GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: Andy P on 14 August 2011, 19:20
-
Anyone in it? Is it worth joining at the minute? Are the pensions still good etc?
Life as a civilian is pretty harsh at the minute. Is life in the forces any better?
-
:grin:
:lipsrsealed:
-
Not all public sector workers get a good deal then? :lipsrsealed:
-
I will PM you andy :smiley:
-
:grin:
Better off joining the Taliban, they always have vacancies.
-
I'm with Chuff......
-
I'm with Chuff......
on civvy street :grin:
-
I'm with Chuff......
on civvy street :grin:
5pm tomorrow, :wink:
Life begins Tuesday :laugh:
-
Fella, im ex RAF Regiment, had to leave after 4 years as my level of debt was out of control!
the lifestyle is fackin amazing (well was for us, being front line and all) although it is not great if you have a gf! if your married its a different kettle of fish
with regards to the pension scheme they changed the pension in 2006 which means you now get a sh1tter deal, used to be lump sum and decent monthly ammounts and now its the same lump sum and crappy monthly payments
it all depends on what you want to do, as i went in without a trade (not that i didnt have any qualifications but thats what i wanted to do) being infantry is not a great payer, although you get rewarded with the lifestyle lol
id suggest going in to do a trade like a mech or something.
every day i miss it even more!!! :cry:
-
I'm an electrical engineer so I have a trade. Not sure how that can relate to being in the forces?!
Just fed up with jumping from job to job trying to keep up with the economy. :sick:
I'm not the sort of person to sit back and struggle. :grin:
-
I have been in the RAF just over a year now, still doing my technical training to become a weapon technician (armourer). So far I am loving the life style, but then again I am 22 have a GT TDI which is spend all my money on :evil: I have a mrs but we cope, I come home maybe every other weekend. If you are married then I wouldn't worry, depending on situation you may get married quarters straight away. I would recommend the air force to anyone. What are you considering join as?
-
I'm an electrical engineer so I have a trade. Not sure how that can relate to being in the forces?!
Just fed up with jumping from job to job trying to keep up with the economy. :sick:
I'm not the sort of person to sit back and struggle. :grin:
the amount of kit that the RAF use the is electrical dependant!!! you will be snapped up! just go down to your local AFCO and get some info, look into doing your aptitude tests and then you can see what comes out and make your decision based on that! doing your aptitude tests dont mean your definately going in btw!
I have a mrs but we cope, I come home maybe every other weekend. If you are married then I wouldn't worry, depending on situation you may get married quarters straight away.
dont forget on basic training you prob wont be allowed out/away from camp for 6weeks as we werent! once you are past that faze its a little more relaxed, and yes 9/10 if you are married when you graduate you should get a married quater but this is dependant on availability! the rent is dirt cheap too. my mate had a 2bed £160pm WINNER lol
tellin you i bloody miss it! and good to see your doing well scarr, you been trained by any of my lot yet? lol
-
There is no lump sum or pension til 55 under the new scheme :lipsrsealed:
-
There is no lump sum or pension til 55 under the new scheme :lipsrsealed:
exactly! if i stayed in and done my full 22 i would have retired at 40 and would be getting pension payments each month as i was on the old policy (1975 i think)
-
Andy, if you are already a qualified electrical engineer, than I would suggest joining as a Gen Tech E, as that is your closest ground trade.
Aircraft Electrical engineering is a job for one trick ponies, and will not give you the variation that a ground trade will give you.
Do you want to give anything else a go?
Also reference the RAF Regiment comment, leave it well alone, as its crap.
The pensions are just about the be changed, as they're costing the MOD a fortune, but like the Government, they need to make cuts somewhere and guess who's going to get bummed!
-
It's not enough to retire on, trust me :lipsrsealed:
-
There is no lump sum or pension til 55 under the new scheme :lipsrsealed:
The 'new' scheme is yet to be announced, but I'm still on 75. Soon to be shafted!
-
I have been in the RAF just over a year now, still doing my technical training to become a weapon technician (armourer). So far I am loving the life style, but then again I am 22 have a GT TDI which is spend all my money on :evil: I have a mrs but we cope, I come home maybe every other weekend. If you are married then I wouldn't worry, depending on situation you may get married quarters straight away. I would recommend the air force to anyone. What are you considering join as?
In the nicest possible way , u can't recommEnd the airforce
Cos ur not in yet, your in training.
Bend over and get ready to join the real airforce soon
-
As I understand the new scheme you get a lump sum payment at 55, and then a % of your salary monthly until 65, then you get a larger lump sum payment and larger continual monthly payments. Me personally I am not to worried about the whole pension scheme, I feel I am too young to be worrying about potentially ruining what could be a great a fulfilling 22 year career(which I intend on completing).
As for training from the rocks have had minimal(only for 3 weeks at Halton), mostly technical in my 1st year, although I have my CCS training soon...ohh how I love the chamber!
-
I have been in the RAF just over a year now, still doing my technical training to become a weapon technician (armourer). So far I am loving the life style, but then again I am 22 have a GT TDI which is spend all my money on :evil: I have a mrs but we cope, I come home maybe every other weekend. If you are married then I wouldn't worry, depending on situation you may get married quarters straight away. I would recommend the air force to anyone. What are you considering join as?
In the nicest possible way , u can't recommEnd the airforce
Cos ur not in yet, your in training.
Bend over and get ready to join the real airforce soon
I have 2 more month until I get my first posting, I would like to think I am in the airforce even though we get told everyday that training is not like the 'real airforce'. We all get told from our instructor that it is far better than training. I guess you get out of it what you put in, work hard play hard IMO. Oh and trust me, I am ready to bend over, ha. I full well know what I am letting my self in for, but that is why I joined. Working savage shifts in possible 'war zones', and not seeing family and friends for possible 6 months at a time. It will all be a challenge and I like which is what I am here for.
-
Anyone in it? Is it worth joining at the minute? Are the pensions still good etc?
Life as a civilian is pretty harsh at the minute. Is life in the forces any better?
No no no and no. Generally no.
If you join now, you'll be an SAC after 10 years, if you can be bothered to wait for 2 years for your application to filter down the waiting list.
But.....if you could make the grade as a NC Aircrew or any other SNCO trade (a year as an LAC then straight to Sgt when on your first posting) or even an Officer and want the life style, then chose your trade wisely and you might get lucky. Regular trades, they're dead, limited and full of 40 year old Cpls and 30 something SACs. Could still be waiting a while though.
-
after 23 years, i put in. and by FCUK am i glad to be getting out.
Bitter, maybe.
Accomodation, substandard to say the least
I have one single lad commuting to a local hotel, which he has to empty his room every weekend. So cant join in with social side etc.
MQs yeah right, if your lucky,
another lad has to commute 20 miles each way, so he and his family are isolated from the RAF community, not good when he goes away.
Workforce
getting greatly reduced, yet the workload is reducing, remember the riots, being in the army, hahahahah what fooking army
Pension
Lewy has covered this, but this WAS the only carrot to stay in, and its going in one way shape of form. thats if you get to sign onto 22 anyway.
the REAL airforce died years ago, most of the cushty places to get posted are gone. You end up doing other peoples jobs when your away, cos they have too, not enough troops on the ground.
so back to the OP, if you think it will give you better security in the long term, like u said in PM, your wrong I am afraid.
If your qualified like you seem to be, I would go out on my own, working for yourself, more you put in, more you will get out, summat you CANNOT say about the RAF
:smiley:
did i tell you it was my Last day tomorrow :smug:
-
Anyone in it? Is it worth joining at the minute? Are the pensions still good etc?
Life as a civilian is pretty harsh at the minute. Is life in the forces any better?
No no no and no. Generally no.
If you join now, you'll be an SAC after 10 years, if you can be bothered to wait for 2 years for your application to filter down the waiting list.
But.....if you could make the grade as a NC Aircrew or any other SNCO trade (a year as an LAC then straight to Sgt when on your first posting) or even an Officer and want the life style, then chose your trade wisely and you might get lucky. Regular trades, they're dead, limited and full of 40 year old Cpls and 30 something SACs. Could still be waiting a while though.
amen and a big +1 :smiley:
-
Perhaps I am just being naive about my future career...only time will tell!
Have a great last day by the way!!!!
-
Andy, if you are already a qualified electrical engineer, than I would suggest joining as a Gen Tech E, as that is your closest ground trade.
Aircraft Electrical engineering is a job for one trick ponies, and will not give you the variation that a ground trade will give you.
Do you want to give anything else a go?
Also reference the RAF Regiment comment, leave it well alone, as its crap.
The pensions are just about the be changed, as they're costing the MOD a fortune, but like the Government, they need to make cuts somewhere and guess who's going to get bummed!
the regiment werent sh!t when i was there! it like most of the air force is now as like mentioned not enough troops on the ground, kit is more than desired for.
anyone that asks if i would recommend the military main thing id say is go in with a trade at a high level!
each to their own
chuff your last day tomorra? what was your trade?
-
RAF REGT is not the place for a married man, or at least someone with a long term relationship due to the amount or times they deploy in the UK for bullsh!t exercises.
They have now had their role turned upside-down, and no longer defend airfields in theatre, the yanks have stepped in, so numbers will drop considerably and sqn's reduce.
-
RAF REGT is not the place for a married man, or at least someone with a long term relationship due to the amount or times they deploy in the UK for bullsh!t exercises.
They have now had their role turned upside-down, and no longer defend airfields in theatre, the yanks have stepped in, so numbers will drop considerably and sqn's reduce.
Never said it was as such! It is a singlies paradise tho! I was lucky with the tours I got etc etc! Had some F'in great roles and worked with a lot of great people
-
In 4 years what tours did you do, and why leave with financial problems?
-
Fella, im ex RAF Regiment, had to leave after 4 years as my level of debt was out of control!
the lifestyle is fackin amazing (well was for us, being front line and all) although it is not great if you have a gf! if your married its a different kettle of fish
with regards to the pension scheme they changed the pension in 2006 which means you now get a sh1tter deal, used to be lump sum and decent monthly ammounts and now its the same lump sum and crappy monthly payments
it all depends on what you want to do, as i went in without a trade (not that i didnt have any qualifications but thats what i wanted to do) being infantry is not a great payer, although you get rewarded with the lifestyle lol
id suggest going in to do a trade like a mech or something.
every day i miss it even more!!! :cry:
I'll tell you why this is, this is because Rockapes are dumb f**ks.. I can say this because I have had the pleasure of working alongside them. For example, when I did my bowman radio course there were a bunch of pebbles 2 weeks out of basic gobbing off at me.. They were taking out loans to go on the piss.. calling me a guin, yet half of them couldn't count to ten..
-
RAF stands for Rough As Fcuk.
-
Andy, if you are already a qualified electrical engineer, than I would suggest joining as a Gen Tech E, as that is your closest ground trade.
Aircraft Electrical engineering is a job for one trick ponies, and will not give you the variation that a ground trade will give you.
Do you want to give anything else a go?
Also reference the RAF Regiment comment, leave it well alone, as its crap.
The pensions are just about the be changed, as they're costing the MOD a fortune, but like the Government, they need to make cuts somewhere and guess who's going to get bummed!
This...
The thing you need to do is research, if you want to stay in the trade you are in now then the Gen Tech E route is the road to go down. I currently have a mate whos just picked up his 3rd/Sgt after being in 13 years, the whole 10year SAC thing is only valid for some trades such as TG1 the "techies" who are manned to about 1200 sac's i believe with on average 30 getting picked up. Please correct me if i am wrong but I had a convo this week with one and I am sure those were the figures.
-
I have 2 more month until I get my first posting, I would like to think I am in the airforce even though we get told everyday that training is not like the 'real airforce'. We all get told from our instructor that it is far better than training. I guess you get out of it what you put in, work hard play hard IMO. Oh and trust me, I am ready to bend over, ha. I full well know what I am letting my self in for, but that is why I joined. Working savage shifts in possible 'war zones', and not seeing family and friends for possible 6 months at a time. It will all be a challenge and I like which is what I am here for.
Possible War zones, behave will you, you are an armourer, which as far as I understand it means you will deploy to 3-5 possible locations at the moment, KAF, BSN, KBL, or Italy/Sciliy.. You have a huge fence around you with miles and miles of land between you and the taliban..
Dets are normally 4 months with the RAF too..
Shifts I believe are normally 12/13hrs but I think Chuff will correct me on that, I assume the armourers run alongside the techie shifts?
-
RAF stands for Rough As Fcuk.
Still fancied a piece when you came up!!
:kiss:
-
I would like to put a bit of a counter arguement for what Chuff has put forward. Please feel free to debate back Chuff as I am still fresh meat but here goes..
There are people in the RAF who are remember how it used to be, there was a huge difference in the way that it operated, for example, they used to do guard with pickaxe handles..These people joined up into that lifestyle and loved that lifestyle. As time has gone by, the jobs have evolved and some people don't like what the military has become.
I joined up 5 years ago, I am now the fittest I have ever been, I have been on to two deployable units, currently at a tri-service unit doing satcomms. I joined up at 23 after doing the usual college/uni/dead end job route. When I joined up my trade was under-going some change. A lot of the people who had done 9-12 years didn't like this.. they had not joined up for this, some tried to kick off. I personally think the RAF had to evolve, the jobs had to evolve as the civvi equivalent's did.
The first unit I was posted to I lived in a box room, I could touch both walls, but with a bit of digging about I managed to move into a much larger room. I then got posted up to North Yorkshire. My room was en suite with a massive storage compartment and my new post is the same, I will quite happily take pics of the accomodation if you like. I can do the same for the blocks at Brize as well if you want to see them.
If you are married there are various grades of accommodation and you will pay depending on the spec of the house you move into. You have the choice to turn down two houses before you decide to take a house. If there is no accomodation in your area then they will look to put you up in SSSA or family equivalent. Two of the lads with me have just moved into these, they get paid extra for the inconvience, one lives in a town house in the centre of Cheltenham and the other in a brand new build just outside.
There are pro's and con's to the military, I have done 4 tours in 4 years and I am going away the end of this month for 4 months, the plus side is I save a sh!t load of cash and splash out when I get home. I now work for 28k a year as an SAC plus all the extra such as Op Allowance, money when on exercises, petrol money for driving to work etc. I would never have been on that if i had stayed in Swansea working in the DVLA.
I play ice hockey for the RAF also, this is another thing to bear in mind. If you like the gym you are able to use most camp gyms 24/7, you get free dental care and healthcare.. It all adds up, the downside is that you could be away a lot, you could be sat about doing f**k all quite regularly and you have to party a lot.
If you want advice on the Gen Tech trade, I have 3 working with me at the moment an SAC a Cpl and a Sgt, I also have a friend working in a Deployable role who can also provide information and a Cpl up in Lossiemouth in Scotland who does station electrics.. So any questions you have I can find out the answers hopefully.
Dicky
-
I'll tell you why this is, this is because Rockapes are dumb f**ks.. I can say this because I have had the pleasure of working alongside them.
Me too, 26sqn Rapier, supposedly a higher class of Rock, er......no!!
Now, MT drivers.................
-
Yuk, you on TCW Dicky?
-
Wow! I don't like to be tarred with the sterotypical brush that most rockapes get done with! As I am/was different!
I was on 16Sqn yes rapier I know, not through choice! Had the pleasure of staying at honnington from graduation!
I was detatched to iraq for 5months, was about 10 of us rocks just working in our own little unit controlling fuel escorts and such
3months after my return was sent to the falklands for 4months
Then onto Afghan for a further 4months where I had the pleasure of working with some special people!
I left like I said because of increasing debt! I joined up at 18 earning 1300 take home per month, then woth 6 months basic training taking home 600........can you see where the debt came from? Missed direct debit payments going overdrawn etc!
Nevertheless I don't regret anything iv done!
Oh and by the way I aint thick etc etc! Like I said earlier I went in with quyalifications! My afco told me to go in as a weapons tech but I didn't want to
-
BWL, i would love to debate back, and will, when you got some time in :grin:
Lewys done more time in the Naafi Queue that you have done in :kiss:
:tongue:
:kiss:
-
Yuk, you on TCW Dicky?
Was... Tri-Service job now ;)
-
BWL, i would love to debate back, and will, when you got some time in :grin:
Lewys done more time in the Naafi Queue that you have done in :kiss:
:tongue:
:kiss:
Shows who's doing the work hey :P Don't even have a Naafi where I am now!! Sucks!
-
Wow! I don't like to be tarred with the sterotypical brush that most rockapes get done with! As I am/was different!
I was on 16Sqn yes rapier I know, not through choice! Had the pleasure of staying at honnington from graduation!
I was detatched to iraq for 5months, was about 10 of us rocks just working in our own little unit controlling fuel escorts and such
3months after my return was sent to the falklands for 4months
Then onto Afghan for a further 4months where I had the pleasure of working with some special people!
I left like I said because of increasing debt! I joined up at 18 earning 1300 take home per month, then woth 6 months basic training taking home 600........can you see where the debt came from? Missed direct debit payments going overdrawn etc!
Nevertheless I don't regret anything iv done!
Oh and by the way I aint thick etc etc! Like I said earlier I went in with quyalifications! My afco told me to go in as a weapons tech but I didn't want to
Sorry to be the cnut here but I took a 5k paycut to join up, I already had det, I took my car off the road, never went home and ploughed in my money to my debt. I cleared up all my debt within 6 months and I now own my own house, my own car, I have a credit card with a k on it at the moment only because I am going away in the next few weeks and thought I would treat myself. You did 3 dets on the bounce and still got into debt.. I know rocks are on the lower payband but theres big money to be saved while your away.
-
Was... Tri-Service High Profile job now ;)
Ah, Gloucestershire it is then.
Low profile really.
-
SAC rocks are on the non-tech payband, NCO's are on the high along with chefs, drivers, admin clerks............ and don't get me started on bandsmen.
-
I have 2 more month until I get my first posting, I would like to think I am in the airforce even though we get told everyday that training is not like the 'real airforce'. We all get told from our instructor that it is far better than training. I guess you get out of it what you put in, work hard play hard IMO. Oh and trust me, I am ready to bend over, ha. I full well know what I am letting my self in for, but that is why I joined. Working savage shifts in possible 'war zones', and not seeing family and friends for possible 6 months at a time. It will all be a challenge and I like which is what I am here for.
Possible War zones, behave will you, you are an armourer, which as far as I understand it means you will deploy to 3-5 possible locations at the moment, KAF, BSN, KBL, or Italy/Sciliy.. You have a huge fence around you with miles and miles of land between you and the taliban..
Dets are normally 4 months with the RAF too..
Shifts I believe are normally 12/13hrs but I think Chuff will correct me on that, I assume the armourers run alongside the techie shifts?
Do me a favour welshy, 'inverted commas' usually mean I know that BSN/KAF etc etc are not actual war zones, more like mini counties with yes a massive fence around them! Yes 12/13 hour shifts are the norm, for 4 odd months I think that is a challenge don't you, and yes we do run along side the techie shifts, as we aid with BF/AFs etc. 4 months looking to move to 6 months in line with the like the army/infantry etc.
I don't see why I am getting sh!t here, I would like to see every fj**king average Joe do contribute half of what they do in their respective jobs. Along with the whole doing tours etc, tours are not easy work from what I have heard...which trade did you say you were again and where posted? I get my posting in 2 months, put in for ODI/BEN/CONIN.
-
We're not moving to six months to coincide with the army, as the decision to move to 4months with no RnR was made last September.
If you are posted to an aircraft sqn rather than an armoury/bomb dump then the work on tours and the UK is pretty simple, because as a ground engineer I have worked alongside and dealt with a lot of your trade. But its like any trade in the military, you have plenty of lows, but the highs outweigh them.
Odiham and Benson are heli units, so there are a lot of dets and time away, as they are the fastest taxi's in the world. Coningsby on the other hand is not so busy due to the Typhoon still not being fully operational.
-
I have 2 more month until I get my first posting, I would like to think I am in the airforce even though we get told everyday that training is not like the 'real airforce'. We all get told from our instructor that it is far better than training. I guess you get out of it what you put in, work hard play hard IMO. Oh and trust me, I am ready to bend over, ha. I full well know what I am letting my self in for, but that is why I joined. Working savage shifts in possible 'war zones', and not seeing family and friends for possible 6 months at a time. It will all be a challenge and I like which is what I am here for.
Possible War zones, behave will you, you are an armourer, which as far as I understand it means you will deploy to 3-5 possible locations at the moment, KAF, BSN, KBL, or Italy/Sciliy.. You have a huge fence around you with miles and miles of land between you and the taliban..
Dets are normally 4 months with the RAF too..
Shifts I believe are normally 12/13hrs but I think Chuff will correct me on that, I assume the armourers run alongside the techie shifts?
Do me a favour welshy, 'inverted commas' usually mean I know that BSN/KAF etc etc are not actual war zones, more like mini counties with yes a massive fence around them! Yes 12/13 hour shifts are the norm, for 4 odd months I think that is a challenge don't you, and yes we do run along side the techie shifts, as we aid with BF/AFs etc. 4 months looking to move to 6 months in line with the like the army/infantry etc.
I don't see why I am getting sh!t here, I would like to see every fj**king average Joe do contribute half of what they do in their respective jobs. Along with the whole doing tours etc, tours are not easy work from what I have heard...which trade did you say you were again and where posted? I get my posting in 2 months, put in for ODI/BEN/CONIN.
Look at that, a bite already.. Jeez that was easy... Sorry pal but most public sector workforce like nurses/police/fire service even a lot of civil servants pull 12 hour days..
Easy Easy bite that one...
-
Was... Tri-Service High Profile job now ;)
Ah, Gloucestershire it is then.
Low profile really.
Quite a busy bee atm..
Where are you at Lewy? I play Ice Hockey with a few "techies"
-
I have 2 more month until I get my first posting, I would like to think I am in the airforce even though we get told everyday that training is not like the 'real airforce'. We all get told from our instructor that it is far better than training. I guess you get out of it what you put in, work hard play hard IMO. Oh and trust me, I am ready to bend over, ha. I full well know what I am letting my self in for, but that is why I joined. Working savage shifts in possible 'war zones', and not seeing family and friends for possible 6 months at a time. It will all be a challenge and I like which is what I am here for.
Possible War zones, behave will you, you are an armourer, which as far as I understand it means you will deploy to 3-5 possible locations at the moment, KAF, BSN, KBL, or Italy/Sciliy.. You have a huge fence around you with miles and miles of land between you and the taliban..
Dets are normally 4 months with the RAF too..
Shifts I believe are normally 12/13hrs but I think Chuff will correct me on that, I assume the armourers run alongside the techie shifts?
Do me a favour welshy, 'inverted commas' usually mean I know that BSN/KAF etc etc are not actual war zones, more like mini counties with yes a massive fence around them! Yes 12/13 hour shifts are the norm, for 4 odd months I think that is a challenge don't you, and yes we do run along side the techie shifts, as we aid with BF/AFs etc. 4 months looking to move to 6 months in line with the like the army/infantry etc.
I don't see why I am getting sh!t here, I would like to see every fj**king average Joe do contribute half of what they do in their respective jobs. Along with the whole doing tours etc, tours are not easy work from what I have heard...which trade did you say you were again and where posted? I get my posting in 2 months, put in for ODI/BEN/CONIN.
Look at that, a bite already.. Jeez that was easy... Sorry pal but most public sector workforce like nurses/police/fire service even a lot of civil servants pull 12 hour days..
Easy Easy bite that one...
Your a bad man :grin:, we are all on the same team, I don't like 'discussing' about this sort of stuff. I totally appreciate public sector worker like nurses/fire/police, I don't think nurses get enough, but that is a different story and civil servants do there bit too and I'm not taking anything away from other hard working citizens either! All I came here to say was that I'd recommend the Air force for christ sake! :huh:
-
Loving this thread, :grin:
No input from any pOngos or golden rivet hunters yet though :undecided:
-
Bored welsh, nice catch :grin:
A sensitive A I'm an armourer. How novel :laugh:
:lipsrsealed:
-
I sent a day with an armourer at Valley. God it was dull.
-
Where did you send the day?
-
Sorry Lez. Blackberry autocorrect FTW.
-
Wow! I don't like to be tarred with the sterotypical brush that most rockapes get done with! As I am/was different!
I was on 16Sqn yes rapier I know, not through choice! Had the pleasure of staying at honnington from graduation!
I was detatched to iraq for 5months, was about 10 of us rocks just working in our own little unit controlling fuel escorts and such
3months after my return was sent to the falklands for 4months
Then onto Afghan for a further 4months where I had the pleasure of working with some special people!
I left like I said because of increasing debt! I joined up at 18 earning 1300 take home per month, then woth 6 months basic training taking home 600........can you see where the debt came from? Missed direct debit payments going overdrawn etc!
Nevertheless I don't regret anything iv done!
Oh and by the way I aint thick etc etc! Like I said earlier I went in with quyalifications! My afco told me to go in as a weapons tech but I didn't want to
Sorry to be the cnut here but I took a 5k paycut to join up, I already had det, I took my car off the road, never went home and ploughed in my money to my debt. I cleared up all my debt within 6 months and I now own my own house, my own car, I have a credit card with a k on it at the moment only because I am going away in the next few weeks and thought I would treat myself. You did 3 dets on the bounce and still got into debt.. I know rocks are on the lower payband but theres big money to be saved while your away.
you took a 5k paycut? well if my maths serve me right i took a £8400 paycut. i didnt take my car off the road as i needed my car to visit relatives, and yes i went home when i could to see mates as i was only just over 120miles away. yes i done 3 dets on the bounce, and yes i totally agree with you about big money being saved while away, however when fighting to get out of debt and banks keep putting charges upon charges upon charges its a nasty spiral as im sure you well know!
for peoples information, as an sac while i was in iraq i was taking home £1100pm, and trying to keep a civil head on and getting twit faced every night (as our mentality was "you never know when your last meal/drink etc etc will be") why hold back? im not blaming the RAF Regt for anything or any of the situations i have been in as i wanted to do it and im glad i done it! and yes i would do it all over again!
-
I'll be honest I have a few people who work for me with debt, but my advice to them is they would be utterly stupid to leave, what with all of the perks and benefits that they will receive whilst in.
Average pay of an SAC whether it be tech or non-tech pay is £1000 pcm, and that's with his accommodation and food paid for, so in essence its all beer, car, and g/f (or b/f) money.
I had a bloke on my trade training course in '96 bounce more cheques that Patrick Ewing could bounce a basketball. He thought a cheque book was free cash, because the banks wouldn't submit it until he had money in his account.
Unfortunately that's the calibre of retard the Armed Forces attract.
-
I'll be honest I have a few people who work for me with debt, but my advice to them is they would be utterly stupid to leave, what with all of the perks and benefits that they will receive whilst in.
I didnt see any perks, and as the Regt was becomming progressively sh1te with jumped up cpls and new officers straight out of JROC being attached to my unit it was time to leave. and i was offered double what i was earning there so, best way to get out of debt and it worked.
Average pay of an SAC whether it be tech or non-tech pay is £1000 pcm, and that's with his accommodation and food paid for, so in essence its all beer, car, and g/f (or b/f) money.
I had a bloke on my trade training course in '96 bounce more cheques that Patrick Ewing could bounce a basketball. He thought a cheque book was free cash, because the banks wouldn't submit it until he had money in his account. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Unfortunately that's the calibre of retard the Armed Forces attract. i do hope that aint at me?? lol!
how did we even get into this? this topic was all about someone asking what the RAF was like, i put my views and experiences accross from being in the REGT and then get slated. other people put their views and i still get slated, i know there is more guins on here than rocks, but seriously? everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
-
Bored welsh, nice catch :grin:
A sensitive A I'm an armourer. How novel :laugh:
:lipsrsealed:
Ha, fair point! :grin: Most of my instructors at are armourers they all seem like sound blokes. What are the real armourers like outside in the real air force. Please tell me what I need to live up to... :laugh:
-
Its because Rocks are stupid.. Everyone knows this.. you harp on about us guins, yet most of us are as fit as you.. you can shoot better than us because its "your trade"... so when we get the chance to hammer you lot back we do... Suck it up sweetheart...
reference pay..
Lewy don't forget that the majority of camps are going CRL now, so you have to fend for yourself. This does cause an issue with me, I now spend triple on food that I used to, for example, food is about 120 quid a month on a standard unit. I now spend around 60 quid a week on decent food. Plus all the eating out that I do as well.. Soon adds up..
Just to note: My trade leave trade training as a LAC...This lasts for about 2 weeks until they do their TATs and get knocked up to an SAC.. We are on the lower payband... Looking here..
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/rafpayscales.htm
in 18 months of leaving, as long as you have completed your advanced apprenticeship then you move onto level 5 higher payband.. So...
join up.. do 9 weeks training, do a year of trade training, so thats 14mnths, add on 18 months out of training with apprenticeship and you move onto £24,074 thats after 32 months, less than 3 years of being in, work into that you also have your AIP's which if required you could put in straight after moving onto the higher payband and in 32 mnths of being in the Airforce you could be on £26,404.
Also don't forget the bonus money on the new scheme, if you take it at 6 + 8 years it works out to be 5k and 7.5k, if you leave if for the full 8 years your looking at 15k, ok you get taxed on that but thats still 10-12k in your pocket for serving your 9 years.. of course you can take at your 4-5 year points as well but not really worth it...
All these things add up...
Someone call the duty Armorer, I need a new brew making, this ones gone cold...
-
Loving this thread, :grin:
No input from any pOngos or golden rivet hunters yet though :undecided:
Seeing as you insist Chuff! Cant really tell you much about the RAF mate, not in it!
As far as the Armed forces are concerned though, my oppinion is the same as most others on here.
I've been in the Navy for near on 13 years, and I cant wait to leave TBH. I will be leaving with the benefit of a medical pension though, so every cloud and all that! By the sounds of it, none of the tri-service is what it once was. You can count yourself lucky with initial pay through training as well! I worked in a rag factory for 4 months after leaving school, and before joing the Navy. I was taking home 105 quid a week. Pittance I hear you say! Not compared to being a junior (under 17 1/2) throughout training. Initial training was 8 weeks, seamanship was another 4, proffessional training was 21 weeks for my trade, and then SPO (ships protection organisation) BSSC (basic sea servival course), and NBC training was another 4 weeks. For those non-mathematicians out there, thats 37 weeks, then with leave inbetween, worked out at almost a year before joining my first ship. During that time, I was taking home between 228, and 260 quid - A MONTH! And 13 years isnt really that long ago as to the avarage wage, cost of living etc. I'm not that old!!! :tongue: Anyway, rant over.
As far as I've seen, life is no longer a barrell of laughs and beer because a combination of modern lifestyle, (the youth of today) underfunding throughout the services, and paralelled with that is the knob jockies which make our higherarchy nowadays. Youngsters now would rather sit in the mess playing xbox or games on their phone, and occasionally go to the gym. Not that the gym is a bad thing, but it used to be that if you were'nt duty, you were on the piss. Nobody gets on it anymore. All this on the seldom occassions when a vastly diminished Navy is alongside. More often than not, we are at sea. Whether this be in the south coast exercise areas, preparing to deploy, or actually on deployment. Again because of budget cuts, the vast majority of deployments are operational ones, to the middle east. Very few jolly's anymore, and once again very few stops as ports are now charging too much for a bit of down time. Only stops nowadays are official visits, with a guard of honour, ceremonial sh!te, and cock and arse parties for the wardroom. Higherarchy are jobs worths because they are miserable, but in positions of power. Therefore they take it out on the ratings, making our already miserable existence even worse.
As I'm waiting for my discharge, I am working for waterfront support, fleet maintenance. I basically go onto ships when they request, and help diagnose and fix systems that they require help with/cant do. Because there are very few ships anymore, and even less alongside, I finish at 12 most days! That coupled for working for a warrant officer who I have known for 11 years, and have worked for before, means I have it proper easy now. As mentioned though, gone are the regular drafts like this as the positions are now filled by 'civvies' on 12k a year, rather than the 33k basic they pay me, and I'm still only a Leading Hand (corporal for the other service types). Pay really is the only incentive nowadays. If you have a family, stay well clear as I can almost guarantee, it will end in tears. Young dumb, and full of cum, you get to do feck all as the ones that work hard will have to work more to make up for your lack of effort, so you will get left well alone, and drip when you get jobbed off as you are being 'picked on' ffs!!! sh!t but true. Have a great day!
-
^^^^^^ well said
Its because Rocks are stupid.. Everyone knows this.. you harp on about us guins, yet most of us are as fit as you.. you can shoot better than us because its "your trade"... so when we get the chance to hammer you lot back we do... Suck it up sweetheart...
im all for the banter mate, its what we thrived off when being on dets or even when sat around the tea room 9hours a day. although it is starting to pi55 me off you insinuating that i am the steretypical ROCK. yes i have served with some proper thick f**ks and no matter how much you beat them the sense dont stick.
so must i be the black sheep of the rocks then for having a decent education and qualifications??
dont worry princess ill suck it up and ill dish it out twice as hard :afro:
reference pay..
Lewy don't forget that the majority of camps are going CRL now, so you have to fend for yourself. This does cause an issue with me, I now spend triple on food that I used to, for example, food is about 120 quid a month on a standard unit. I now spend around 60 quid a week on decent food. Plus all the eating out that I do as well.. Soon adds up..
Just to note: My trade leave trade training as a LAC...This lasts for about 2 weeks until they do their TATs and get knocked up to an SAC.. We are on the lower payband... Looking here..
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/rafpayscales.htm
in 18 months of leaving, as long as you have completed your advanced apprenticeship then you move onto level 5 higher payband.. So...
join up.. do 9 weeks training, do a year of trade training, so thats 14mnths, add on 18 months out of training with apprenticeship and you move onto £24,074 thats after 32 months, less than 3 years of being in, work into that you also have your AIP's which if required you could put in straight after moving onto the higher payband and in 32 mnths of being in the Airforce you could be on £26,404.
Also don't forget the bonus money on the new scheme, if you take it at 6 + 8 years it works out to be 5k and 7.5k, if you leave if for the full 8 years your looking at 15k, ok you get taxed on that but thats still 10-12k in your pocket for serving your 9 years.. of course you can take at your 4-5 year points as well but not really worth it...
All these things add up...
Someone call the duty Armorer, I need a new brew making, this ones gone cold...
-
im all for the banter mate, its what we thrived off when being on dets or even when sat around the tea room 9hours a day. although it is starting to pi55 me off you insinuating that i am the steretypical ROCK. yes i have served with some proper thick f**ks and no matter how much you beat them the sense dont stick.
so must i be the black sheep of the rocks then for having a decent education and qualifications??
dont worry princess ill suck it up and ill dish it out twice as hard :afro:
Haha... Dish it out.. Its simple..you jump on the lower payband.. potentionally get shot at and blown up..I sit inside the fence, get paid a lot more than you and get to sunbathe everyday and throw steel around..
You get to stag on and have to frisk those dirty locals coming through the main gate.. I get to sit at hereos and have a brewski...
You get to throw on a Uback, with your Osprey, helmet, goggles, ECM, gloves.. I get to sit in shorts and Tshirt and chill in an airconned room...
Whos the mong here :P
-
im abit confused who was at honnington and on 16sqd,?????did you know rich lang and russ shergold??
i was at honnington from 2002-2006 when i left the RAF.altho i did have a trade,(chef)and i did go on a exersize with ty stow the 16sqd chef but cant remember
where we went lol.
i had a fecking great time at the base and was close to were i came from.
all forces people get into some sort of debt but its all good fun,
forces life great if your single sh!t if you have a GF,
oh and i did two lovely tours of the sh!t hile the call mount pleasant!!!
james
-
im abit confused who was at honnington and on 16sqd,?????did you know rich lang and russ shergold??
i was at honnington from 2002-2006 when i left the RAF.altho i did have a trade,(chef)and i did go on a exersize with ty stow the 16sqd chef but cant remember
where we went lol.
i had a fecking great time at the base and was close to were i came from.
all forces people get into some sort of debt but its all good fun,
forces life great if your single sh!t if you have a GF,
oh and i did two lovely tours of the sh!t hile the call mount pleasant!!!
james
I was with a girl when i joined up, was due to get married next year, did 3 tours away from her, no major issues there.. I am now with an RAF Steward and its all good..
-
im all for the banter mate, its what we thrived off when being on dets or even when sat around the tea room 9hours a day. although it is starting to pi55 me off you insinuating that i am the steretypical ROCK. yes i have served with some proper thick f**ks and no matter how much you beat them the sense dont stick.
so must i be the black sheep of the rocks then for having a decent education and qualifications??
dont worry princess ill suck it up and ill dish it out twice as hard :afro:
Haha... Dish it out.. Its simple..you jump on the lower payband.. potentionally get shot at and blown up..I sit inside the fence, get paid a lot more than you and get to sunbathe everyday and throw steel around..
You get to stag on and have to frisk those dirty locals coming through the main gate.. I get to sit at hereos and have a brewski...
You get to throw on a Uback, with your Osprey, helmet, goggles, ECM, gloves.. I get to sit in shorts and Tshirt and chill in an airconned room...
Whos the mong here :P
you dont get it tho, i WANTED to do this job! i was extremely interested in this job hence i done it! yes i should have done a different trade and yes i am tempted everyday to do another trade with my extra quals that i have!
but ultimately i wanted to be in the REGT so i done it. although i got into debt i dont regret it, because what i had done/seen and where i have been to thats just something not alot of people can say they have done! so im happy with the choices i have made
dont get me wrong, i spent majority of my nights in iraq in the toucan bar, as us rocks ran it, 2 can rule?? no it werent :laugh:
-
oh and pay wise when i was in i was getting £1200 amonth cant remember what pay band and £1500 when in the falklands
-
im abit confused who was at honnington and on 16sqd,?????did you know rich lang and russ shergold??
i was at honnington from 2002-2006 when i left the RAF.altho i did have a trade,(chef)and i did go on a exersize with ty stow the 16sqd chef but cant remember
where we went lol.
i had a fecking great time at the base and was close to were i came from.
all forces people get into some sort of debt but its all good fun,
forces life great if your single sh!t if you have a GF,
oh and i did two lovely tours of the sh!t hile the call mount pleasant!!!
james
hell yeah i know langy and shurgy! was on langy's flight, he was the flt sgt's driver. well i was in from 2003-2007 so dare say i know ya mate!
-
i was 16 when i joined up and stayed with the same bird for the 5 years i was in
but we did split up a few times when i was on tour etc,left the raf f*cked her off moved to the isle of wight met a bird now married her and have a kid,
i will say tho my forces days were the best days of my life...good crack
-
well i was bricey from the mess,(the won that couldnt give a sh!t lol)
i bet if i saw ya id reckonise ya mate,yer i grew up with langy we were always out on the piss back home in norwich lol
-
I just like getting naked in the bars ....All those naked men...
-
I just like getting naked in the bars ....All those naked men...
hahahah :laugh:
well i was bricey from the mess,(the won that couldnt give a sh!t lol)
i bet if i saw ya id reckonise ya mate,yer i grew up with langy we were always out on the piss back home in norwich lol
if your on facebook, add me up on there http://www.facebook.com/deejaymadman (http://www.facebook.com/deejaymadman)
-
added up mate langy and russ are on my friends list :laugh:
-
added up mate langy and russ are on my friends list :laugh:
cool, ill get on there now! who was it in the mess that owned the green rover 220 coupe?
-
not sure, cashy(civvy) had a purple one and i had a green civic coupe
-
Never understood why anyone would join the RAF Regiment. It' like Infantry for pussies.
-
i do think i vaguely remember you lol
Never understood why anyone would join the RAF Regiment. It' like Infantry for pussies.
how dare you :laugh:
because the raf treated their personnel better and i want to do the infantry role hence i done that. and by the sounds of it from other people that i had been on det with, this was all true
-
Never understood why anyone would join the RAF Regiment. It' like Infantry for pussies.
Bwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Good giggle this thread :grin:
-
was along time ago dan
-
was along time ago dan
ya telling me mate. certainly feels like an age ago thats for sure!
all in all honnington was a dire camp, purely becaue it was the training centre for the REGT and the you got the pongos on the other side of the airfield too! lol