Not quite right with the second statement, although I see where you are coming from. Google DII (Defence Information Infrastructure) and the consortium ATLAS (led by EDS) who will deliver this. It's all in the public domain. Anyway, ATLAS are delivering DII, which in a nutshell is a common IT platform across defence which will replace most (not all) of the myriad of legacy systems in use within defence. During the migration phases, TG 4 personnel directly involved in CIS service provision will become essentially 'agency' staff. Same job, same place, still in uniform, still subject to military law but their wages will be paid by ATLAS during the transitional phase.
Once DII is fully implemented on that particular site, these personnel will be released back to the RAF for posting elsewhere, and ATLAS will take over, managing the service provision remotely and offering limited desk-side support.
The old CIS Trades (TG3 & 11) are now TG 4 recently rebranded ICT. Lots of turmoil, lots of change. Many unhappy bunnies with uncertain futures (especially ex TG 3 techies). The drive now seems to be toward Information Management roles, basically anything content driven, rather than, for want of a better word, hardware support.
TCW is now part of 90 SU (again google it) and will also get a deployed element of DII. And yes they can (and very often do) deploy at the drop of a hat, thats their role.
ICT (TG 4) as a career choice. Yes, it's an area undergoing change within an organisation which IMHO is now (at last) playing catch up in regard to IT provision and support. Give it a few years as it settles, it will be one for the future. If you have the qualifications for a commission, deffo go for it first (CE Engineer) as the financial benefits after service far outweigh what other ranks are entitled to on retirement.
