I'm thinking of joining the RAF

[Razor]

Next week, i am going to go to my local recruitment office for the Armed forces and talk to them about possibly getting an nco place in the RAF, it's the one in Lincoln. I want to get away from working in a crappy supermarket as i think i'm too smart to spend the rest of my life waiting on people hand and foot.

The job i am going to enquire about is a Weapon Systems Operator onboard the aircraft and helicopters, as it seems the most interesting for me to do. Does anyone in here have any experience with the Raf and can give me advice on what they will be looking for and if their is anything i can do to increase my chances of getting in?

 

[Raziaar]

<waits for the anti military people to spew their hatred>

I personally think your decision is a good one, though. Good luck with it.

 

[Recoil]

Huh, doesn't RAF stand for 'Red Army Faction' or 'Rote Armee Fraktion' - a west-german terrorist group from the '70s?

Thus the title I'm thinking of joining the RAF appeared pretty weird to me

 

[Raziaar]

Huh, doesn't RAF stand for 'Red Army Faction' or 'Rote Armee Fraktion' - a west-german terrorist group from the '70s?

Royal Air Force. I'm american and even i know that. come on! Doesn't germany teach you guys about them from world war II era history?

 

[Recoil]

Well, the RAF-expression is still very used here, so...

 

[oldagerocker]

Good decision Razor. You go girl
So.. your going for the job where you press the big red button eh?

 

[Fat Tony!]

heh yeah my friend has taken many flying lessons before applying, he is going to become a pilot (obviously). It sounds like an exciting career

 

[short recoil]

A year ago i was joining the royal marines as an officer, i had surpased the fitness levels easily and was a few months away from going on selection (i intended to progress to SBS after 6 years)........there was a problem, my dad was absoloutley OBSESSED with stopping me joining, he really did hate the idea of me going into the forces.......so much so that he said if i did it would ruin the rest of his life/ he might kill himself.

I ended up not joining in the end, i still don't forgive my dad because its what i really wanted to do.......since then i stopped training and lost my fitness.

I guess in the long run it may be best for me, only time will tell.

 

[Shippi]

Good luck Razor

 

[Seppo]

Funny, Iron Maiden's "Aces High" video was playing on the background when I noticed this thread

 

[NeptuneUK]

Doesn't germany teach you guys about them from world war II era history?

duh lol

 

[Razor]

A year ago i was joining the royal marines as an officer, i had surpased the fitness levels easily and was a few months away from going on selection (i intended to progress to SBS after 6 years)........there was a problem, my dad was absoloutley OBSESSED with stopping me joining, he really did hate the idea of me going into the forces.......so much so that he said if i did it would ruin the rest of his life/ he might kill himself.

I ended up not joining in the end, i still don't forgive my dad because its what i really wanted to do.......since then i stopped training and lost my fitness.

I guess in the long run it may be best for me, only time will tell.

My dad was in the army as an engineer and works for BAe Systems, i used to work for them, but my dad isn't the nicest person to live with so i moved back down to Grantham with my mum. Why did your dad have such a huge problem with you going in the forces?

The problem with the Raf is that the competition for their places is so bloody tough, everyone wants to join, but i just want any job on the aircraft or helicopters, even if i'm the guy dangling out the back .

 

[Hazar]

Sounds like a good opportunity if you get it

 

[burner69]

Best of luck for it bud.

Just make sure you only sign on for the minimum service!!!! That way if you don't like it you can get out, and if you do, they'll be happy to extend your contract.

Hope you enjoy it mate!

 

[PvtRyan]

Huh, doesn't RAF stand for 'Red Army Faction' or 'Rote Armee Fraktion' - a west-german terrorist group from the '70s?

Thus the title I'm thinking of joining the RAF appeared pretty weird to me

You know, the RAF, the guys that pwned you way back

 

[Burn]

RAF would be a great place to work. Like the navy, you get paid alot, and VERY good training for things from job releated stuff, to driving. When you leave, you can walk into pretty well any other job, as having that down on your app, is very impressive, you also get alot of retirment money.

All in al, dont bomb my house.

 

[f|uke]

<waits for the anti military people to spew their hatred>

Looks to me like Razors the one looking to despense the hatred, specifically looking to be a weapon systems operator.

Somebodys gotta do it, I guess. Sounds like a really f'd up job if you ask me.

 

[Ames]

RAF would be a great place to work. Like the navy, you get paid alot, and VERY good training for things from job releated stuff, to driving. When you leave, you can walk into pretty well any other job, as having that down on your app, is very impressive, you also get alot of retirment money.

All in al, dont bomb my house.

Drop a nuke on her.

 

[Recoil]

Doesn't germany teach you guys about them from world war II era history?

Dude, in school an Airforce is an Airforce, no matter if it's US, UK, Soviet or whatever, what's the use of learning a million names/terms of any military branches? I'm like... interested in stuff like that; and probably the only one in my grade, so why should it be taught...?

You know, the RAF, the guys that pwned you way back

The didn't pwn me, they pwned the nazis :upstare:

 

[marksmanHL2 :)]

Dude, in school an Airforce is an Airforce, no matter if it's US, UK, Soviet or whatever, what's the use of learning a million names/terms of any military branches? I'm like... interested in stuff like that; and probably the only one in my grade, so why should it be taught...?



The didn't pwn me, they pwned the nazis :upstare:

Two good points there my friends.

 

[Razor]

Looks to me like Razors the one looking to despense the hatred, specifically looking to be a weapon systems operator.

Somebodys gotta do it, I guess. Sounds like a really f'd up job if you ask me.

A weapon systems operator, depending on which type, does a number of different jobs. Manning sonar/radar stations onboard Awacs aircraft, ensuring cargo is properly stacked on cargo aircraft, airlifting aid to tsunami victims, civil war victims, etc, winchman on a air sea rescue helicopter, it could also be operating weapons onboard aircraft like the Nimrod i.e. dropping torpedoes.

You shouldn't be angry at people who have a dream of wanting to have an active career that could mean they will travel the world and actually go to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Thailand, etc, and see them in real life, rather then just on the news. And you shouldn't be ashamed of people who are willing to both die and kill for their country.

 

[Alig]

Dude, in school an Airforce is an Airforce, no matter if it's US, UK, Soviet or whatever, what's the use of learning a million names/terms of any military branches? I'm like... interested in stuff like that; and probably the only one in my grade, so why should it be taught...?



The didn't pwn me, they pwned the nazis :upstare:

Because everyone knows we have a royal family, hence, Royal Air Force (RAF)

 

[KoreBolteR]

all the best m8, remember, in a couple of years time, if you do work for the RAF, take some pics or rec some movies and post them on ere . good luck

 

[f|uke]

You shouldn't be angry at people who have a dream of wanting to have an active career that could mean they will travel the world and actually go to places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Thailand, etc, and see them in real life, rather then just on the news. And you shouldn't be ashamed of people who are willing to both die and kill for their country.

And you shouldnt be assumptive about how I feel.

Nothing to be angry or ashamed about. I am glad that there are people who are willing to do these jobs. I just worry about people who want to do these jobs. Anybody who wants to kill people, even if they are "bad people", is not anybody I want to know. I choose to save lives, not end them.

 

[Raziaar]

Dude, in school an Airforce is an Airforce, no matter if it's US, UK, Soviet or whatever, what's the use of learning a million names/terms of any military branches? I'm like... interested in stuff like that; and probably the only one in my grade, so why should it be taught...?



The didn't pwn me, they pwned the nazis :upstare:

Well, I was taught quite alot about the RAF in particular in my american classes. <shrugs>

 

[kaf11]

good luck razor, hope it works out for you.

 

[mortiz]

Dude, in school an Airforce is an Airforce, no matter if it's US, UK, Soviet or whatever, what's the use of learning a million names/terms of any military branches? I'm like... interested in stuff like that; and probably the only one in my grade, so why should it be taught...?



The didn't pwn me, they pwned the nazis :upstare:

In our schools we were taught about your Air Force, the Luftwaffe, if we hadn’t have been taught that we'd be using the term to describe flatulence.

 

[Kommie]

Good luck man, From what I understand about the RAF ,(which isnt much as I am an american) Its a highly respected group and well paid. A good career choice.

 

[<RJMC>]

god luck that jib looks like something important

 

[Razor]

I am going up on Monday to the armed forces career centre, then it's an initial, short interview to find out what i want todo, application form, then if my application form is accepted, it's another interview, then it's a medical examination, and intelligence tests, etc...

Thankyou everyone for your comments .

 

[Razor]

Sorry, just fill everyone in on what is happening, i passed the first induction exam which is great and off back up to the careers office on April 14th for a presentation.

Anyway, i am just filling out what i am hoping is the final form but i am a little confused by 2 questions.

The first being "Please give details of any liability for service with any force, including national service overseas", and "Please give details of membership of professional institutions or exemption from graduate examinations (including class of membership, date attained and registration number, if applicable)".

Now, i was just wondering what i have to do for those two questions and what it is asking for exactly?

If i get past the presentation, hopefully it'll be off to Raf Cranwell, which isn't too far away from me, for 4 days to do the leadership and hand, eye, foot coordination tests, etc, which i hope i will pass.

 

[Kangy]

Yeah, I've been thinking of joining the Royal Marines recently. The stuff in the advert looks kind of... fun and interesting, so I think I might give it a shot. I'm already a qualified PADI diver, so I guess I'm sort of on the way.

Good to hear the news though Razor

 

[Shippi]

Good luck

I've got a friend who's applied to join the RAF.. she's got an interview this week I think. I'm starting to think about it now too.. but I'm not sure

 

[Murray_H]

The first being "Please give details of any liability for service with any force, including national service overseas", and "Please give details of membership of professional institutions or exemption from graduate examinations (including class of membership, date attained and registration number, if applicable)".

I think that:

The first one is asking if there is anything which may prevent you from taking part in service,

The second wants to know if you are part of anything like the BMA (only an example) or some sort of collective which is officially recognised, but I don't know why it's asking about graduate examination exemptions :/

 

[short recoil]

I've been thinking about going for the royal marines after university again despite my dad hating the idea.
I cant stop thinking about it, everytime i go for a run or swim into town i remember all the hard work i put in before getting to the fitness levels.
Its what i lived a year for, i ****ing wasted my chance.

There is not a lot else i would enjoy really, i would hate to work in an office or other annoying job for more than a few years.

The thing is with the military is that every day is a challenge, something to do.......in the western world now life is so easy the challenge of life has gone, sitting on my ass and not doing a lot for a lot of money not doing anything is so dull.

 

[Griz]

Next week, i am going to go to my local recruitment office for the Armed forces and talk to them about possibly getting an nco place in the RAF, it's the one in Lincoln. I want to get away from working in a crappy supermarket as i think i'm too smart to spend the rest of my life waiting on people hand and foot.

The job i am going to enquire about is a Weapon Systems Operator onboard the aircraft and helicopters, as it seems the most interesting for me to do. Does anyone in here have any experience with the Raf and can give me advice on what they will be looking for and if their is anything i can do to increase my chances of getting in?

I went for the initial interview (a group 'interview' followed by a one-to-one) back in 1996 after i finished my HND, but because i'd already been offered a place on an Aeronautical Engineering Degree course, they advised me to do that first and then join up after.

The kind of things i remember them asking about were
(i) general RAF history (when was it formed, structure etc)
(ii) what type of aircraft they use in the RAF (luckily they had posters up in reception so i managed to memorise a few while i was waiting )
(iii) roles within the RAF and the functions the RAF performs (try to familiarise yourself with some basic military terminology)
(iv) stuff about NATO (what is it, when was it formed and a session of 'name that NATO member')

That's about all i can remember for now so GOOD LUCK!! :E

 

[jondy]

ensuring cargo is properly stacked on cargo aircraft,

Doesn't sound much different to your current job :E

Seriously, best o' luck

 

[Razor]

Doesn't sound much different to your current job :E

Seriously, best o' luck

Apart from the much better wages, much better atmosphere and travelling the world part and saying "i am in the raf" is a whole lot better than "i work for a supermarket stacking shelves", especially when saying it to a nice girl.

Shippi, i would advise you go through college before applying, but pop into your local careers office and ask about it and see what courses would better suit an raf career.

Thanks for the help Griz, i have grown up around the raf all my life , so aircraft recognition and knowing about the aircraft isn't a problem, the history wouldn't be a problem either. I think my main hurdle would be the OASC at Cranwell with the group work and the teamwork and leadership exercises that i might stumble on a bit.

 

[KoreBolteR]

i was talking to a guy from the royal marines, an old friend of mine.. he said its fantastic, awesome guns, and really experienced guys out there in iraq.

i would love to join, but i cba with all the hassle.

 

[Razor]

i was talking to a guy from the royal marines, an old friend of mine.. he said its fantastic, awesome guns, and really experienced guys out there in iraq.

i would love to join, but i cba with all the hassle.

Anyone who could go through the training routine that the Royal Marines have definately has my respect.