Ex Military

[Mikey P]

I was duped. Joined T.A (signals)......I know, I know, not the real army, STAB on brother and all that...because I wanted to learn about survival, (plus I like landies and assualt courses). Never did a single bit of survival training (in the tracking/shelter/ fire making sense). I was completely ready too as when I joined I had green dreadlocks with feathers sewn in.....perfect camo
I think my love of outdoors and all things bushcraft is irrelevant to whether or not I have a military(ish) background as for me the two didn't overlap. Do wish I had more knowledge of some of the military based stuff though that you guys would have learned, as reckon it would improve my bushcraft skills.

I think it depends on who your tp cdr is and what importance he places on non-core skills. There is a move now to bring specialists into many sqns/units (survival skills graduates from SERE School in the RAF, and trackers who've done the mil tracking skills course in the Army) and they then do related activities and help give some skills and understanding to the other personnel.

I don't know how widespread it is yet but it's promising!

 

[Mikey P]

I also did some on Tac Supply Wing.
ANDY.

Do you know Paul Giles from your TSW days?

 

[Graham_S]

I did the cubs/scouts/ventures thing, then I joined the RAF.
I spent time in Cyprus, Lossie, Aldergrove, Kosovo, Leuchars, I did 15 years in total.
Now I float around the world looking for oil.

 

[ANDYRAF]

Do you know Paul Giles from your TSW days?

Funny, I know the name cannot put a face to it. It's starting to get bad now I think I have oldtimers disease and have become a when I.

 

[crazydave]

cubs, scouts and a little ventures but hated the shiny stuff so strayed into survival when it was still allowed to be called that and we knew little about the american definition. proper knives with saws and hollow handles which were used correctly. wanted to fly choppers but got fed up with A levels and drifted into six years attached service doing my best to avoid garison life till my knees failed

I still miss field life and ops....

 

[cub88]

sounds like alot of you are/were in the raf, i apologise for going a bit off topic but i am in my last year of an apprenticeship and am interested in joining the raf when i finish next year. i just wondered what people thought of the lifestyle etc, does any one have any regrets or have you all loved it?

cheers
cub

 

[Limaed]

Hi Cub
Overall ive had a very good career so far and have the following as my highs, not in any order:

Getting a trade (which I can use outside the RAF).
Getting qualifications (trade and adventurous training).
Lots of travel (detachements, expeditions, training, courses)
Good social, great friends, camaraderie.
Opertunities to do 'specialist work' such as in my case Mountain Rescue or the Britsh Antarctic Survey, lots of weird (and sometimes scary) stuff.

Lows

Long detachements 4-6 months out of area every 2-3 years, often in places one might describe as a *%$£" hole- not so bad as a single man but terrible for families.
Often long hours, routine work and little chance to get away on avalible activities due to work load/commitments/undermaning.

I would have a good think about what trades intrest you and try and chat to some guys in the job, the careers information people have a bit of a reputation for glamourising boring jobs where they need people. If you have the qualifications and aptitude go for a Commision or NCO Aircrew these are the management/flying positions however if not still consider the ranks.
Dont forget it is a career for life with lots of opertunities and a good pension, although the wages arn't great at the start the money does get better and the welfare package goes some of the way to bridging the gap.
Go and have a chat with your local careers place and see what they can offer you. Hope my opinions help, feel free to PM me if you have more questions or fire away Ed

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Getting a trade (which I can use outside the RAF).
Getting qualifications (trade and adventurous training).
Lots of travel (detachements, expeditions, training, courses)
Good social, great friends, camaraderie.
Opertunities to do 'specialist work' such as in my case Mountain Rescue or the Britsh Antarctic Survey, lots of weird (and sometimes scary) stuff.

Lows

Long detachements 4-6 months out of area every 2-3 years, often in places one might describe as a *%$£" hole- not so bad as a single man but terrible for families.
Often long hours, routine work and little chance to get away on avalible activities due to work load/commitments/undermaning.

Ditto. - To be fair I had a great time. Even some of the lows were funny

Since leaving have floated about - and when the bad days start to outweigh the good days I moved on.

 

[cub88]

i know about the afco glamourising boring jobs i spent a day with survival equipment fitters at raf valley when i was in cadets, now that was boring (no offence intended to anyone who does this). thanx for the advice. i have been looking at joining as a pti and have had the chance to talk to a few of them recently, the pay after the first year is just over 25 k so i think it sounds like a plan lol
cheers
cub

 

[Shambling Shaman]

i spent a day with survival equipment fitters at raf valley when i was in cadets, now that was boring

As an Weapons Tech I spent some time with the Squip's - a bit boring yes but

As Pilots and Navigators cant dress them selfs they do get good detachments..


No but seriously think of some think you love doing - see if the RAF do it as a trade! do it get/do all the course you can get - then do it in civiy street for more money

(try and stay out of the bar - and save you cash - personal experience, play the long game)

 

[Limaed]

Hi Cub
PTI in my opinion is a very good trade- Ive yet to meet one who whinges about thier job so it must be good!
I believe the competition is quite fierce so don't take any shortcuts with your preperation. Theres quite a bit of scope outside of the normal gym work- Paracute Jump Instructor, Physiotherapist and Adventurous Training Instructor along with the relevant civilian quals,
all good stuff. Lots of Adventurous Training (you ll be organising it!) and as much sport as you can handle.

 

[ANDYRAF]

Oooooh! The long game, what's that then? I must have played the short one 17 years as a Cpl, went in every bar, spent all my cash. I have to say though I went to the places that I applied for, Goose Bay in Canada was by far the best, the Inuit know more stuff about nature asleep than most of us do awake. My advantage was being a MT fitter we went everywhere coz orfizers don like to walk.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I must have played the short one 17 years.

Remember I was an Armorer - so bars and drinking were basic trade training

I was once referred to as the 5th horseman of the apocalypse.
"Drunk 'n' debauchery and his trusty horse Overdraft."

Are the good old days before kids and mortgages..

 

[crazydave]

pti is still a closed regiment though isn't it or has all that changed now? it used to be a good way of getting kids in with promises of easy life and playing footy all day but they had to join a regular unit and frequently got broken in the process.

 

[ANDYRAF]

pti is still a closed regiment though isn't it or has all that changed now? it used to be a good way of getting kids in with promises of easy life and playing footy all day but they had to join a regular unit and frequently got broken in the process.

Pti in the RAF is classed as a trade in it's own right, and do the usual basic training then go to trade training. There is one of those happy beaming faces at every unit, all red cheeked and enthusiastic about everything sporty.