Would you recommend a career in the military
 

I have to ask the question as I have just convinced a son of a friend that the RAF wasn't for him. He is smart and hard working and I couldn't bring myself to lie to him. I really cannot recommend a career here anymore. I was encouraged to join the RAF by a serving member and have in my long service career recommended this life to many. Just interested if this was a common occurance with impacts on recruitment? :sad:

Would you recommend a career in the Military.
 

Yes; tell him to go for it, and ignore all the whinging that appears in these threads! :ok:

Was asked the same question yesterday at a family luncheon and my answer direct to his father and the individual concerned was: Yes if its for a short-service commission but only after having secured a degree in something useful to either build on when he is in the service or to gain Fg experience to get his licenses and leave for civvy street. Otherwise the answer was a resounding NO!:=

Never thought I would say that when I joined over 21 years ago, in fact I wouldnt have said it 4/5 years ago.............tells a tale I suppose.

Yes, but not THIS military.

Could you enlighten us on the significance of the second figure SLC? Not trying to pry or anything, and if you'd rather not I'm sure we'd all understand! Just curious, that's all. ;)
As to myself, left 33years ago and have unhesitatingly recommended the RAF to all enquirers. Not now though, having read the various threads on this Forum. Now I feel sadness and anger in just about equal proportions, sadness at what the service I love has been reduced to and anger against those who have contributed to its downfall. :sad:

To join or not to join, that is the question....
 

It's a difficult one this. I joined 10 years ago and was lucky enough to be offered a SSC out of Uni and was only offered a PC and a juicy carrot of a job 2 months ago in a vain attempt to keep me (despite no ISS or JOCC:E ).

Would I do it again? Probably. I have had ball, done some things that Joe Bago'donuts on the high street would never even dream of doing and have had the privilege of working with some great people.

That said, there are downsides: higher Op tempo means more time away, less good deals, longer working hours and overstretch.

If a life behind a desk doesn't float your boat, then there are worse jobs out there, but in this day and age you would be foolish to enter without an alternative plan just in case. I have no doubt doing what we do and facing the responsibilities so early in our careers help make most of us better people.

I turned down my PC - priorities change and to be honest, the thought of doing 12 hr days 5 days a week with limted chance for leave doesn't fill me with joy, but for a fresh faced slightly less cynical young thruster it's a pretty good life charging around the blue tearing the arse out of someone else's jet... In the end, the individual must make his own decision. I have never regretted it and I don't know too many people that REALLY do (despite the grumbling:} ).

Chugalug: sorry mate typo corrected now to read '4/5' years. A bit busy and got distracted

No.

Unless you have a burning desire to fly fast jets - then there's only one place you can do it. But best to do so on a SSC if available.

Everything else can be done outside. You can even get shot at in AfgIrak as a Journo. For more money. Much more.

And sadly the positive secondary effects are also dwindling; mess life, course/sqn spirit etc. Much of it is a sign of the times. A great proportion of it is a downward slide of service values and principles.

This has been done before, as indeed have most things on pprune....


http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82439


Started in Feb 2003, 5 pages, 86 replies, and things have only got worse!

Normally Yes.....

But not with this morally deficient and incompetent Labour Government in charge, or come to that anything remotely resembling a Government with the same individuals in it as this one...

They are not fit to lead a troop of Girl Guides much less a fine nation as the United Kingdom.

A big yes. Have completed the first 16 years with another 16 to go. Loved every miniute. Away as much now as I was when I joined my first Sqn many moons ago. It is not as good as it was but older and bolder guys said that to me 16 years ago. To all potential recruits I advise you to go in with your eyes open, be prepared for hard work and time away but over all enjoy it. Yes the airships need to make some changes as I don't really want to be the one to switch the lights off.

A Merry Christmas to all.

Would you recommend a career in the military
 

PVR......... scuse me for splitting hairs but your original title was about a career in the military. You then say you advised against a career in the RAF. :hmm:

It may come as a surprise but there are other Services within the military....... did you try and sell them to the lad?

I would highly recommend a career in the military (albeit green:ok: ) but would not want to see someone miss out on a spell in the forces because they were put off by the blinkered advice of someone who thinks that 'military' stops at the RAF Careers Office:ugh:

Standing by........

Merry xmas

My family having been all Army , before Waterloo and beyond, my brothers and I have been all Air Force, besides my self, being Merchant Navy and Air Force.
My children will make their own choices and they have said If and when we make our decision it will not be the in the Armed Forces of the UK.
Its their choice and I can understand their decision, a very sad day indeed in my view to see a family tradition end.
But I do admire their decision, they are heading South to OZ and Bon Voyage and they will be welcomed with open arms, to what ever Service they decide to join.
I could go on, but I am sure you get my drift.
Grandfathers old Regiment
Nec Aspera Terrent

unless your a pilot where you get the best experience and best training then not a chance, it has changed beyond all recognition in the last twenty years.

Don't know why I bother........

[quote=countdeblades;3026230]PVR......... scuse me for splitting hairs but your original title was about a career in the military. You then say you advised against a career in the RAF. :hmm:



Thats because I'm in the RAF and can't recommend (although prepared for jointery i.e Air wing Hms Garrison afgannyraq). I wondered if other (for now) services would recommend.

:confused:

Yup. Bloody marvelous.

I would say you absolutely did the right thing. I joined the RAF more than a few years ago myself, stayed for about 6 years, and to be frank it was (and presumably still is) a complete shower of sh#te that is so massively up it's own arse it can't even recognise it's transparent and manifold failings. Maybe I was a square peg in a round hole, but recruiting and retaining skilled and intelligent staff and expecting them to routinely do things they don't really want to do 'just because' is always going to be a problem I would say. Better oppurtunities out than in I would think, on the whole.

[quote=pvr not dwr;3026462]Understood..............

but send the lad down the Army Careers Office :ok:

To be fair Biggus some of us where hot and sandy CAW first time this went round. My advice and opinion has changed as a direct result of the overstrech of the last three years.

Interesting reading and comparison however.