Advice needed about career in the RAF
- Thread starter Benihana
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Don't do it. The RAF is for losers. Join the Army, be a real man!
Ha ha! But that means actual work, and getting dirty...no thanks
10+
You'll be in the RAF remember, they won't send you out Ross Kemp style on the front lines with the Army. You'll go places, but I seriously doubt you would get into any combat. Maybe something with the The Rock Apes at most, but they don't do much anyway, just drive around in their Landies wearing Oakley sunglasses thinking they're all that.
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Don't do it.
Most of the missus family are/have been involved with the RAF and they all love it. They appear to look after their 'employees' better than the other armed forces (only going on my own experiences don't get upset ). Although that may have changed over recent months/years.
Bear in mind though that it is much more of a lifestyle than just a job. You could potentially be away from family and friends for long periods.
Few of the lads who used to play football with me joined up recently joined up and they say it is hard work but they feel like they are 'contributing', so win win
). Although that may have changed over recent months/years.Bear in mind though that it is much more of a lifestyle than just a job. You could potentially be away from family and friends for long periods.
Few of the lads who used to play football with me joined up recently joined up and they say it is hard work but they feel like they are 'contributing', so win win
Don't do it. The RAF is for losers. Join the Army, be a real man!
Damn straight! Damn crabs.
In all seriousness though, you should find plenty of advice about the application process and such like in this thread
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Shut up you dirty squaddies 
All the fit women love us RAF lads.......ok thats a lie.....the only attention you get if you are in public in uniform is from old old men who like to talk to you for HOURS on end.....but they also like to buy you a pint so I don't mind
Wrong! The RAF do go outside the wire if needed - and remember we can (and do) get sent out of area in an 'out of trade' role!
Oh and don't belittle the rock apes, they look good gangsta with their shades on
All the fit women love us RAF lads.......ok thats a lie.....the only attention you get if you are in public in uniform is from old old men who like to talk to you for HOURS on end.....but they also like to buy you a pint so I don't mind
You'll be in the RAF remember, they won't send you out Ross Kemp style on the front lines with the Army. You'll go places, but I seriously doubt you would get into any combat. Maybe something with the The Rock Apes at most, but they don't do much anyway, just drive around in their Landies wearing Oakley sunglasses thinking they're all that.
Wrong! The RAF do go outside the wire if needed - and remember we can (and do) get sent out of area in an 'out of trade' role!
Oh and don't belittle the rock apes, they look good gangsta with their shades on
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Shut up you dirty squaddies
All the fit women love us RAF lads.......ok thats a lie.....the only attention you get if you are in public in uniform is from old old men who like to talk to you for HOURS on end.....but they also like to buy you a pint so I don't mind
I don't mind the RAF too much, they gave me a lift when I had to go and slot people.
Shut up you dirty squaddies
All the fit women love us RAF lads.......ok thats a lie.....the only attention you get if you are in public in uniform is from old old men who like to talk to you for HOURS on end.....but they also like to buy you a pint so I don't mind
Don't lie, you RAF guys trap like 10 men, As do marines in their Blues. Something about Blue Military Dress seem to attract women!
You're welcome
NOOOOO....and I feel sorry for any man that tries to 'touch up' a marine after he has had a few beers
You guys are just angry because we get hotels and you get....under the stars
To the OP take a look here: http://www.e-goat.co.uk/
Its a big RAF forum with loads of RAF guys/gals as members
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You're welcome
NOOOOO....and I feel sorry for any man that tries to 'touch up' a marine after he has had a few beers
I've touched up a few marines
. I seem to out do them when it comes to weirdness, which I think it quite an achievement.
Our driver's son, Adrian Harlen is an Army photographer. Lot's of examples of his work in and out of the Army on the internet. There are a few interviews with him too that might give you an insight into military photography work.
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You're not a para have you? I've seen some para's do some weird..weird....freaky...freaky weird....weird weird stuff before
I've seen Marines do freaky stuff also! Not sure why Paras/Marines like to cross dress so much!
Ring them up and make sure they're hiring- I've rang up recently about roles that are advertised as "required" on their website only to be told that there are no vacancies. A lot is hinging on the defence spending review which will be published later this year, in all likelihood there will be cuts in the RAF and personnel numbers will be axed. Big shame as it looks a great lifestyle.
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While all of this is true, people will still be leaving all the time due to either a. the end of their service, or b. because they have become 'tour saturated' and want to leave for their sanity and that of their family.
To the OP, I have loads photographer friends (I pester them in their office every day ) and one thing I have noticed is that they loved photography and did it as a hobby when they joined up...but now its not longer an enjoyable hobby and just a job instead!
Have you thought about keeping photography as a hobby and going for a different trade instead? Unless you manage to get on the combat camera team (sounds groovy eh?) you will mostly be taking pictures of aircraft parts/police evidence scenes and parades!
) and one thing I have noticed is that they loved photography and did it as a hobby when they joined up...but now its not longer an enjoyable hobby and just a job instead!Have you thought about keeping photography as a hobby and going for a different trade instead? Unless you manage to get on the combat camera team (sounds groovy eh?) you will mostly be taking pictures of aircraft parts/police evidence scenes and parades!
To the OP, I have loads photographer friends (I pester them in their office every day
Have you thought about keeping photography as a hobby and going for a different trade instead? Unless you manage to get on the combat camera team (sounds groovy eh?) you will mostly be taking pictures of aircraft parts/police evidence scenes and parades!
Thats pretty much where i'm at now, I took up photography while travelling, and loved it as a hobby. When I got home (2005) I decided it would make a better career than being behind a desk all day, after an AS level and HND, i'm sat behind a desk typing this message, shooting and editing pictures of hats.
It has become a chore and I don't really do it as a hobby anymore, which is why I thought working in the RAF would bring a more dynamic enviroment.
The alternative was to look for a job in IT, which I could also do with the RAF, but I have no qualifications in it, and doubt it would interest me as much, its just something i'm 'good' at.
Combat Camera Team sounds perfect
tell me more!Look on the RAF Careers website for 'ICT Tech' thats what I am.
You dont need an IT background to get in, as you get all the training you need when you are in. They bascially give you a big overview of all the systems you can work on/teach you a few things etc, then when you get posted to a base you can use the knowledge of the system combined with a lot of on the job training on that equipment to know what you are doing!
Our job role can be anything from working on an IT workshop (like I am at the moment) to setting up all comms in the middle of a field/desert. So we are talking satellite/radar/radio/telephone comms etc
I have been in just over 3 years and I am on 24k, a photographer who joined at the same time as me would be on at a guess around 21k
Sorry I don't know anything about the combat camera team - apart from its quite hard to get onto (because a lot of people want to do it!!)
You dont need an IT background to get in, as you get all the training you need when you are in. They bascially give you a big overview of all the systems you can work on/teach you a few things etc, then when you get posted to a base you can use the knowledge of the system combined with a lot of on the job training on that equipment to know what you are doing!
Our job role can be anything from working on an IT workshop (like I am at the moment) to setting up all comms in the middle of a field/desert. So we are talking satellite/radar/radio/telephone comms etc
I have been in just over 3 years and I am on 24k, a photographer who joined at the same time as me would be on at a guess around 21k
Sorry I don't know anything about the combat camera team - apart from its quite hard to get onto (because a lot of people want to do it!!)