Gerard Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 I'm looking for the help of our wise cop-bashing tgtap members to help me make a pretty big decision in my life. I'm currently in sixth-form college, and should be going off to university next year. I'm considering joining the RAF (Royal Air Force), who would pay my university fees and give me a job as soon as I leave. Financially, I get £4000/year ($8k) for university, plus £1500/year payment for attending RAF camps etc. When I leave university I do Officer Training, then go into Engineering Officer training, which last 30 weeks each. After training, I'll be earning £2700 ($54k), with accelerated promotion to higher ranks, earning £40,000 ($80k). If i serve 12 years (double the minimum six) I get a full military non-contributory index-based pension, which would be a few hundred a month for the rest of my life. The job itself is great - a Comms Engineering Officer is in charge of an individual project, which could range from maintaining communications at an airbase to installing a new radar system in Iraq. Most of the time, certainly through uni and training, you're out going skiing or learning to fly etc, all for free, even getting paid a full salary to do that. The downside is that I have to give up six years of life after uni, which is the big decision I need help with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 Wow thats an amazing oppurtunity. Would you be losing six years of your life after uni as most poeople dont get jobs relating to their degrees. It would mean your very lucky, what you will be doing inthe raf is that what you really what to do with your life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted October 7, 2006 Author Share Posted October 7, 2006 Yeah, I agree it is an amazing opportunity and not many undergraduates have job security for the next 12 years of their lives. My only issue is that I'm not sure whether it IS what I want to be doing for the next 12 years. There's less opportunity to specialise - if I stayed civvy my plan is to specialise in computer security - but if I was in the RAF I could be doing anything. That in itself is a good thing though. Tis all a bit confusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate10 Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 (edited) Well,to be it sounds pretty good.Actually,it sounds great.But then again,i'm 12 years old.And even though if this is gonna take "6 years" of your life away the RAF is gonna financially help you while you're going through this and after that they're gonna give a really good job.(comms enginnering officer)And like i shot a bear said about people not even getting jobs relating to their degree means you're really lucky.You are lucky.So like I can't make you do this you know but if you do,i'm with you 100%.But i shot a bear has a good point again.What you'd be doin in the RAF like you said is a big decision and is this what you'd like to do with your life? Edited October 7, 2006 by $GTA_4_LIFE_$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 A bit yes, well if your not certain then maybe not. If its your life long dream then yes you should defintly go for it. 12 years is a long time but the most important thing is your happiness. Yes you would have job secruity and earning alot but money is not everything. If you are not sure if would make you happy then it might not be such a great oppurtunity. You need to do what makes you happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artur Posted October 7, 2006 Share Posted October 7, 2006 (edited) Sounds like a great opportunity, sacrificing but great. If you like your job then it is good; you'll make new friends, good pay and you'll learn a lot of new skills to help in the world. Like $GTA_4_LIFE$ said don't listen to him since he's 12 and I'm 13 which doesn't make me much "smarter". Hell it's not our decision but yours if you really like it then go for it. 6 years is long but it won't be that long if you like what you're doing. Good luck! Edited October 7, 2006 by ArturKim21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted October 8, 2006 Author Share Posted October 8, 2006 You're right, the six years wont be that long since I'm doing what I want to do and getting paid more than enough to do it. The extra benefits of being in the RAF, like the activities and education and experience and travel etc, is all just a bit bonus on top. Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Righty Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 I'm going through a similar dillema right now, but completely different and still 3-4 years in the future. I'm kind of a workahaulic; I don't stop until the job is 100% and I'll do whatever I need to for money. That job pays very well and with the job security - it's definitely good. Plus, having the RAF on your resume can't be a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate10 Posted October 8, 2006 Share Posted October 8, 2006 (edited) Definetly. edit:69th post .Hehe. Edited October 8, 2006 by $GTA_4_LIFE_$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Lord Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 Nice Opportunity u have got. And u get to serve (work for) the Country.Six years anit much. THINK NOT WHAT THE COUNTRY DID 4 U THINK WHAT U DID 4 THE COUNTRY And of course AIR Force is cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Someone Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 let me see if I got this right: u join the RAF for 12 years, they finance u going to university and their camps, u learn how to fly for free, and after that u have a job and u get a few hundred £ for the rest of ur life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slayer Posted October 9, 2006 Share Posted October 9, 2006 I'd say go for it! It's a great opportunity really, especially since you get enough money that you can be independent. Plus you've said you'd like the job. And all those benefits... Man, I'd accept if I was you. But still, think twice. It's a big and important decision after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted October 9, 2006 Author Share Posted October 9, 2006 Yeah pretty much. I go to University for free for 3 years At University, I get £1500 for doing 45 days of RAF activites After University, I go straight into Officer Training with the RAF I get six years of job, getting paid between £27k and £45k If I do 12 years of job, then I get free pension for rest of life On top of that I can get another job when I leave the RAF And I even get a state pension when I retire And the (other) good thing is that this is the RAF, not the army - so there isn't all the same daily assault courses and parades every half hour. This is the good life. You can even buy a house near to where you're working, and you don't have to live on base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 Well I've got my RAF Interview on Wednesday, but I'm still not sure about this whole thing. I feel I shouldn't be making decisions that will affect me in 12 years time. It is a great opportunity, but if I simply don't like it then it is gonna be a big mistake. Does anybody agree with that, or do you think its just too good an opportunity to pass up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate10 Posted November 24, 2006 Share Posted November 24, 2006 I totally agree with you. Buttt, like you said if this isn't like what you want then 6 years will be a very long time and big mistake. But do you have any other plans? if not, then your in a pretty tough decision position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2pac_thug_4_life Posted November 25, 2006 Share Posted November 25, 2006 Just go for it man. My uncle is in the RAAF (royal australia air force) & he said he wouldnt trade the job for anything else, he teaches the guys how to fly & stuff, Im gonna be a computer tech and my uncle said if i can do it through some of the forces then i definately should Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted February 11, 2007 Author Share Posted February 11, 2007 Well i got my rejection letter from the RAF Medical Board this morning. Basically I can't join for long-standing medical reasons, even though that doesn't apply anymore. Happens a lot, I gotta move on. Shame though, cos a heluvalot of money was involved. However, in response to this I have been digging deep into the Royal Navy. Good news is I can apply to become a Weapons Engineering Officer - which looks after weapons, communications and emergency systems on a ship. I can apply when I get to university, getting a similar amount of money as I would have in the RAF, and (I believe) I only have to serve three years afterwards. Sounds quite good to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9 Krew Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 hey navy sounds good to me and i'f i was going to chosse between any of them it would be the navy but remember three years after uni you could mingle with people and do amazing things in the same time while your in the navy you could be doing the exact same thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ X Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 do it join the RAF do it do it do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted February 16, 2007 Author Share Posted February 16, 2007 Did you read the rest of the topic? I can't join the RAF... so I'm thinking of joining the Navy. A bit more digging reveals the Engineering (Information Systems) Officer post, which looks after computers and communications on a ship. The advantage of this is that I would go straight in as a Lieutenant, earning around £35,000 ($70k) just a year or so after I leave University. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandora Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 That's a great sum of money for that age (assuming you'd be in your 20s then). I'd say do it. And the Navy won't give you the pension deal, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K9 Krew Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 i don't think it will but i don't know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted February 17, 2007 Author Share Posted February 17, 2007 The Royal Navy will give me pretty much the same deal as the RAF - except slightly better because I join at a higher rank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ X Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 what are going to be in the navy a medic / sniper/ etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandora Posted February 18, 2007 Share Posted February 18, 2007 It's not BF2 So if you'd only get it better and have a minimum of 3 years. I'd say it's a good deal. Generally, going to a Navy gives lot's of disipline and when you'd want a real job after the Navy and they'd see you're CV it would give you a better chance of being taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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