Almost_Done is Done
 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today marks the end of my time in the RAF; it has been a rollercoaster of a 'career'. I go on now to the great and good work within the Civil Aviation world.

Online and in life I know we may not all have agreed with one another but I wish all of you well and I hope that if you end up in a sandy dry place you al return with the correct number of body parts you went out with.

It is true that after a certain period of time in the RAF you can leave, but surprisingly you keep a large part of it with you.

I have had a good time serving with you all, but I became jaded with the forced changes and the visible lack of spine in the upper management, I tried to fight the good fight in my own way but I was always put back down with other threats.

Still I will follow with interest the fate of the best Air Force in the world, best maybe not with kit but with spirit definitely. To all on SH good luck god speed you home to all on seized wing the same.

Almost_Done listening out

The very best of luck to you.:D

who are you?

Someone, who for the last 23 years has had the pleasure of ensuring you rotate and return safe and sound with only the worry of the seat stick interface failing.

Any further questions?

Who are you?

:D

Good luck AD, all the best for the future.

Good luck indeed, AD. Here's hoping that you like the grass on the new side of the fence. Very best wishes and thanks for serving us taxpayers - ingrates as we may be!

AD

You may think you're out but you've got a long way to go yet. From my experience, having left last year and now working in a part-military organisation:

1. You'll keep getting JPA pay-chits (zero balance) for months.
2. You'll struggle to hold a conversation without referring to when you were in the RAF.
3. You might be just about able to avoid saying "When I was in", but refer to 2. above.
4. You'll grow your hair, and possibly a beard, but will then return to a QR-compliant appearance because you just feel scruffy.
5. If you go anywhere near an RAF camp, you will re-acquire your rank whether you like it or not. The guardroom and mess databases just can't cope with "Sqn Ldr Joe" becoming "Mr Joe".
6. It will be some time before the majority of your friends are not RAF.
7. In military company, you will be introduced, there will be an awkward pause, and then the person that introduced you will say "He used to be ........"
8. .......... And then someone will ask you what it's like being out.....
9. And I still can't really answer that. I've been out for less than one tour's-length so I still feel like I'm waiting for a tour-review date.
10. And I don't think you'll ever stop cursing "Bloody Civvies!"

N Joe

Best of luck to you, hope you get the same enjoyment from your new career as the good bits of your old one.

A-D,:D

Well Done. Hold on to your memories, the one thing that "they" cannot take from you. You were trained by the best, hopefully gave of your best, and are now taking those skills to apply elsewhere. I hope that you pass on your experience to another generation; there's a great role model in what Israeli part civvy/ part military aircrew do. I've trained them (not that many of them needed training) and they're good - very good. This sceptred isle could do worse than allowing military experience such as yours to just "fade away". What price an active reserve? It is easy, as suggested, to be always looking backwards. It's a trap that will ensure you become a boring fart (old or otherwise). One of the pleasant part of being a bloody civvy is that you don't have to keep wondering whether some chinless wonder outranks you! Stand Tall A-D, you did your bit - there are those who will keep the torch held high for a little while longer. The depressing part is watching those who are the senior military political appointees mouth the platitudes that they are told to in return for an extra badge, and the speed at which they are silenced or "corrected" should they develop a mind of their own. Or am I becoming too cynical? Bah! Humbug!

Some things don't seem to change..
Been out since Oct new job since Nov and much like when I started in the RAF I am racing towards my 5000Hrs holding badge. This time it will have the number of test matches watched rather than cups of coffee made on it.:)

Bumped into an ex-mob colleague today. He still keeps in touch by flying Space Cadets at weekends.

"Do you miss the RAF?", I asked.

"I miss what it was", he said, "but not what it is now!"

A view shared by so, so many.

Good luck, Almost_done! Don't feel guilty when your new employer asks you to do something, rather than telling you what you are going to do!

Who indeed. Why would you want to come onto this forum and say goodbye? Many people leave the armed forces every year, so what makes you so special? Were you expecting a leaving present?;)

Funny as ****:ok:

left a year ago and have to say items 1 - 10 are absolutely true.....except that no stamp is on the JPA 'Zero' pay statements - you have to pay £1.24 for the privilege!!:mad:

Best wishes AD!

If you've never been within 50' of a turboprop, Yellowbelly or Jockistan in the last few months, pop into Ops on Wed/Thu/Fri Night to say goodbye to your Jetplanners, whoever you are.

Beagle

Just a POV, but as an ex mil colleague, he doesn't know what it IS now.

Sorry, flying on a air experience flight doesn't equate to the reality of what the operational units are doing. No, really...

Hopefully, I'm on your ignore list by now, but for a man who left the RAF some time ago, you do continue to spend an awful lot of time on a military forum.

AD

I'm pleased you enjoyed your career. All the very best.

RK

The week before I left I was presented with a small piece of paper by my Chief at the time. It said "Why is sex like leaving the military? The closer to discharge the more excited you get..."

Congratulations mate, and even though we've probably never met or interacted I'd like to thank you for the years of service you did.

Now you need to work out how long it'll be before you start a sentance "When I was in the RAF..."

Ogre

Almost done,

From someone who has just retired for the second time, well done and all the best. Keep busy.

BTW..............Samuraipratt, you are a total arrse:8

Makes mental note to self:

Must use the arse block button more.

Almost done,

Good luck good health etc.

BTW..............Samuraipratt, you are a total arrse:8

+1

Good luck AD, thank you for sharing such a significant moment with your professional, albeit online, colleagues. It is evident that the core of the PPRuNe ‘community’ appreciate your post and I would like to add my own humble thanks for your years of service and wish you all the every best – be sure to keep us apprised of your new path.

SamPratt – you lack both AD’s credibility and his record of service; if you have nothing but tedious cynicism to offer, be a good chap and keep it to yourself.