WOULD YOU JOIN UP NOW
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
In a flash. The chance to visit the USA, Canada, Middle East, Europe, South Atlantic, all the adventures of Boy's Own.
A tour in Aden? Same as a tour in India before the First World War, relatively speaking.
Javelin, Valiant? Same as the the Bleriot.
A tour in Aden? Same as a tour in India before the First World War, relatively speaking.
Javelin, Valiant? Same as the the Bleriot.
There's 2 million unemployed, and the under 25s are disproportionaly represented in that group. Kids don't have the service track record for informed whingeing yet- they will- but not yet. The training will likely be better than most other places, and they will have an employment record after even the shortest stint (3yrs?).
They might get killed. But probably not.
CG
They might get killed. But probably not.
CG
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Yes.
It isn't the place it was, but it will still give you a bunch of standards, respect for those higher up the chain and personal confidence that you CAN cope no matter what gets thrown at you.
It can also give you a new perspective from which to base the rest of your life: Seeing others maimed really does help you to see what matters and what is 'niff-naff'.
Personally I'm now working for a great employer, with a career path I manage and far more opportunities than the current Air Force provides. The pay is very good and the benefits definitely worth having. I certainly feel valued.
I certainly wouldn't go back, but I am very glad I experienced everything I did over the 23 years I served.
It isn't the place it was, but it will still give you a bunch of standards, respect for those higher up the chain and personal confidence that you CAN cope no matter what gets thrown at you.
It can also give you a new perspective from which to base the rest of your life: Seeing others maimed really does help you to see what matters and what is 'niff-naff'.
Personally I'm now working for a great employer, with a career path I manage and far more opportunities than the current Air Force provides. The pay is very good and the benefits definitely worth having. I certainly feel valued.
I certainly wouldn't go back, but I am very glad I experienced everything I did over the 23 years I served.
Last edited by glum; 22nd Nov 2012 at 11:26.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
With the downsizing of the armed forces the recruiting pool is looking vanishingly small too.
Fair point PN, but for a school leaver with 5 GCSEs with Maths and English, who doesn't fancy BTech in Underwater Basket Weaving, it is a good opportunity.
CG
CG
Nemesis of the Proot Dynasty
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I left the R.A.F. in 1973, having joined in 1959. Would I have advocated any of my four children to join? I doubt it, even though back then, I had a good career. Albeit, my eldest daughter did eventually fly in the U.S. Air Force.
But I have often wondered since I left, whether I made the wrong decision to join (or rather my father, who signed me up at 15 until I was 30). Even in my early teens, I desperately wanted to be either a pilot or a film director. And a film director seemed like pie in the sky.
When I came out in 1973, I started to pursue a media career and eventually reached the dizzying heights of Director (after Cameraman, VT Editor and Producer). However, my question to myself is, had I started my media career in the early 60s instead of the 70s, would I have made it to Hollywood big time? Who knows (although I did do one Hollywood series)?
My point is, did my air force career eventually stop me achieving my full potential? Although it gave me many skills (including flying) which I otherwise would not have acquired I’ll never know; and whilst I enjoyed my time in the air force, I do often wonder what might have been.
Like others on this thread, I would pose the question, where do you go after the military now? The answer seems to be a very big question mark, especially in today’s economic climate. I would hate my children to have served in the military and now be looking for a virtually non-existent job in Civvy Street and trying to support a family.
But I have often wondered since I left, whether I made the wrong decision to join (or rather my father, who signed me up at 15 until I was 30). Even in my early teens, I desperately wanted to be either a pilot or a film director. And a film director seemed like pie in the sky.
When I came out in 1973, I started to pursue a media career and eventually reached the dizzying heights of Director (after Cameraman, VT Editor and Producer). However, my question to myself is, had I started my media career in the early 60s instead of the 70s, would I have made it to Hollywood big time? Who knows (although I did do one Hollywood series)?
My point is, did my air force career eventually stop me achieving my full potential? Although it gave me many skills (including flying) which I otherwise would not have acquired I’ll never know; and whilst I enjoyed my time in the air force, I do often wonder what might have been.
Like others on this thread, I would pose the question, where do you go after the military now? The answer seems to be a very big question mark, especially in today’s economic climate. I would hate my children to have served in the military and now be looking for a virtually non-existent job in Civvy Street and trying to support a family.
Would I join now? NO!
Would I join again if I could turn the clock back 44 years? YES!
(Best decision I ever made in my life was to join the RAF; the second best decision I made was to leave. I did enjoy most of the intervening 28 years though).
Would I join again if I could turn the clock back 44 years? YES!
(Best decision I ever made in my life was to join the RAF; the second best decision I made was to leave. I did enjoy most of the intervening 28 years though).
I totally concur with 1.3Vstalls views: the best thing I did in 1975 was to join the RAF, the second best thing I did was to PVR in 1999 (after signing on to age 47). I thoroughly enjoyed my time until 1995 when the changes really started and leading to the subsequent closure of RAFG. So would I join now NO. I am seeing as much of the world now working on airliners as I did in the mob so there are other options to travel with work other than joining up.However I would never dissuade anyone from giving it a go; what maketh the man or women etc etc etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Having just been reading the DIB on NEM I am more and more convinced that I would not join up now. Any document that uses phrasiology such as:
'The NEM is not a cost cutting exercise, it is about delivering improved value for money within the same resource envelope.'
merely demonstrates the depths so which the organisation that releases it has sunk to. Trying to cut through the guff the NEM seems to say that:
1. You will pay more for your accomodation, if you can get it.
2. You will be paid more if you are Executive Stream (look out for 2nd class service from 2nd class employees)
3. You will be told you are being given stability for wifes career and childrens education, and the loss of allowances that compensate, but we won't guarantee that we won't move you anyway.
'The NEM is not a cost cutting exercise, it is about delivering improved value for money within the same resource envelope.'
merely demonstrates the depths so which the organisation that releases it has sunk to. Trying to cut through the guff the NEM seems to say that:
1. You will pay more for your accomodation, if you can get it.
2. You will be paid more if you are Executive Stream (look out for 2nd class service from 2nd class employees)
3. You will be told you are being given stability for wifes career and childrens education, and the loss of allowances that compensate, but we won't guarantee that we won't move you anyway.
Last edited by Jumping_Jack; 22nd Nov 2012 at 13:05.
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The trouble with speed reading is when you come across a phrase like this
and the brain interprets as "give you a bunch of standards, except for those higher up the chain"
And given the pecadilloes of VSOs from time immemorial seems to fit quite adequately.
give you a bunch of standards, respect for those higher up the chain
And given the pecadilloes of VSOs from time immemorial seems to fit quite adequately.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
taffy, you joined as the '73 redundees were leaving. Same question would have elicited the same answers as now I feel.
Just another erk
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Turboprop,
no I don't think I could, I like people to say what they think, I only get up set when they don't
but I was thinking more of could I work in a military with all the political correctness
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Fair point PN, but for a school leaver with 5 GCSEs with Maths and English, who doesn't fancy BTech in Underwater Basket Weaving, it is a good opportunity.
CG
CG
. Only I've got 7 GCSE's 
.All seriousness though, I'd love to be able to join up tomorrow (if I could), but to be honest with the ever-growing redundancies, maybe its times to look into another career sector (If the Goverment don't keep shrinking those aswell!!).
Thankfully, I'm working within Aviation at the moment, so i'm half way there
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WOULD YOU JOIN UP NOW
Being in for only 4 years as of april next year i have noticed quiet alot of changes since leaving my trade training units. Most of the benefits i were entitled to have been withdrawn (GYHEY, free rail/air warrants etc), conpared to what i experienced in my first two years the cameraderie and team spirit that existed in my bay has almost dissapeared, changes to my pension meaning i wont get it untill 65 once ive done 22 years instead of instant payout,more pressure to get the job done on time with lack of manpower, promotion being a case of whos backside you kiss and not how good you are at the job and feeling like your constantly going against the grain. I enjoy my job but on hindsight would i do it all again? Id have to think very carefully. Afterall if i hadnt joined i would never have met my fiance, had my child and made some great friends. all whilst earning a decent wage and having a trade under my belt.
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Would I? Yes, absolutely.
Unless you can point me to somewhere else where I can fly really fast pointy things. I didn't join because I wanted to travel or be "an officer", thought most (honest) aircrew were the same?
Unless you can point me to somewhere else where I can fly really fast pointy things. I didn't join because I wanted to travel or be "an officer", thought most (honest) aircrew were the same?