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**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**
- Thread starter bakes0310
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Pfft, I could do that easily.
Oh wait, its 3 hours not 30hours? Very impressive, an excellent cause as well. Fair plays to that fellow.
Oh wait, its 3 hours not 30hours? Very impressive, an excellent cause as well. Fair plays to that fellow.
I'm thinking if applying to the RAF for engineering, but first I have a quick couple of questions
When you are made redundant are you fully qualified in your field? Ie general electrical technician, could walk in to a job as one, or are the qualifications only relevant in the armed forces? And what are employers like for taking on ex forces?
And on the off chance do we have any one on here who has served as a technician in raf? I wouldn't mind a quick summary of the life experiences if you don't mind.
Thanks
Kieran
When you are made redundant are you fully qualified in your field? Ie general electrical technician, could walk in to a job as one, or are the qualifications only relevant in the armed forces? And what are employers like for taking on ex forces?
And on the off chance do we have any one on here who has served as a technician in raf? I wouldn't mind a quick summary of the life experiences if you don't mind.
Thanks
Kieran
I spent 16 years as an Avionics/Electrical tech in the RAF. I left in Nov 11 so fairly recent.
You end up with quite a few qualifications how relevant they are to the civilian aircraft industry tbh I have no idea. Most civilian aviation employers want you to be licensed which you do not get from the RAF unless you are lucky and get picked to do the courses.
I did 16 years before I was medically discharged and tbh I would go back today and do 16 more. Best and worst times of my life but I loved it. I did things I would never have done otherwise, visited places I had never even heard off before and worked on some of the greatest aircraft to fly.
If you would like to know anything else let me know and I will see what help I can give.
You end up with quite a few qualifications how relevant they are to the civilian aircraft industry tbh I have no idea. Most civilian aviation employers want you to be licensed which you do not get from the RAF unless you are lucky and get picked to do the courses.
I did 16 years before I was medically discharged and tbh I would go back today and do 16 more. Best and worst times of my life but I loved it. I did things I would never have done otherwise, visited places I had never even heard off before and worked on some of the greatest aircraft to fly.
If you would like to know anything else let me know and I will see what help I can give.
Not sure on Engineering/RAF side of life, but the way things seem to work in the Royal Signals/Army side of life is we do the training, but don't get put though the exams. For example, I'll be getting put though a proper CCNA course in the near future which costs a fair whack, but if I want the certificate, I'll pay for it out my own pocket.
I'm thinking if applying to the RAF for engineering, but first I have a quick couple of questions
When you are made redundant are you fully qualified in your field? Ie general electrical technician, could walk in to a job as one, or are the qualifications only relevant in the armed forces? And what are employers like for taking on ex forces?
And on the off chance do we have any one on here who has served as a technician in raf? I wouldn't mind a quick summary of the life experiences if you don't mind.
Thanks
Kieran
What sort of Technician? I can hook you up
Not all courses give you a standard civilian qualification but most do. Most trades if not all will give you an advanced apprenticeship as your phase 2 trade training and be comprised of NVQs, BTECs etc.
For example, I was surprised to read about ghosteh not getting a CCNA certificate given to him after completing the course. That's one of the ones that IT techs (RAFs answer to the Royal Signals) will get as part of their trade training. Seems a little harsh that the army lads don't.
What!! Damn them! hah. Not that it makes much difference to me, heading to lovely Herefordshire at the end of year, should get plenty of courses done!
What sort of Technician? I can hook you up
Not all courses give you a standard civilian qualification but most do. Most trades if not all will give you an advanced apprenticeship as your phase 2 trade training and be comprised of NVQs, BTECs etc.
For example, I was surprised to read about ghosteh not getting a CCNA certificate given to him after completing the course. That's one of the ones that IT techs (RAFs answer to the Royal Signals) will get as part of their trade training. Seems a little harsh that the army lads don't.
You don't get a CCNA qualification from being an ICT Tech, you don't even do the full CCNA course. You do get a certificate for doing one of the semesters, but it's no where near the same as the CCNA.
The certificate is pretty much worth nothing in civi land either. :/
Ah so pretty much like a JPA record saying you've completed the 'CCNA' course? Completely untransferable to civvy street, except for any experience you get.
I'm pretty sure you can still do CCNA 1 - 4 at flowerdown? Or do they not give you the the full CCNA qualification?
Well I thought the kids coming through now got a CCNA certificate with the opportunity to so 3 other CCNA courses if their role requires it.
They definitely pay Cisco a lot of money if its not a proper qualification
Tbh I'm most likely to go for the general electrical technicain. I just want to know that I will be able to get a good Job when I leave
And if your open to question I have another quick few
What are the main difference between raf like and civilian life?
What are digs like when your away from home?
And what is progression / promoting like? And are they open to furthering education ?
Thanks once again
Kieran
Oh sorry about double post I've had a quick look at the air traffic control sections and seems very interesting, just one question, there's about 5 different jobs and I don't know which one is most likely to lead to a air traffic controller job
Thanks again, again
Kieran
Thanks again, again
Kieran
I'm currently serving as an Avionics Technician, been in just over 4 years, loving it!
I've been very lucky with my postings, but you really need to make the most of it.
Rooms are very base dependent, most bases have super blocks now but they have a waiting list. (Large rooms, double beds, en-suite, sky/broadband sockets, some even have walk in pantrys/wardrobes!)
I'm currently in a single man room, has 2 large lockers, sink, bedside table and chest of drawers. Does me fine until I get a superblock room.
Of course if you're married you are entitled to marriage quarters.
Main difference between RAF life and Civilian life? I'll be honest, you have to put up with a lot of bull ****.
But the positives massively outweigh the negatives in my opinion, I'm big on sports and getting away on expeds.
I'm doing a parachuting course next month, for free. A lot of RAF Sports/Expeds are free or heavily subsidized by the RAF so there isn't much to pay. There is a club for pretty much anything you can think of! If you can't find the one you want, you can get help to set one up.
As for further education the RAF are happy for you to do it, you can apply for money which the RAF give you to help pay for qualifications.
Universities which are big on long distance military learning I've seen so far are Bangor and Stafford.
Yeovil college also does long distance learning for the military.
And as for promotion, some call the selection process unfair, some call it a lottery, might even be down to luck. But its all down to your yearly assessments.
I've been very lucky with my postings, but you really need to make the most of it.
Rooms are very base dependent, most bases have super blocks now but they have a waiting list. (Large rooms, double beds, en-suite, sky/broadband sockets, some even have walk in pantrys/wardrobes!)
I'm currently in a single man room, has 2 large lockers, sink, bedside table and chest of drawers. Does me fine until I get a superblock room.
Of course if you're married you are entitled to marriage quarters.
Main difference between RAF life and Civilian life? I'll be honest, you have to put up with a lot of bull ****.
But the positives massively outweigh the negatives in my opinion, I'm big on sports and getting away on expeds.
I'm doing a parachuting course next month, for free.
A lot of RAF Sports/Expeds are free or heavily subsidized by the RAF so there isn't much to pay. There is a club for pretty much anything you can think of! If you can't find the one you want, you can get help to set one up. As for further education the RAF are happy for you to do it, you can apply for money which the RAF give you to help pay for qualifications.
Universities which are big on long distance military learning I've seen so far are Bangor and Stafford.
Yeovil college also does long distance learning for the military.
And as for promotion, some call the selection process unfair, some call it a lottery, might even be down to luck
. But its all down to your yearly assessments.
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