With regard to the original title of the thread, nobody could stick to it....

The thread is entitled... "Somebody else must still love being in the RAF as much as me...". However, since the original poster doesn't go on to quantify how much they love being in the RAF how can anyone state whether they also love it as much, more, less, etc..... :=

To answer your question...
 

Despite all the bullsh1t going on at the moment I still love it. I'll whinge with the best of them but the fact is that I get to fly a fast jet every day and I think that's pretty cool!
That doesn't mean I think everythng is perfect and my opinion won't change in the future but as it stands right now I'm pretty happy!
Standing by for the next wave of hyperbole from all the miserable gits!
BV:ok:

My wife is a psycho-therapist, I can probably get you a deal . . .

If you're annoyed enough to use that as a log in, you've obviously GOT issues, we're only a phonecall away 08457 90 90 90

Have fun . . . oh and by the way, it WAS that bad and I DID leave 17 years ago.

It's got much worse since. ;)

I joined in 1958 and left in 1977, mainly because I couldn't buy a house, run a car and maintain a family on £400 a month. I left and never regretted it. I rejoined, at the RAF's request, in 1991 and had a marvelous 3 years on a UAS and then had to retire at age 55 and would have stayed on if I could have. I don't think I would be happy in the RAF right now and I worked with, but not in, the RAF from 1993 to 2005 and watched it all sliding downhill to where it is now, which is not a good place, in truth

CASBO,

When CRL catches up with you then you won't have points 5, 9 and possibly 2 any more...

If you are an officer then point 6 rarely applies...

1. Roof over your head
2. Cheap beer
3. Place to park your car
4. Do your washing when you like
5. 3 squares a day
6. Free clothes
7. Great intranet
8. Free personal trainers
9. SPAR on base
10. The girls love it.

1. yes if you want to live in a crappy quarter with everyone from your work as your neighbours.
2. yes if you want to drink crap beer in a bar full of blokes talking baout work.
3. What in a car park? asda have them you know.
4. My washing machine does not have alloted time slots!
5. Free green or blue crap clothes.
7. hmm
8. Do you really need them? I can manage to put one foot in front of the other without help.
9. Rip off convienience store.
10. No they don't, not unless they see you as a meal ticket!

1. Normally leaking.
2. Pre PAYD possibly.
3. Is that the height of your aspirations? And difficult as hell at Odius.
4. And that differs from a civvy? If anything its more difficult in the Mess.
5. Congratulations youve elevated yourself from the homeless by making a gradually increasing monthly contribution.
6. Free uniform - different. Try passing the SWO having 'accessorised'.
7. Have you used it?
8. Must admit the Rehab instructors are world class. But how much assistance do you get fom a PTI outside of standing on the blue line twice a year?
9. If you can get your head round the fact they only stock brown boot polish at times, everything is overpriced and they are staffed by 'the less ambitious'.
10. Some do, some don't. A guy with a 6 pack and the gift of the gab will still manage to score without the kudos of working in clothing stores. For some girls, it is a negative factor.

Bob Viking, thank you. I'm with you on that.

Biggus, this much:

|-----------------------------------------------|

@ Really annoyed,


Please will you stop this continuous drivel. You keep showing your lack of knowledge, as well as your total lack of understanding.

You complain about spelling mistakes, yet you make them. Everyone makes them. I make them. Do I care? Not particularly, as they often come about from typing on an iPhone, iPad or on the move. Also my typing is not brilliant.

As long as people understand what my point is I am happy.

As for spelling Taleban, Taliban, Neither version is wrong - what you come up with depends on which system of transliteration is used from the Arabic script.

Your ignorance, lack of understanding and abuse are astounding. What makes you so perfect and so wonderful?

As I have requested elsewhere, please will you allow people to have discussions without abuse and incorrect, irrelevant comments.

You have the ability to provide useful information and advice. Please continue to do so, as evidenced elsewhere. I would also request, politely, that you do refrain from abusing others, their information, and their opinions (other than with a sense of humour).

Hval

Remember,

Ignorance is bliss and stops you being really annoyed.

I still think he needs therapy . . . :O

Everyone needs therapy.....it's just the amount that varies! :)

a better list?
 

Ok try this list:

1. mates you would put your life on the line for
2. a higher cause than company profits
3. a nobler cause than personal gain
4. the banter
5. a sense of pride in 2 and 3
6. a public that (mostly) appreciates what you do
7. it’s still a lifestyle (not a bad one) more than a job

the previous lists were all about material things..

However, it is the sense of worth that is perhaps slipping and that is making the material things more significant for many, especially the older ones who have different needs.

Unfortunately, any talk of military covenants has been used to try and mask the significant changes we have been forced to swallow.

We need to see through those (we didn’t join to be rich after all), seek fair recompense and restore the sense of worth.

It is the younger ones joining I feel for most, we owe them strong leadership (all of us, not just the seniors) and a legacy they can carry forward.

Or an alternative view:

1. mates you would put your life on the line for - you clearly don't work with the civil serpants of **** PT (add any platform or project you like)

2. a higher cause than company profits - but no bonus scheme for ensuring such cause is successfully on target


3. a nobler cause than personal gain - wife and 3 kids; I can't get too moralistic about this one

4. the banter - equal ops and the pc crowd put paid to that about 10 years ago

5. a sense of pride in 2 and 3 - sorry that's just a repeat

6. a public that (mostly) appreciates what you do - and a government that clearly doesn't

7. it’s still a lifestyle (not a bad one) more than a job - if only

Its a shame that the 'company' doesnt spend enough in ensuring we have the correct manpower and tools to do the job with which we are tasked.

And to be honest, I am not entirely sure our current "cause" is anything other than positioning for saving face - of our political masters.

A new trait for 2011:

Your boss communicating to you on behalf of the system with absolute distain written all over his face because he knows that what is occuring is morally wrong. An event that is to be repeated at units far and wide in the coming months.

The comment: "Think yourself lucky you've got a job", being spoken routinely.

I read with some interest this week that the UK Middle Classes do not appreciate the economic Tsunami that is about to drown them.. At least threads such as this suggest a degree of realism amongst my fellow servicemen. Most complaints on these pages are (IMHO) born of genuine concern rather then hollow whinges that the angry troll baits with. One thing for sure, the redundancies in Civil Govt be it CS or Local Councils are so numerous that the newspaper headlines before the years out will have a field day about how the Coalition Govt has elevated the umemployed statistics to a whole new level.

My only real regret? I knew very well that the Govt purse was empty in about 1990 and never took the hint to deploy anchor on my own expenditure. The writing was on the wall and I couldnt see it; perhaps because I wasnt looking. ....and we cannot fiscally afford another day at war.

And Bob, you were one of the guys that made it worthwhile... The Mr Accountant came along and spoiled it.. With AVM (I'm the B******* who is shuting you down) Anikin! I ended up working with BAE Waste-o-space.. A bigger bunch of wasters you will never find.. However MoD sold out lock stock and two smoking 27mm Mausers.. :eek:

Saying that, I followed the message from the D-Reg... He banged out to the ScareBus and I banged out to fix them..

The very last time I walked into an Officers Mess bar, past a small group of our winged brothers, I was about to pay for my beer when one of them came over and paid it for me, with the comment "I believe I owe you a pint or two". What he was referring to was that he had been involved in a serious RTA which had killed two others in the car, and while he was in A and E at the local hospital, I was dragged out of bed by no less a person than the CO himself, accompanied by the MO, and asked if I wanted to volunteer to give blood to Flt Lt *****.

I have a comparatively rare blood group, less than 1% of the population, which reduces even further because not all of that 1% are registered blood donors, but I was the same as they guy to whom I was about to donate.

He was very ill, with life threatening injuries, but made it back to flying, but eventually went to Medical School at Otago University, and has been a Doctor for many years now. He does medicals for potential pilots among other things!

That beer was one of the best-tasting I'd ever had, and the feel-good factor goes on for ever, but that is what being a part of a brilliant bunch of people meant....or used to until the bloody bean-counters stuffed it all up!

There are some really good guys and gals in the RAF. After that i'm starting to struggle to type what is good.

Personally, l like the way that they have made cuts in terms of finance for us, and also in numbers in the forces. THEN ask us to do more. We are looking at 6 months away a year at least.

It's not all about us as individuals, but also the family/wifes/girlfriends that have their life messed about as well.

Then, when promotion isn't likely ( not that I want it) we are told we have to be competitive, take on extra duties, put in the extra effort. All of which means less time at home, more stress and a poor quality of life.

Still, at least i get my pension at 38 in 5 years time......oh, thats right, that could change too........

Rant over.

And assuming you do get your pension, and if the promotions lottery comes up, you could find yourself getting shafted with a huge tax bill for your efforts over the years to do well and make a career.

I can't think of any other organisation that rewards its people by giving them a huge tax bill (7K in one case I have heard of) to go with the promotion.