RAF

[Ant1981]

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.

[JC]

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

 

did i tell you it was my Last day tomorrow  

[JC]

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 

[scarr89]

Perhaps I am just being naive about my future career...only time will tell!

Have a great last day by the way!!!!

[dansmk3]

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?

[Lewy]

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.

[dansmk3]

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

[Lewy]

In 4 years what tours did you do, and why leave with financial problems?

[bored_Welsh_lad]

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!!! 

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..

[Mr Blue]

RAF stands for Rough As Fcuk.