Grand-daughter joining Rock Ape Reserve.
 

What do I say to her?

Her G-Gpa served as RAFVR in WW II, i/c a barrage balloon, Coventry Blitz, Suez 3 years, D Day ships, her G-pa spent 41 years attached RAF [medical reject], her uncle was Regiment at Scampton as Aux. gunner .....
she is nearly 6ft, has a good 2:1, a good job, early 20s, fit as a flea, and wants adventure and challenge. Employer, a multi-national, entirely happy with the idea.

A part of me is delighted:: she did the aptitude thing and could have applied for any Reserve trade, got a massive score but insists on the Regiment.

Any advice please? Not that I dare give advice unless solicited.!

My advice?
 

Say good luck and congratulations.

BV

What he said.

Nothing wrong with that. Some of my best friends were Regt.

Outstanding, and best wishes to her.

When our niece decided to be a full-time Firefighter, the whole family raised their eyebrows ... and then simply accepted that it’s her life! She’s now in her 40s, still FF-ing, with a husband and an awesome daughter.

Having served 37 years as an RAF Regt officer including 2 years as Adjt of 2624 Sqn RAuxAF Regt, 1. congratulate her on her choice, 2. continue to encourage her, 3. PM me if you want to discuss anything in confidence.

Batco

Nothing that might annoy her would be my advice:ok:

CG

That is most kind. I shall most certainly bear that in mind.

BV was quick in there, the consensus appears overwhelming. I might consider asking how good her current job is and if she's interested in a full time position.

Supply chain specialist for a big multi national working from home for a full year having been picked as one of five from 200 who were interviewed. I am sure she is craving for company of her own age ....................... did a gap year after A levels at chalet and hotel work in Switzerland, just missed a First.
Obviously one thinks Commission? A year with the Regiment might or might not suggest such a course ............... we shall see.

Very best of luck to her!

A niece of mine starts ATC Pirbright in mid-May and is thoroughly looking forward to it! Looking at the YouTube videos of Army recruit training, it seems excellent and I hope that your grand-daughter enjoys similarly excellent basic training.

Nephew is full time Rock Ape and spends most of his time at home with his parents. Starting to get the name Private Pike.

Good for her, one hopes she gets as much out of it as she puts in... Kudos to her.

What BV said. Sounds like an awesome young lady, and must make you proud.

What do you say to her? Encourage her of course!

There's no reason why a woman can not serve in the Rocks - they've recently garduated the first female Rock Officer at Honington.

As an ex "Oggie" (16 years served, at the other BZN-based Sqn, not Regt) I'd say to her to go for it and the opportunities it might present. I'm sure it's still true that she will get to do things (or choose to) that you never would in civilian life.

Having a supportive employer is very important, although legislation in place today should mean it should be a lot less stressful than it was when I was mobilised for Op Granby in '91 (I had a very supportive US Corp as my employer, who had a policy on reservist mobilisations - a lot of my colleagues were less fortunuate, putting it mildly).

I would also say that a supportive immediate family (if applicable) is equally important - bearing in mind that a lot of your spare time will be spent elsewhere/not doing family stuff.

The only advice I was expecting from some of the older PPRuNe hands was: "don't grow a beard". Fortunately the general consensus appears to be spot-on, for once :ok:

Reserve lady Rock.
 

Buy her a decent bottle of wine, sit back and listen to her recounting her adventures after a few months.
In the reserves, therefore retaining her day to day job whilst cramming in a few more interesting weeks and weekends than most of the people she sees 9-5 Monday to Friday, good combination.
Advice? Don't bore the daylights out of your 9-5 colleagues after a weekend exercise, they won't get it unless they've been involved at some point, answer if they ask, but don't push it, speak more about it if they sound interested. Good luck Grand-daughter. Branch/ trade is nothing to sweat about, LB.

Great advices, PPRUNERS, thank you very much.

Hoping/assuming she is accepted, I will write an update if there is anything to tell.

LB
get her to memorise this confession:-
"Yesterday, I could not spell Rock Ape. now I are one!"

Seriously, I deployed as a Stn Int Officer with a Laarbruch regiment to Banja Luqa, Bosnia, in 1996. My eyes were opened to the professionalism, dedication and effectiveness of the Cpls conducting the patrols, which was second to none. Indeed, it would have put a lot of other senior ranks/officers in other trades and branches to shame. It is unfortunate that most RAF people's experience of the Regt is at the annual gas and gun course, where the lecturers, usually Cpls, are constrained by having to adhere to the lecture packs with absolutely no deviation allowed. On Ops and outside the classroom, the Regt are the finest body of people to trust your life to in the defence of airfields. Encourage your grand-daughter to the best of your ability; she will not regret a moment, and maybe her skills would be better employed, as a graduate, in the Officer Corps.