Royal Air Force - any serving at the moment?

Kitchster_uk · 30 Mar 2006 at 22:19

I'm looking at moving from my current role into the RAF. My medical clearance should come through in the next few weeks, I am getting fit (ish!!!) and am about to sort out physio on a littl calf problem I have.

My current job is a graduate trainee with HSBC. I'm the assistant manager/business specialist in my branch and kinda enjoy the role, but not the carp that comes from above. I was recruited to bring new ideas etc in but things have changed to the level that they want brown-nosed little toads who say "yes sir" to everything...

...anyway, I am a qualified (degree level) musician and the RAF have four vacancies in my field. Pay is similar (slightly less but not much) but the pension blows my current scheme out of the water. Retirement age is better and there is a chance to see the world. However, there is the fact that promotions are less frequent, by some way and musician is the only trade you can't sign on to as an officer.

RAF Halton for basic training doesn't sound terrible, not as bad as it could be certainly but nine weeks minimum of £175 a wek pay would be challenging to say the least.

So, anyone in the RAF got any words of wisdom.

Am 25, nearly 26 by the way.

tom_e · 30 Mar 2006 at 23:59

Kitchster_uk said:
things have changed to the level that they want brown-nosed little toads who say "yes sir" to everything...

What do you think you have to do in the forces

if its something you want to do go for it i know quite a few people who are or have been in the forces and theyve all said they wouldnt have swaped it for anything, plus you have to remeber although you will only be getting £175 when youre on basic training almost everything is paid for

Psymonkee · 31 Mar 2006 at 00:09

As useless as it gets for helpfulness my dad assures my the base at Halton is quite nice

(or at least it was back in the days he was there....)

Phog · 31 Mar 2006 at 00:24

Kitchster_uk said:
they want brown-nosed little toads who say "yes sir" to everything...

Out of one and into another! Or atleast that is the standing joke in the forces.
The RAF is a good career move, i can't offer any advice though but good luck with it! Hope your eyes are in check.

jaydee · 31 Mar 2006 at 00:30

Here are some ex-RAF words of wisdom. Halton's probably a smart move. I'd go for it if I were you. If it turns out not to be what you're interested in there's always civvy street to go back to. The place is huge - in it's heyday there were 3 apprentice wings split between two more or less separate camps. 2000 apprentices spread out in flights of about a hundred apps each. The pecking order was that those 2 and 3-year entries, specialising in airframes, weapons, propulsion or whatever gradually became seniors. As seniors there sole focus became graduation and kickin' the crap out of the juniors. Total anarchy as I recall.

Each apprentice wing had a band - either brass, drum or pipes. The apprentices that joined bands along with their regular trade specialisation got fringe benefits and exemption from a lot of the BS that the rest had to put up with. Plus, in the case of those who played the highland pipes, a whole lot of extras - band jobs up and down the country, tips, parties, weddings, public functions, state ceremonials etc. And there always seemed to be free beer etc laid on for them wherever they went plus tips. If you join the RAF as a musician you'll probably find yourself in a very steady number with opportunites to travel etc.

The main band block was, as far as I recall, based on 1/2 Wing next to the guardroom. The guardroom is of particular significance as this is the place I ended up having been shopped by the Welsh turnip that got caught after helping me drive the station refuse wagon onto the parade square. Fair do's though - he chickened out and I had to force him to get in after I undid the string holding the doors shut, and managed to start it. He, like the Orderly Corporal who appeared with a torch at 2am shouting 'Stop... stop there..' from the general direction of the said guardroom, was an extremely fat git and couldn't be bothered to run away. I did, having abandoned my attempt to dump the garbage truck's refuse next to the flag pole. I'm afraid there were just too many levers. We wouldn't have been caught at all if the truck hadn't woken the entire camp as it hit the parade square ramp at about 50, become airborne and crashed to a halt in a blaze of gravel. The 30-quid fine was worth every penny - my CO even commended my ingenuity. The Welsh geezer got fined more for being dopey enough to get caught and shopping me. It was a thoroughly bad show, apparently...

Oh yeahh. It may still be a training centre for RAF nurses. Don't let that influence your decision though...

Kitchster_uk · 31 Mar 2006 at 08:15

jaydee said:
Oh yeahh. It may still be a training centre for RAF nurses. Don't let that influence your decision though...

Cheers for the words of wisdom. The nurses things ain't a worry - i am marrying one next year

Stringy · 31 Mar 2006 at 08:40

I'm waiting for the result of the OASC selection board in April to find out if I've gotten in for Air Traffic Control/Fighter Control, and from what I've heard it's damned hard to get in as a musician as they don't take on too many of them.

Your best bet if youi're thinking about joining the forces is going to your local AFCO. They can offer better advice than anyone on here probably could

I think your closest AFCO would be Middlesbrough.

kaiowas · 31 Mar 2006 at 09:18

Forgive my naivety but I was under the impression that we the taxpayer spends sackloads of money on our armed forces so that they can defend the country and stuff. Now I can see the point of regimental bands and whatnot but always assumed that these were composed of regular members of the armed forces who played music as a hobby. However this sounds as if you are being recruited purely to play music. Am I wrong in my assumption and will you have some sort of useful role to play as well?

rayer · 31 Mar 2006 at 10:42

I trained at RAF Swinderby and then lived at RAF Halton for years. Nice place.

Stringy · 31 Mar 2006 at 11:36

Musicians in the RAF are trained medics, stretcher bearers/first aiders and the like in 'times of war'.

Chasser · 1 Apr 2006 at 02:42

Stringy said:
Musicians in the RAF are trained medics, stretcher bearers/first aiders and the like in 'times of war'.

Nope, not trained medics at all. Medical support services in times of crisis, little more than stretcher bearers, first aiders, med admin tasks.

MrMatteh · 1 Apr 2006 at 02:46

my brother has been in the air force for 2-3 years now (airframe engineer)

he also had to go through halton for his training.

he didnt like it at first, but now woulndt change it for anything. he gets to go all over the place (abroad and such) and has a really good time by the sounds of it.

makes me wanna join after finishing my physics degree

a word of warning for the training. if you fail 1 part, you go back to the beginning. no much fun, so do it right first time