Career Change: Joining the RAF

Spent 12 years in the RAF, and it was awsome. Went to loads of countries (free) and the people you meet and work with will become almost part of your family....
 
Thanks for all the positive replies. I'm really struggling to find any reason not to go ahead and do it.

I'm not expecting much from the wages at first but my take home pay is £1200 a month in my current job anyways.

Just browsing through the jobs available and Air Traffic Controller is appealing to me. I'm going to give them a call later and get the ball roling.
 
Best of luck with this brave move, I think giving what you've said it's clear that you will always regret this if you don't go for it. GO FOR IT! Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the good luck wishes. I'm ******** a massive brick already and I've not done anything. At the same time I can't wait to start moving in a completely different direction with a new challenge.
 
Its fairly hard, I applied a while back but didn't get through as I was prescribed an inhaler to help with my hayfever :(

Be prepared for lots of hard work and research, I'm fairly certain ATC's are classed as officers (please correct me) so you will have to go for a selection weekend once you make it past your first interviews. Like I said do lots of research, there is decent stuff on the student room under the armed forces sub forum and get along to your local recruitment office and pick up loads of brochures and stuff!
 
nope not officers. fresh faced sac's :)

So how difficult would you say it is being accepted?
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depends on the trade requirements for the year. ATC hasnt really been cut in the first wave of redundancies so you may have a decent chance of getting in. be prepared for a wait before you get into basic training however. from walking in the recruitment office it took me a year (with no failures) to step into halton.

the interviews are easy if you're a half decent human being and can smarten up a bit. general knowledge of operations and a idea of what your joining (raf as a whole and tradewise) is required for them.

obviously fitness should be worked on. mile and a half in 12 mins plus 35 situps in a min, 20 press ups in a min is minimum. fitter you are easier you find basic training however.

they will tell you everything you need to know though.
 
My family is in the RAF and they all love it.

But you are in IT now, the RAF/MOD do not have internal IT any more, as its all out sourced, though traditional comms are still done internally.

But do not let that put you off, as others have said pop to the local RAF office and have a chat.

Kimbie
 
It's definitely worth a try, but as others said, don't expect it to be easy to get in as the requirements are very tough. My other half wanted to get in as an ATC controller but didn't manage.
I personally had the same feeling after working in IT in London for a few years. At 27 I decided to become a pilot and I just went for it. It took me a few years and it certainly wasn't easy, but here I am now, doing air ambulance work on a light twin engine aircraft in the UK, which is very badly paid but very rewarding and unique. Sometimes you just have to go for it, just make sure you don't lay all your eggs in one basket. I still have a backup career to fall back on should it all go **** up.
 
Nikumba said:
But you are in IT now, the RAF/MOD do not have internal IT any more
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Wrong. It's correct that the common pan-defence IT platform (DII, provided by ATLAS, and it's a crock) is out-sourced but the RAF still has a dedicated IT trade (Trade Group 4, ICT Tech) and this is arguably the only current growth trade. The MOD (and particularly the RAF) have at last woken up to the currrent Cyber threat and TG4 is becoming increasingly involved in this. Also the Typhoon is heavily reliant on IT, and again TG4 are involved. Also at most stations the Information Management piece is done by TG4, and also what remains of the the legacy comms & RADAR equipments (or 'enduring capability' as they like to call it), not the most glamorous aspect, but you take the rough with the smooth. Ask Zefan & Andr3w! ;)
 
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I'm at a point in my life where I don't know what to do, stuff sucks.. the thought of joining something like the RAF seems quite good.

Can anyone just go for it? Or do you have to have a trade or skills?

David
 
David_VI said:
I'm at a point in my life where I don't know what to do, stuff sucks.. the thought of joining something like the RAF seems quite good.

Can anyone just go for it? Or do you have to have a trade or skills?

David
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You obviously have to meet certain criteria, minimum medical standards, educational requirements for different trades etc. Best bet is to get on the RAF Careers webpages ( http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/jobs/ ) or speak to your local AFCO. I suppose essentially anyone can go for it, but not everyone can get it in! ;)
 
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A question for the RAF guys...did you always want to be in the RAF, or was it something that you discovered you wanted to do later in life?

Also, I'm looking at joining as a graduate, hopefully an Officer...do the guys who join as officers generally have a harder time than the guys who join as recruits, or can't you really compare the 2?

Thanks :)
 
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