It's hard to disguise a Frying Pan with Xmas paper wrapping.

And of course the dear recently departed Susannah had the answer to that .....:E

That's fair enough Runaway Gun.

The main thing I love is the feeling of being part of a team with a purpose. Everywhere I've worked everyone is dedicated to the cause and has a 'can do' attitude. Of course, things have been a little different lately with some uncertainty but the vast majority of people are, in my eyes, still committed to the nth degree.

The changes in my 15 years in have been drastic and the reductions frequent but my impression of the people doing the job is still positive.

I'll probably get chewed out by someone for saying it but I think that, while there is a fair amount of uncertainty, there isn't alot us minions can do about the cuts so getting on with our jobs safely and productively is surely the best option?

The people, the opportunities and the feeling of achieving are what I love most.

The above threatening post says it all.

The RAF is crap as most know compared to civvy street. No freedom, crap conditions, crap pay. And wo betide anyone with a mind of their own. The only reason to join is if your country really needs you or you know that you can ignore the rubbish for your couple of minutes flying boys toys a month. Otherwise forget it.

Do stop beating around the bush, if you've got something to say, spit it out.
What's this "as most know" crap? You're entitled to your own opinion but don't pretend to speak for the whole world.
There are posts on here from people still serving who may be a bit more qualified to opine.

For What It's Worth
 

I joined the ATC at the start of 1958 and moved to the real air force in ’63; at which point there were 11 Commands, 145000 service personnel, something over 100 squadrons and several thousand operational aircraft. On retirement, I became involved with the reserves and am still a member of the RAFVR(T) (although expecting to be made a defence cut any day soon!!). So probably – he writes boastfully – amongst the longest serving, with or without counting cadet time.

I need not rehearse the changes to everything over those years but the one constant has been the people. Those who elect to join any of the services and stick with it ( a surprisingly large number bale out, even at the recruit training stage) are a different breed from those who pursue other careers. We probably have most in common with those who serve in things like police, fire service and those organisations where discipline and commitment are important and where one willingly accepts being dealt some pretty dirty hands. I have made many acquaintances but few friends I would call ‘intimate friends’ but whenever I meet those I served with, we pick the conversation where we left off, years before. There have been people I tolerated, those I didn’t much care for but only one person I fu:mad:-g hated!

So for me, the RAF is all about the people who make up the service. We’ve shared the good times and the bad and been messed about, treated as ‘units of manpower’ and not real people but I don’t regret it, although I’ve had my fair measure of disappointments.

So I still care about the RAF, where it is, where it’s going and the people who are still in it and have to make it work.

If there has to be a sour note, it is that for the first time I cannot recommend the armed forces as a full time career because of the uncertainty about the future but it’s been the major part of my life and thanks to all those who made it worthwhile. :{

Old Duffer - in unusually melancholy mood for him :sad:

Well, Old Duffer you have put it rather well; sentiments I am inclined agree with entirely. To my mind after 25 years in two Royal Air Forces, I determined a very long time ago that what really made it what it was was the people, and the mutual respect everyone had! I was extremely fortunate, I believe, that I am what I am today because of my service time and the people I met. It is character-forming!

I often contemplate all the good things in my life, and used to think it all came about due to an element of luck, but now I believe that a lot of the decisions I took along the way were much better thought out than I ever gave myself credit for and luck didn't really play that big a part. I was constantly thinking outside of the square, and guess where I learnt that. Post service I was an Executive in a large organisation which had regular management meetings, and of course there were always those who felt they had to raise all sorts of problems, most of which were minor or immaterial to the general scheme of things. I got into the habit of leaving such meetings to go and fix such and such a problem, then return to the meeting and indicate it had been fixed, and this resulted in the Boss asking me on day how I knew all this stuff! I told him I'd spent a large part of my life with people who could think for themselves!:ok:

I was "in" for 20 years and I've been "out" for nearly 30. Ergo I am not qualified to answer the question. Others, however may be qualified-really annoyed are you listening? Answers like
and
Neither address the question.
I really enjoyed my time and am saddened to read that there is much unhappiness in recent times. Consequently I would like to hear more of the positives,( perhaps from really annoyed, if he/she can be bothered), and my faith and belief in you guys still serving can be restored.
Cheers:ok:

I have to say that Old Duffer got it pretty much spot on. When the military is good, it's very very good, and there isn't anywhere I would rather be. However, when it's bad, it's very very very bad. And right now, it's very very very very bad.

Not only are we up against the Taleban, we are also up against the politicians and bean counters. And frankly, they scare me a damn sight more effective than the Taleban. At least with the Taleban you know where you stand. With the politicians and bean counters, frankly you can't trust them one jot; the pat in the back from Dave and his mates isn't a well done, it's a recce for the knife that's surely about to follow.

And because of the politicians - of all hues - and the changes to society in recent years to become me me me, the military now finds itself in the current position where fear and paranoia reign, with all the Services out to protect themselves whilst looking for the next opportunity to get one over on the other Services. And working in a Joint HQ at the moment, I can tell you that it isn't much fun.

I could go on, but frankly, I think Old Duffer expressed it in far more eloquent terms than I could this evening. All I would say is that it's bad enough that I would rather be in theatre taking my chances with the Taleban than being in work and having to take my chances with the politicians, bean counters and senior officer in-fighting.

Actually, both spellings of Taleban/Taliban are correct depending on dialect.

Like R. O. G. been out for a long time so not qualified to comment on today, but still reckon my time in the mob were some of the best years of my life. Didn't matter where you turned up from there was always a meal in the mess, some friendly banter in the NAAFI and a clean dry bed at night. Whether you'd just arrived in from Changi or Yatesbury, Muharraq or Leconfield. Then, there was always a sense of certainty that the basics were catered for and all you had to do was carry out your role to the best of your ability. If you knew your stuff then no one gave you hassles.

Really annoyed, you really are an offensive and worthless contributor to this and the other threads where I've seen your pointless and immature comments.
Do try and be positive, give credit where it's due, and consider answering the challenges put to you. Unless of course you are a TROLL, in which case I'm embarrased for having any dialogue with you.

The last time I saw one of these "I really love the RAF" threads it was started by a chap who PVRd within a year of starting it.

Damn it R.O.G, beat me to it. Ah what the heck.

So then Really Annoyed, just what is your big job around here - straightening chairs, unloading the paper clips when they arrive on a Monday morning. Or just sitting on the sidelines with the other fat wheezy boys and a note from matron excusing you from ops? Either that, or you were chopped from something and still haven't got over it, might explain the bitterness and chips on your shoulders. I don't think I've ever seen anyone consistently post such ill informed and worthless drivel. Either way, I'm not going to insult the REMFs by lumping you in with them.

Oh and by the way the spelling of Taleban or Taliban. Frankly it doesn't make any difference - as explained to me by a linguist in theatre. As far as we are concerned as English speakers, there is no direct translation for the word from Pashto to English, it is more or less a phonetic interpretation. However, for the sake of standardisation, an organisation will use one form of the word or another, as with any other word with multiple spellings. The HQ I work in happens to use Taleban.

Really annoyed.

I think you really need a dose of serious therapy. A lot of us out here (accent on the out) have an awful lot of experience of an RAF which we loved. But most of us watched it deteriorate as it was savaged by hordes of politicians, bean counters and the like.

Our opinions and the right to express them has been earned without you disparaging any opinion that differs from yours. Is there something wrong with a civilised discussion and an exchange of views, both past and present?

I AM aware of what the title of the thread is, and for many of us it seems unusual to say the least that someone can express a sentiment like that.

If you like it in, the best of luck to you, but I would observe that you've got pretty poor expectations or particularly low standards if you love what's happening/ed to a fine Armed Service.

Many of us when we finally did go found that we wished we'd done it sooner. There are some absolute bonuses, the people, the humour, the banter and the sense of trying to get the job done, not least, the flying but by anyone's standards, the poor RAF has been ripped apart and there's more to come. I can't believe what politicians have done to it.

Why would expect us to respect your viewpoint when you don't respect anyone else's?

Please provide fully referenced evidence that there is only one spelling of the word, that there have never been any alternate spellings of any form in the English language and that the version Talebanhas been authoritatively declared to be an incorrect spelling.

So many threads and so many posters who profess "clever" but not one of you can spot what RA is all about :rolleyes:

I'd agree with what alisoncc said earlier, my time in the mob was a very happy period. Then again, at that age maybe I'd have been happy anywhere. I suspect that there are four (maybe more) groups; those who love it, like it, tolerate it and hate it. Those still serving are best placed to judge how things have changed.

Would appreciate enlightenment SFFP

I rest my case :ok:

Ummm. To answer the question, I still love my job (what's left of it), my RAF and my country.

So that's two of us. Possibly three including Really Annoyed, if you can get past his angry, angry, posting wordage.