**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

Been speaking with Afco people a few times over the last few weeks. I'm setting into the idea of becoming an RAF WSO, good pay, great benefits from RAF and it seems like a career that will make me feel proud to be in. Was wondering would it be best to join as an WSoperator or a WSofficer or simply work as an operator for a few years and then take up the officer route? Or have I got myself confused.

Only issues I have are that I feel that my degree in Computer Engineering is a bit wasted so would there be other areas I can go into, also social aspects like gf and what if things didnt go well, do you have opportunities to meet others and being able to see family during training.

Any help on these matters would be greatly appreciated!
 
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You cant expect to get aload of free time to go see people during training, its supposed to mirror being deployed...
If you cant handle a few month of training then you should look elsewhere, especially with current armed forces recruitment slowing to a crawl.
 
When in training, don't expect free time, except maybe a weekend here and there, but not much else. I can't comment on the RAF, so I don't know how they work, but during my basic training, I had 1 weekend after 7 weeks training, then 5 days after finishing my phase 1 and going to my phase 2. Because of my trade being so long, I was free most weekends during my phase 2 training, but in my eyes, that's the time you should stay around, and start getting mates. You can generally see a massive difference between those who went home every weekend, and never seem to fall in to the forces lifestyle, compared to those who stayed at weekends, which seem to enjoy the forces life much more.
Like I say though, as you're looking at RAF, I've got no idea how you guys operate.
But you have to remember, when you go on operations, yo'll go for months with out seeing family, or civvy mates, just the way things are. All comes down to whether you can cope with that.

Have you asked them what the current time wait is for the RAF, as when I was working in an AFCO for a few weeks around 12 months ago, RAF had pretty much shut their doors. And with the SDSR just out, I can't see them having a big recruitment drive.
 
^ 5 days off after finishing phase1 before going to phase2... im assuming thats freebie days since theres no 5day core leave period???
 
Well it's not that I can't cope without being around family I would like to see them once in a while of course, I was generally wondering about romance side. As currently I am seeing some 1 but with how things are going I wouldn't see it lasting so was wondering are there still chances to meet nice ladys outside of the RAF while there?

As for RAF recruitment, I've spoken to the gentlemen at my local AFCO and they said aslong as I start applying around February things should go well. There isn't a massive drive for new members but there is still some for people like me, I'll take that as a compliment.
 
peetee said:
^ 5 days off after finishing phase1 before going to phase2... im assuming thats freebie days since theres no 5day core leave period???
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Nah, came out of my ILA, didn't get relocation leave for what ever reason, got our disturbance allowance mind you. Can't fully remember though, as we didn't get JPA access till Phase 2, so was all done on paper.
Was actually 6 days, as pass off was on the Thursday, so took the Friday, then the following week, then arrived at unit on the following Monday.
 
BlackCoat2k10 said:
I was generally wondering about romance side. As currently I am seeing some 1 but with how things are going I wouldn't see it lasting so was wondering are there still chances to meet nice ladys outside of the RAF while there?
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Me and my misses lasted though Basic training, and several months though phase 2 before splitting up. Turns out she was nailing some other bloke behind my back, so glad to be rid of her.
You'll get plenty of time to meet nice birds either inside or outside the RAF once you're done with your training, crabs are always pulling fit birds, and your Blues seem to make women weak at the knees. So I wouldn't worry about that, don't let a woman affect your decision to join.
 
BlackCoat2k10 said:
Well it's not that I can't cope without being around family I would like to see them once in a while of course, I was generally wondering about romance side. As currently I am seeing some 1 but with how things are going I wouldn't see it lasting so was wondering are there still chances to meet nice ladys outside of the RAF while there?
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training lasts a few months, surely you can survive that without 'romance' in your life, until you meet someone new.
Having a girl at home or whatever could be a hindrance to your social life, stopping you from having a good time with all the lads and making new friends etc.
 
peetee said:
Having a girl at home or whatever could be a hindrance to your social life, stopping you from having a good time with all the lads and making new friends etc.
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That's pretty much what I was alluding to with my earlier post, about lads who go home every weekend. I made that mistake early on in my phase 2 lol.
 
Ghosteh said:
That's pretty much what I was alluding to with my earlier post, about lads who go home every weekend. I made that mistake early on in my phase 2 lol.
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ay, my relationship ended at the end of phase1 so no loss there.
question is people joining the forces need to ask themselves is do they want the burden of having a gf back home, especially if you are young, joining the forces will signal a start of a new life, most likely in a new place a distance from your old life...
 
Fair points made. I don't mind being single for long periods of time, heck I sometimes enjoy it a lot. I just dont like the idea of being in my late 40's and single with no family. I understand in the forces you are there to do a job and it's not always easy and it can get time consuming, so you wont always have a chance to have a gf/wife around and things may go pear shaped. But thank you for reinforcing a few of my issues. I'm usually very socialable and tend to get on well with like minded people so as you say if there's opportunity to mingle some what then all is good :D!
 
Ah I wouldn't worry about being 40, single and with no kids. You'll most likely be divorced, seeing someone new, or several at once, and have kids by that point, if what most people in the forces are to go by :p.
 
Ghosteh said:
don't let a woman affect your decision to join.
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Absolutely THIS.

Blackcoat: I see too many guys (and girls) let their judgement be clouded by someone they think is the one and they almost always end up regretting the decisions they make. It starts from the decision to join and goes right to the decision to leave. I've known guys put off joining up for their other half only to find out after that their other half is a cheating scumbag anyway. I've also seen people leave their job in the forces due to pressure from their husband/wife, only to see that marriage collapse once they're out anyway! Much regret there.

I guess only you know the right decision and whether a girl you're seeing is "the one" but really you should be living your own life especially when you're young and take it from me, there are A LOT of opportunities arise once you're in ;)

PERSONAL TIP: Do not date/go out with/sleep with/marry forces girls
 
Captain Planet said:
PERSONAL TIP: Do not date/go out with/sleep with/marry forces girls
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That from experience? :p Lol.

I'm currently trying to get with a bird who I've been though training with, pretty much from basic, and we're off to unit together, but I think once I'm in Germany, I'll get distracted by other... places... :p.
 
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Its a bit of an irrational fear thinking just because you are in the forces that you wouldnt meet a woman.

I'm with Capt Planet, stay away from forces girls... its much easier with civvies, I should know, im currently tied down with a bird serving with me :(
 
Ghosteh said:
That from experience? :p Lol.
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Unfortunately so, and I already knew better!

peetee said:
Its a bit of an irrational fear thinking just because you are in the forces that you wouldnt meet a woman.

I'm with Capt Planet, stay away from forces girls... its much easier with civvies, I should know, im currently tied down with a bird serving with me :(
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I don't envy you fella, although I have seen some good relationships blossom from such situations, itreally isn't for me.

I might edit that personal tip however. STAY AWAY FROM BRITISH FORCES WOMEN :D Because once you get to mingle with the other nationalities it's a whole lot more interesting. Being in Virginia working with the yanks right now is proving to be somewhat "special" :)
 
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Captain Planet said:
Unfortunately so, and I already knew better!
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See, that's the thing, I already know better, and I always said never get with a squaddie bird, as things will never go well. But I fell for this girl, stupidly, so been trying to get with her lol. Fortunately, she wont be out to unit till January, so I should have got over her by then, get some dirty German civvy bird on the go lol.
 
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