Off to the RAF

[DaveB]

Hiya Tom

I don't recall us having an update recently but he's remained a regular on the forum.. 8.9.09 was his last visit

ATB

DaveB

[Tweek]

A regular indeed, and sorry for the lack of an update!

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I decided to leave the RAF after 6 months, after I deciding I wasn't entirely happy with it, and I couldn't really commit the next few years to something that I wasn't entirely sure about. Although I knew all along about all the downsides, and indeed upsides, of the Armed Forces, it still took me a few months of experiencing at least one side of it to really make a proper decision about it. I'll probably have people telling me left, right and centre that training isn't at all like the 'real' RAF, but I was fully aware of that when I made my mind up. I just didn't feel like I could waltz into it, not really enjoying myself and being unwilling to commit.

I suppose at the same time, half of the reason I joined was for my obvious interest in aircraft. That interest quickly dissipated when I realised this was now work and not pleasure. I knew that after a couple of weeks of working on Tornados or C-130s that I'd probably be thoroughly sick of the sight of them anyway, so half of my reason for wanting to be there would suddenly be gone! Sorry if others who've been in as a techie didn't feel this way, it's just how I think I'd feel.

I guess the good news is that I did graduate from basic training at Halton on 14th February - a day mixed with pride and massive relief! Plenty of ups and downs along the way, as I'm sure you servicemen and ex-servicemen would know.

I'm certainly glad I did it, as I met some great people, gained some great experience and even a couple of stories to tell after a mere six months, yet in equal measure I'm still glad that I left. Not for me, I'm afraid.

[Garry Russell]

At least you tried

Nothing worse than spending the next thirty years wondering if you should have joined up

Best to make the descion, know where you are and move on.

Garry

[Tako_Kichi]

Nothing worse than spending the next thirty years wondering if you should have joined up

Oh boy can I vouch for that!

During the latter part of my Grammar School years in the UK I was adamant that I was going to join the RAF (much to the chagrin of my late father who was an ex RM Commando from WWII). I had been in the ATC since I was 13 and loved it and wanted to join the RAF as aircrew. When it came time to discuss careers with the Careers Master my interview was short and sweet as I refused to be influenced in my decision.

Then along came the 'O' levels and in the mock exams I got 6 out of 8 and thought 'Oh that was easy, I don't need to do much revision!'...WRONG! I got 1 out of 8 in the real exams and bang went any hopes of joining up as aircrew.

I could have done the re-takes but a friend's father had arranged a job interview for me with a friend of his during the summer hols and before I knew what was happening I had signed on for a 4 year apprenticeship as an engineering toolmaker and was signed into a six year day-release course at the local Poly. I got the job on the expectations of the 'O' levels I thought I was going to get and was a bit lucky that they didn't refuse to take me when the actual results came out but failing all my 'O' levels bar one taught me a major life lesson. I've never failed another exam of any kind from that day to this and in almost every case I passed with either a 'Distinction' or 'Credit' rating.

Regarding the RAF, there have been many, many, times over the past 36 years when I have wondered 'What if!' and I still sometimes regret not following through with my earlier ambitions.

[Pringle]

Thanks for the reply Tweek. Its a shame you didn't enjoy it and you're right, my first line to you would have been 'Its not the real air force!'. So bloody predictable!

After just spending 5 weeks out in South California courtesy of Her Majesty, I can safely say I'm extremely happy to still be in.

Lets see if I'm saying that in about 6 months time

[airboatr]

After just spending 5 weeks out in South California courtesy of Her Majesty, I can safely say I'm extremely happy to still be in.

what, Southern California?.... or Her Majesty's Armed Forces

.... you don't have to answer that

PS
it is Southern California, not South ... you wouldn't want to be square down there



although
we in the southern parts of Florida say south Florida ........... you'll get the hang of it.