16 years
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16 years
I stepped out of an RAF station for the last time as a serviceman today, although I am not finished just yet. Walking in the sunshine around a station at which I spent a few months some time ago I couldn't help think how proud I felt on being accepted and completion of various elements of training. 16 fantastic years, ops, dets and friends. There were rough times, too many lost friends and colleagues. There were a few throbbers, not all of them above me in the chain of command. I will confess to a moment of 'what the fcuk have I done?' However, it's not the service I joined but I suppose it never is for guys at my stage. It's always been evolving, if it's no longer for you then it's time to leave, and so it is for me. Leave it to the young guys and gals coming in, it's their time, the service they have joined. I suppose I'll miss some bits, especially on lousy winter days on a train but only time will tell if I regret leaving. It's been emotional.
Last edited by rathebelucky; 8th Aug 2012 at 20:01.
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Good luck in the future, you will find things different on the outside, it is a bit of a culture shock, but you will look back on your time with fondness and a little pride 
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Good Luck! it is different on the outside, they dont quite get our banter, but you will cope. Sometime get frustrated at the way they do things and phaff about. No military precision here. Best Wishes
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Welcome to the street. I still remember walking out of the gates for the last time and I'd been a civilian for three days by then. Just couldn't bring myself to do it and felt a little lost. Since then I've had some great jobs that involved even more travel than when I was in. Now well retired but still remember the good times and have regular contact with some mates from back then.
Good luck with whatever course you take and enjoy it.
Good luck with whatever course you take and enjoy it.
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And you'll keep coming on here to maintain some sort of link and, eventually, some spotty git will bad-mouth you for being "out of touch with the real RAF" and call you a "crusty old git". Your blood pressure will reach new heights and, if you are really lucky, the mods will ban you for a while for getting personal.
Then, and only then, you will have successfully made the transition to civilian life.
It's great out here
Then, and only then, you will have successfully made the transition to civilian life.
It's great out here
Thoroughly enjoyed my time with the RAF. PVR'd a long time ago, but never looked back - personally I had absolutely no problems 'adjusting' - perhaps because I didn't go on a resettlement course. There is life after the military ...
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Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
"Relax, " said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
"Relax, " said the night man,
"We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! "
ratherbelucky.. good luck and enjoy.
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Good luck chap, you are streets ahead of the Great Unwashed simply as an ex-serviceman. Take the more positive traits that the RAF gave you, dump the rest & adapt to survive!
I left (after 24yrs) just before you joined up - as Edith Piaf famously said, "Je ne regrette rien" - I would do it all again, but better. I would not have wished to miss the experiences I have had (& continue to have) in civilian life.
Life is a game, play it!
HB
I left (after 24yrs) just before you joined up - as Edith Piaf famously said, "Je ne regrette rien" - I would do it all again, but better. I would not have wished to miss the experiences I have had (& continue to have) in civilian life.
Life is a game, play it!
HB
Avoid imitations
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I was in the services for 18 years. I had to leave to get the job I wanted when I was "in".
Left after 27 years, thoroughly enjoyed my time but have never looked back for one second nor regretted handing over every last bit of kit that I was forced to store in my loft to a highly disgruntled (civvy) stacker & my chopped up 1250 to a bemused shiny 
Good luck in your new life.
Good luck in your new life.
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I served 20 years in the RAF, good and not so good times but mostly good and sometimes excellent. Stood me in good stead for another 20+ yrs career in civvie life which, although interesting and well paid never had any real highs or lows.
I still recall quite vividly some of my experiences in the RAF but I found my job outside ordinary in comparison, probably just as well!
This excellent forum obviously keeps my memories of the RAF alive too.
Best wishes rathebelucky for your future, whatever you do, your experience in the RAF will be there to guide you.
I still recall quite vividly some of my experiences in the RAF but I found my job outside ordinary in comparison, probably just as well!
This excellent forum obviously keeps my memories of the RAF alive too.
Best wishes rathebelucky for your future, whatever you do, your experience in the RAF will be there to guide you.
It is 33 years since I walked out of my last base. My wife, who had come to collect me, was not even allowed to enter and turn round at the gate as our vehicle pass had been cancelled.
I enjoyed my time in the service, but was glad to be away from the petty prats like the SNCO manning the guardroom that day. He probably got a little thrill from being able to use his authority on someone, whom the previous day, had outranked him.
I enjoyed my time in the service, but was glad to be away from the petty prats like the SNCO manning the guardroom that day. He probably got a little thrill from being able to use his authority on someone, whom the previous day, had outranked him.
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Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
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8 years now, loved most of my time in and absolutely loving all of my time out. Neighbours have no idea I was in the mob, I speak to them all but don't know them like I knew my military neighbours on quarters. You have nothing at all to fear once you actually accept that you are 'out'.
Last edited by jayteeto; 9th Aug 2012 at 11:23.
Have been a civvy for 6 months now after 27 years service. I volunteered for traunch 1 redundancy, but still find it hard to let go:
Although I am enjoying civvy life very much, and believe leaving was the right decision, I still think a lot about what is going on "inside", how my friends and ex-colleagues are doing, what stupidity is being implimented this week, and reading pprune.
Flying was money for old rope, despite the dets to places east, and I would certainly do it all again if given a second chance.
I wonder if I will still think about it as much in 6 months from now?
Although I am enjoying civvy life very much, and believe leaving was the right decision, I still think a lot about what is going on "inside", how my friends and ex-colleagues are doing, what stupidity is being implimented this week, and reading pprune.
Flying was money for old rope, despite the dets to places east, and I would certainly do it all again if given a second chance.
I wonder if I will still think about it as much in 6 months from now?
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And you'll keep coming on here to maintain some sort of link
I retired from full time in 76 and had a load of fun. I carried on in the VR until 94. Still having a load of fun. I retired from civilian flying in 2002. The fun never ceased. I 'm still having loads of fun now 10 years later. I think the attitude to my working life was partly formed from the time in the service. You have the right to expect nothing from civilian life but if you keep your shoulder pushing in the scrum, it's a fact you will pass every body else along the way. Remember - of the ones that you didn't like all that much along the way - sit on the river bank long enough and watch the bodies of your enemies floating by.
There are loads of friends you haven't met yet.
There are loads of friends you haven't met yet.
Last edited by 5aday; 10th Aug 2012 at 14:53.