was great but so many more opportunities to further yourself in Civvy Street. Already look fondly on my service but everytime I see a news article on current Ops or hear of the death of another serviceman it reinforces my belief that I made the correct decision. I am in a job where I easily get financial help in order to get additional resources such as equipment and personnel, bliss!
Enjoyed it but no regrets.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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You can leave the Air Force, but will the Air Force leave you?
My neighbour has just replaced his burglar alarm. It went off at 0 dark o'clock the other morning. It has exactly the same ringtones as the SAR scramble bell we had. I was out of bed and halfway down the stairs before I twigged. I left the RAF in 1997 and SAR in 1985.
My neighbour has just replaced his burglar alarm. It went off at 0 dark o'clock the other morning. It has exactly the same ringtones as the SAR scramble bell we had. I was out of bed and halfway down the stairs before I twigged. I left the RAF in 1997 and SAR in 1985.
Last edited by taxydual; 27th Nov 2008 at 16:24. Reason: Punctuation
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You can leave the Air Force, but will the Air Force leave you.
Whenever I look back on my life, as one does, I have vivid memories of quite a few aspects of my RAF career, which I mostly enjoyed and many of the people I served with. However my civilian job, which could be quite demanding, was just that, a job and I seldom think about it at all.
I must admit that reading PPRuNE does jog the memory somewhat. In fact since I've joined I've made contact with a couple of guys from wayback.
Getting a bollocking whilst trying to get my blue card signed made me realise I'd made the right decision in getting out.
Loved the work. Hated the unnecessary bull****, particularly from wankers who were only in a higher rank because of time or because promoting them was the easiest way to get rid of them.
Ended up doing a similar job for more money, paid overtime and holidays in the sun lasting two weeks.
Loved the work. Hated the unnecessary bull****, particularly from wankers who were only in a higher rank because of time or because promoting them was the easiest way to get rid of them.
Ended up doing a similar job for more money, paid overtime and holidays in the sun lasting two weeks.
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I don't think anybody is saying how great they are. I read it as people saying that the RAF was good when they joined, went downhill at rates varying according what they were doing and where, and people left and are doing OK outside. I joined in '58 and left in '77 before the major slide started and I enjoyed what I did but I am glad I am out.
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Moments of Deep Joy
. . . relax, it's not a woman's name . . .
However, it's nice when a flight or squadron commander suddenly pitches up as a first officer!
Sadly, when it happened to me, the guy was one of those rare sort, a gentleman and therefore still commanded the respect he was due when in blue (treating people like they were human beings etc instead of a rank structure).
Cheers Dograt, it was a pleasure in both regimes!
Why couldn't you have been a right b@st@rd?????
I've been out a while but thoroughly enjoyed being in the Reserve for a while - that was quite an experience, being 'in' but not 'in' so to speak.
Enjoyed my time though.
However, it's nice when a flight or squadron commander suddenly pitches up as a first officer!
Sadly, when it happened to me, the guy was one of those rare sort, a gentleman and therefore still commanded the respect he was due when in blue (treating people like they were human beings etc instead of a rank structure).
Cheers Dograt, it was a pleasure in both regimes!
Why couldn't you have been a right b@st@rd?????
I've been out a while but thoroughly enjoyed being in the Reserve for a while - that was quite an experience, being 'in' but not 'in' so to speak.
Enjoyed my time though.
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I had an uncle who served in the RFC, RNAS and RAF. He retired as a Warrant Officer in '51. When we used to chat about Service life he often said that the RAF that I knew wasn't the same or as good as the one he knew.
We agreed to differ but really it was just a case of perspective. The same applies today I believe.
We agreed to differ but really it was just a case of perspective. The same applies today I believe.
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I miss the familiar environment and the relatively carefree position of having a secure job, but not at the cost of being owned like a slave. Since the turn of the century the Service has become more and more demanding as rubber bands stretch, but the increased tempo has been matched by a similar rise in presumptiousness/lack of regard for people.
I'm quite sure the majority of people understand why we have to be away from home more often since 9/11, and most have the integrity to meet their commitments, but when the way we are managed is dumbed down, and people start to become little more than assets, it's time to go.
To compound issues, the tools we are provided with to do the job are ancient, inadequate or both, and I personally became tired of having to work harder for no other reason than to fix the plan because the kit had let us down, while working in spite of the new showpiece computer system.
As for why I continue to look at Pprune, it both reassures me that I've made the right decision despite the economy, while confirming that the RAF still lacks the fundamental desire to learn from the sort of mistakes that convinced me it was time to go.
More seriously, there are many behind me biding their time, still wearing uniform for now, and it astonishes me that this doesn't seem to have sunk in at the top. We need a dramatic, and dare I say revolutionary, reassessment of how the RAF does business. Right now there seems to be a lot of fiddling going on, with Rome as a backdrop.
I'm quite sure the majority of people understand why we have to be away from home more often since 9/11, and most have the integrity to meet their commitments, but when the way we are managed is dumbed down, and people start to become little more than assets, it's time to go.
To compound issues, the tools we are provided with to do the job are ancient, inadequate or both, and I personally became tired of having to work harder for no other reason than to fix the plan because the kit had let us down, while working in spite of the new showpiece computer system.
As for why I continue to look at Pprune, it both reassures me that I've made the right decision despite the economy, while confirming that the RAF still lacks the fundamental desire to learn from the sort of mistakes that convinced me it was time to go.
More seriously, there are many behind me biding their time, still wearing uniform for now, and it astonishes me that this doesn't seem to have sunk in at the top. We need a dramatic, and dare I say revolutionary, reassessment of how the RAF does business. Right now there seems to be a lot of fiddling going on, with Rome as a backdrop.
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Out 18 months now..........wow it has gone quick!!!
Doing well in Civie life?.....yes and enjoying it. New Job, new challenges, new friends, more money.
Regret leaving?.........no, I don’t think so.
Made the right decision leaving?...........who will ever know????.......I don’t know what would have happened if I had stayed in.
Things I miss?............The lads, the beer calls, the mess, Bruggen, the detachments: Deci, Goose Bay(em - not sure about that one), Incirlik (Carpets & Watches), Nellis (Vegas – Deci with lights), many others and even the various locations in the gulf. But my favourites were always aircraft recovery’s..........2 or 3 days away from the main base, changing an engine or whatever, on the piss with the crew and as thanks for fixing the jet, that crew giving the runway a bloody good beat up on takeoff.
Things I don’t miss?............jumped up young officers with no experience, skiving whinging barrack room lawyers from the crewroom, weak WOs, CCS & fitness tests (only because they were run by jumped up wanabees with a bit of power), LEAN, LITS, re-inventing the wheel and finally engineering officers (especially SENGOs) who were only on a Sqns’ to achieve their “tick in the box” – and they preached LOYALTY?????
Why do I read PPrune?............It make me laugh, it keeps me informed about something I will always care about, and it reminds me about everything I have written above.
As for you folks that are slating those that post here after they have left the RAF...........well you have yet to leave. If you had a full enjoyable career in the Air Force then you cannot turn your back on it. If you feel you can, then maybe you should not have been in it in the first place.
Finally:
With a rate of 1.15 posts per day since Feb 2007, I doubt there is for you........sorry
Doing well in Civie life?.....yes and enjoying it. New Job, new challenges, new friends, more money.
Regret leaving?.........no, I don’t think so.
Made the right decision leaving?...........who will ever know????.......I don’t know what would have happened if I had stayed in.
Things I miss?............The lads, the beer calls, the mess, Bruggen, the detachments: Deci, Goose Bay(em - not sure about that one), Incirlik (Carpets & Watches), Nellis (Vegas – Deci with lights), many others and even the various locations in the gulf. But my favourites were always aircraft recovery’s..........2 or 3 days away from the main base, changing an engine or whatever, on the piss with the crew and as thanks for fixing the jet, that crew giving the runway a bloody good beat up on takeoff.
Things I don’t miss?............jumped up young officers with no experience, skiving whinging barrack room lawyers from the crewroom, weak WOs, CCS & fitness tests (only because they were run by jumped up wanabees with a bit of power), LEAN, LITS, re-inventing the wheel and finally engineering officers (especially SENGOs) who were only on a Sqns’ to achieve their “tick in the box” – and they preached LOYALTY?????
Why do I read PPrune?............It make me laugh, it keeps me informed about something I will always care about, and it reminds me about everything I have written above.
As for you folks that are slating those that post here after they have left the RAF...........well you have yet to leave. If you had a full enjoyable career in the Air Force then you cannot turn your back on it. If you feel you can, then maybe you should not have been in it in the first place.
Finally:
4 years to to my 38 1/2 point and I do so hope that there is more to life than dribbling on in here to look forward to
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Flt Lt Mac,
I also come on here to remind me of the good times I had in the Air Force (and I have probably had a few more that you have). I come on here to read about posts that mention things and places that you have probably never heard of.
I never tried to justify my decision to leave the RAF.
And Seldom, apologies if you have taken insult to my comment, it was meant to be a bit of banter.
I also come on here to remind me of the good times I had in the Air Force (and I have probably had a few more that you have). I come on here to read about posts that mention things and places that you have probably never heard of.
I never tried to justify my decision to leave the RAF.
And Seldom, apologies if you have taken insult to my comment, it was meant to be a bit of banter.
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Well good for you. That can only mean one of two things:
You have been to Gan on Holiday.
Or you are also an “old duffer” and you finally worked out how to use a computer and join Prune earlier this year. Well done.
Go on tell me how long you have been in???
You have been to Gan on Holiday.
Or you are also an “old duffer” and you finally worked out how to use a computer and join Prune earlier this year. Well done.
Go on tell me how long you have been in???
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Flt Lt Mac
Seems we have a lot more in common that we thought. My old man was also in the RAF and I first landed (at the age of 8) at Gan in 1968. I will regret this but I was scared $h!tless about going on a VC10. My dad was so proud when I went to work on them 10 years later.
As for your degree....can’t fault it. I learnt on a C64 and a 286 (well before Pprune ).
Seems we have a lot more in common that we thought. My old man was also in the RAF and I first landed (at the age of 8) at Gan in 1968. I will regret this but I was scared $h!tless about going on a VC10. My dad was so proud when I went to work on them 10 years later.
As for your degree....can’t fault it. I learnt on a C64 and a 286 (well before Pprune ).
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To the Mods of this most excellent website and anyone else who wishes to contribute
A suggestion..
Would there be any value in having a new 'sub section' to the Military Aircrew Section on PPRune?
A sub section where we ex-military 'oldies,crusties, farts' or whatever adjective, could 'swing the lamp, pull sandbags,etc' without hijacking serious threads from our modern counterparts.
I have taken strong drink following an excellent dinner with old RAF mates. No doubt, I shall awake suffering the consequences.
Please be gentle with your responses.
My regards to all my readers.
Hic.
A suggestion..
Would there be any value in having a new 'sub section' to the Military Aircrew Section on PPRune?
A sub section where we ex-military 'oldies,crusties, farts' or whatever adjective, could 'swing the lamp, pull sandbags,etc' without hijacking serious threads from our modern counterparts.
I have taken strong drink following an excellent dinner with old RAF mates. No doubt, I shall awake suffering the consequences.
Please be gentle with your responses.
My regards to all my readers.
Hic.
Last edited by taxydual; 29th Nov 2008 at 00:24. Reason: The reason why alchohol and keyboards don't mix.
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A sub section where we ex-military 'oldies,crusties, farts' or whatever adjective, could 'swing the lamp, pull sandbags,etc' without hijacking serious threads from our modern counterparts.
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OMG, I left in 1971 after eleven years and I'd love to write about my experiences but I can't remember any. It's so long ago but I think I'm sure we had some aircraft. Computers weren't very sophisticated back then, kind of like a rack with balls on. Have to stop now, the keyboard's getting wet, I hope it's only dribble.
Apologies to those still serving for using some of your valuable bandwidth.
s37
Apologies to those still serving for using some of your valuable bandwidth.
s37