**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**
- Thread starter bakes0310
- Start date
Soldato
almost 6 years now for myself, had a good crack at it, got full screw at the start of the year, but i dunno, end of Herrick and moving back into contingency just feels like the right time for me, i'm longing for something more settled, and the majority of my mates that have been in around the same time are long gone or have signed off.
the only thing that would really keep me going would be a nice ERE posting, but even then that would just be putting off the inevitable.
the only thing that would really keep me going would be a nice ERE posting, but even then that would just be putting off the inevitable.
I think there are only another 4 left of my phase 2 training left in who haven't signed off or left already.
My posting is currently awesome, but it wouldn't get any better than this, and the chances in civvy street far outweigh the options available in the Forces as it stands, both financially and challenge wise.
Soldato
Do tell more?
Not going to go too much into it, but it's working for a major software vendor, working from home for the time being, with the possibility to move to the states in the future.
Soldato
Ha well that needs no more divulging! sounds awesome.
Just seen this pop up
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29532537
Think it's a bit ridiculous bringing this claim up. Those who join before 18 have all that time to say they don't want to be in and the chance to leave. Their reckonable service starts at 18, when they're classed as fully trained solders. 16 and 17 they're basically in college, getting paid, think they have a pretty good deal to be honest!
That said, I did join at 19 and 24 heh.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29532537
Think it's a bit ridiculous bringing this claim up. Those who join before 18 have all that time to say they don't want to be in and the chance to leave. Their reckonable service starts at 18, when they're classed as fully trained solders. 16 and 17 they're basically in college, getting paid, think they have a pretty good deal to be honest!
That said, I did join at 19 and 24 heh.
Associate
- Joined
- 10 Sep 2008
- Posts
- 1,646
Yeah, 17 year olds get a massive look at army life before entering their 4 year commitment, if you're 18+ and discover you don't like it, tough luck.
Associate
I miss serving...
I was in the Royal Navy for 5 Years, I transferred to the RAF Regiment where I completed Basic Training a family member passed away and my missus wasn't doing to well alone on the other side of the country so I decided to leave.
I will be reapplying next Sept as I am finding Civilian life very hard (No Jobs In Plymouth or i am under qualified) My issue was i left with nothing and all i know is how to fire weapons and guard ships/bases etc..
So this time i think i will be applying for a role that will give me something in the long run! Not 100% on that yet but possibly IT Based
Apologise for my terrible Grammar
I was in the Royal Navy for 5 Years, I transferred to the RAF Regiment where I completed Basic Training a family member passed away and my missus wasn't doing to well alone on the other side of the country so I decided to leave.
I will be reapplying next Sept as I am finding Civilian life very hard (No Jobs In Plymouth or i am under qualified) My issue was i left with nothing and all i know is how to fire weapons and guard ships/bases etc..
So this time i think i will be applying for a role that will give me something in the long run! Not 100% on that yet but possibly IT Based
Apologise for my terrible Grammar
Soldato
What about an RAF firefighter? Your matelot training should show that your capable and if you get your ticket you'll be at a significant advantage if you apply for a civil airport firefighter role.
Soldato
Either service for IT but I hear mixed reviews from anyone in that job... "it's what you make of it" rings true I guess. Of serious consideration, if I were you, would be ATC in the RAF. You can go as a direct entrant to SNCO ATC, so of course the starting pay is good and you then have quals for civilian life there after. Commissioned ATC officer would be ideal, but that depends on your education quals. Other than that I'd seriously be looking at something like Logs/Stacker officer (PoL qualifications? Yes please!), or Aircrew, etc. I would never join the Navy though, no thanks!
They are always moaning they are low pay band and I often see lots of very old Cpl firefighters. I can only assume that promotion is slow. Low pay + slow promotion
Associate
Trust me i wont be going any where near the RN.... haha
Fire fighter i have considered but it was possibly the part i disliked mostly about the RN, Having experience real major engine fires (Box Fires Good Ol' Type 22 Frigates) while at sea it kind of puts you off that as a career...
Fire fighter i have considered but it was possibly the part i disliked mostly about the RN, Having experience real major engine fires (Box Fires Good Ol' Type 22 Frigates) while at sea it kind of puts you off that as a career...
Soldato
They are always moaning they are low pay band and I often see lots of very old Cpl firefighters. I can only assume that promotion is slow. Low pay + slow promotion
It'll probably be dead mans boots, some of the specialist jobs in the RN were like that, Seamen Spec's & PTI's for example.
Is it still that bad in the mob then?
I'd imagine there's a fair bit of difference between a fire in main engine room and an aircrat fire. My dad was a civilian firefighter and he was of the opinion that firefighting on a ship was a lot more dangerous than anything he'd have to do.
I got lucky with fires, the only one I saw was a tiny electrical fire that happened (and was put out in a couple of seconds) when prep'ing Goalkeeper for a shoot.
Which 22's were you on?
Have you got any idea what you'd like to get out of an IT role? It's so varied, and so much of it is contracted out, some jobs can be exceptionally tedious, but that said, you can get lucky and get some very interesting job roles. This is all within the Army mind you, not sure about the IT roles the crabs offer.
Associate
Thread hijack alert!
I've got 18 months left which will see me out after 18.5 years.
To say I am anxious... but excited about new challenges... would be a huge understatement.
I am finding the resettlement service a bit.....weak, really. Clearly I don't expect it all to be done for me but, P'ah! I don't know.
I've got 18 months left which will see me out after 18.5 years.
To say I am anxious... but excited about new challenges... would be a huge understatement.
I am finding the resettlement service a bit.....weak, really. Clearly I don't expect it all to be done for me but, P'ah! I don't know.
IT stuff in the Army is contracted out a lot, either SPOC for the DII stuff or Atlas for the standalone stuff.
G6 depts are normally staffed by civilians at Regiment level but at Brigade level they have a mixture of mil/civ.
Most of the IT lads I see pass through my office say they are glad they have nowt to do with computers as they are old and generally ****.
G6 depts are normally staffed by civilians at Regiment level but at Brigade level they have a mixture of mil/civ.
Most of the IT lads I see pass through my office say they are glad they have nowt to do with computers as they are old and generally ****.
out after 18.5yrs? Medical or just had enough? No chance of staying in to the 22yr point for the pension?
Pretty much this, unfortunately.
As I said, there are a few places where you can have an awesome time, but they are few and far between, and generally you have to be recommended to go there and be good at the job, and you won't get them straight out of training.
The general IT stuff that you would get to work on out of training, as said above, is usually rubbish and old.
I'm going to start resettlement soon, but the longer I can put it off the better, I enjoy my job too much. And as you've said, I don't think I'll get much out of it, all seems pretty low level stuff so guys don't fall flat on their faces when they do walk out the gate for the last time.
Soldato
Maybe i'm wrong but dont you qualify for full pension (minus the gap to the 22 year point) at 18.5 year point under the old scheme.
so you leave you still get lump sum and a lower rate of pension until full pension age.
My heads been baffled by the changes to pension scheme.
