Leaving the RAF, what next??
Discussion
I am planning to leave the Royal Air Force in about a years time. There are many reasons for this, the main reason being that it just isn't a suitable career for me anymore.
The problem is I have no idea what to do when I do leave. I will be 23 when the time comes and will have completed 6 and a half years service. I am a mechanical aircraft technician (airframes and propulsion) and have an NVQ level 3 in aircraft maintenance. I have worked first line on c-130 and tornado gr4 aircraft.
The problem is I'm not sure whether I want to continue working on aircraft or transfer my skills gained to another trade/sector. It also crosses my mind now and again to just start from scratch and do something completely different, but I'm worried that will make my time in the RAF wasted.
I'm looking for some advice from people who have possibly been in the same situation, but really any advice would be greatly welcomed.
Thanks
Tom
The problem is I have no idea what to do when I do leave. I will be 23 when the time comes and will have completed 6 and a half years service. I am a mechanical aircraft technician (airframes and propulsion) and have an NVQ level 3 in aircraft maintenance. I have worked first line on c-130 and tornado gr4 aircraft.
The problem is I'm not sure whether I want to continue working on aircraft or transfer my skills gained to another trade/sector. It also crosses my mind now and again to just start from scratch and do something completely different, but I'm worried that will make my time in the RAF wasted.
I'm looking for some advice from people who have possibly been in the same situation, but really any advice would be greatly welcomed.
Thanks
Tom
At 23 the world is your oyster. You can stick to trade, get your licences (as suggested above ), or change tack completely and use the good rep that ex RAF technicians seem to have to get a foot in elsewhere.
My plan is to leave at the 22 year point, at which time I'll be 47. Choices aren't quite so easy; stay in trade (comms electronics, boring ) or retrain and take a big hit on wages.
Good luck with what you decide, and don't underestimate what a 6.5 year aircraft tech can offer a civvy employer.
My plan is to leave at the 22 year point, at which time I'll be 47. Choices aren't quite so easy; stay in trade (comms electronics, boring ) or retrain and take a big hit on wages.
Good luck with what you decide, and don't underestimate what a 6.5 year aircraft tech can offer a civvy employer.
The principles remain the same: what would you really like to do; what qualifications or skills do you need to do that; what's the gap between that and you now; work out a plan to fill that gap. If you're not sure yet what you'd like to do, work on that now and at some pace. Write down what would make you smile/interest you and work from there to narrow down the options. Good luck!
selym said:
At 23 the world is your oyster. You can stick to trade, get your licences (as suggested above ), or change tack completely and use the good rep that ex RAF technicians seem to have to get a foot in elsewhere.
My plan is to leave at the 22 year point, at which time I'll be 47. Choices aren't quite so easy; stay in trade (comms electronics, boring ) or retrain and take a big hit on wages.
Good luck with what you decide, and don't underestimate what a 6.5 year aircraft tech can offer a civvy employer.
This.My plan is to leave at the 22 year point, at which time I'll be 47. Choices aren't quite so easy; stay in trade (comms electronics, boring ) or retrain and take a big hit on wages.
Good luck with what you decide, and don't underestimate what a 6.5 year aircraft tech can offer a civvy employer.
I was a Weapons Engineer in the Royal Navy until I was 24. I left and moved into Building Services/Facilities Management. At 32 I changed careers again and went into IT.
At 23 you can do what ever you want. Your RAF time will not be wasted as you'll have a huge amount of transferable skills to other jobs. If nothing else the professionalism and attention to detail needed to work on aircraft will be useful in any job.
Sounds stupid but just make sure you've got everything sorted in plenty of time before you get out! I don't just mean a job lined up but try to get on the housing ladder now while your still in and have a better chance of getting a mortgage, I had a nightmare as I went self employed and we even missed out on a couple houses because we couldn't get a mortgage sorted.
Trust me those 12 months fly by and before you know it your on resettlement then terminal leave, so really your looking at 10 months minus any leave your owed....then out in the big bad world of civpop! Loads of guys including me screwed up like this
Couldn't wait to get out then sat back home thinking now what! Couldn't get a job for a while so ended up on JSA panicking for a bit!
Pick the right resettlement course too (another cock up of mine)
My biggest mistake before leaving the Army at 26 was not getting a mortgage sorted while I was still serving, especially with house prices 10 years ago. My old rsm took me to one side a couple months before I got out and advised me to get a mortgage before I stepped off.....really should have listened
Getting out and into the real world is a massive wake up call! Took me a good 6 months to get sorted and had loads of crappy jobs before getting into CP. All sorted now and am doing ok, took a while but I'm glad I got out when I did.
Trust me those 12 months fly by and before you know it your on resettlement then terminal leave, so really your looking at 10 months minus any leave your owed....then out in the big bad world of civpop! Loads of guys including me screwed up like this
Couldn't wait to get out then sat back home thinking now what! Couldn't get a job for a while so ended up on JSA panicking for a bit! Pick the right resettlement course too (another cock up of mine)
My biggest mistake before leaving the Army at 26 was not getting a mortgage sorted while I was still serving, especially with house prices 10 years ago. My old rsm took me to one side a couple months before I got out and advised me to get a mortgage before I stepped off.....really should have listened
Getting out and into the real world is a massive wake up call! Took me a good 6 months to get sorted and had loads of crappy jobs before getting into CP. All sorted now and am doing ok, took a while but I'm glad I got out when I did.
Thanks for all the replies guys, some good advice there. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to get on the housing ladder before I leave as most of my money goes into renting and travelling from Norfolk back home to Devon.
I do quite like the idea of being my own boss, I'm just struggling choosing a certain area/trade. I like the idea of being a courier/delivery driver self employed. But it might not bring enough money in. But it would be something I would enjoy, despite the long hours.
Anything must be better than what I'm earning at the moment, working 84 hour weeks in afghan getting the equivalent of £7.20 an hour, and that's with all the bonuses included, it's pretty poor really.
I do quite like the idea of being my own boss, I'm just struggling choosing a certain area/trade. I like the idea of being a courier/delivery driver self employed. But it might not bring enough money in. But it would be something I would enjoy, despite the long hours.
Anything must be better than what I'm earning at the moment, working 84 hour weeks in afghan getting the equivalent of £7.20 an hour, and that's with all the bonuses included, it's pretty poor really.
Bryclreem boy, civvie in uniform, knobber etc etc now that's out my system, I would look at other trades in the RAF if I was you, I'm ex army and one thing I noticed in civvie street is how boring people are by literally only working Monday to Friday and that's all their life consists off, lazy and a bunch of whining f
kers.
The gras may seem greener out of the raf but in the services you really have te potential to do so much interesting stuff.
kers. The gras may seem greener out of the raf but in the services you really have te potential to do so much interesting stuff.
Think long and hard about leaving, it's not that much better in civi street and employers will drop you if they need to. Have you looked at doing college courses whilst staying in? Get some extra training to get you set up for a new career. I did 12 years, came out and went into contract work in the US and Iraq. It did me for 18 months and now I do consulting for a Kuwaiti based company. You could also look at transfer to Australia or New Zealand Air Force if they still do it
Why do,you think the RAF isn't for you anymore? You mention travelling every week, thought about moving the family closer? I've had some great experiences by living away from my home town in areas that I wouldn't have had access to otherwise.
Thought about a different posting or out of trade job? Overseas tour? Commission/aircrew? With only 6 years in you've still got a lot of other option in the service. You'll have been an AMM for a few years which can become a little monotonous, I wouldn't judge the entire service on that experience.
Of course if you are ready to go then go, but just be totally sure you've explored all avenues before you go. Civvy street can be better but it's not for everyone. I've worked with a few guys who bitterly regret the decision to go. Citing varied reasons such as boring workmates, lack of banter, lack of travel amongst others.
Thought about a different posting or out of trade job? Overseas tour? Commission/aircrew? With only 6 years in you've still got a lot of other option in the service. You'll have been an AMM for a few years which can become a little monotonous, I wouldn't judge the entire service on that experience.
Of course if you are ready to go then go, but just be totally sure you've explored all avenues before you go. Civvy street can be better but it's not for everyone. I've worked with a few guys who bitterly regret the decision to go. Citing varied reasons such as boring workmates, lack of banter, lack of travel amongst others.
I am leaving for definite. I need to be living in devon as I provide care on weekends for my brother with learning disabilities. I actually preferred being an AMM, it's the last few years on tornado living in Norfolk that have done it. I have asked about the chances of getting a posting and that won't be happening.
It's very admirable what you are considering, and not a task that you would be just jumping into. I do think you will carry a large amount of regret of what you could have achieved if you had stayed in the RAF. You will only really be able to do a Monday to Friday job, weekends will be working at home assisting with care for 12+ hrs, have you thought how that would impact on what job you could do, earnings, rest time and work performance? Like I said, I admire you for your family loyalty and wish you well.
I'd echo the above really. Admirable certainly, but definitely restrictive!
Have you considered transferring your skills to a firm such as Moog? Or perhaps (with a motorsport theme) Jota Aviation? Moog are based in Wolverhampton, Luton and Gloucestershire and Jota Aviation is based in Essex. I think the corporate side might mean you get to use your existing skills but in a totally different environment and this in of itself is going to be refreshing.
I'm sure there's more out there, but your best chance of getting a foot in the door as it were, is going for one of these corporates who specialise in aircraft engineering and testing that is right up your skillset. My other half has/had a similar problem really, but with different circumstances:
- Went to uni and did Geology with Biology.
- Went into work in land surveying and ground testing etc. Career kicked off.
- Recession hit, firms stopped building things, didn't need surveying and she got caught up in redundancy.
- Went and got a job in forensics, but only in an admin role.
- Now can't move back to her original role, because she feels like she's forgotten everything she learnt and can't differentiate herself from all the other young, hungry candidates who are on the market with her.
Ultimately based on the points you made, the best advice to give is to make sure you're employed, while you investigate what your opportunities are. Losing your specialisation, leaves you at the risk of looking like everyone else on the market. You need to do what makes you happy though!
Have you considered transferring your skills to a firm such as Moog? Or perhaps (with a motorsport theme) Jota Aviation? Moog are based in Wolverhampton, Luton and Gloucestershire and Jota Aviation is based in Essex. I think the corporate side might mean you get to use your existing skills but in a totally different environment and this in of itself is going to be refreshing.
I'm sure there's more out there, but your best chance of getting a foot in the door as it were, is going for one of these corporates who specialise in aircraft engineering and testing that is right up your skillset. My other half has/had a similar problem really, but with different circumstances:
- Went to uni and did Geology with Biology.
- Went into work in land surveying and ground testing etc. Career kicked off.
- Recession hit, firms stopped building things, didn't need surveying and she got caught up in redundancy.
- Went and got a job in forensics, but only in an admin role.
- Now can't move back to her original role, because she feels like she's forgotten everything she learnt and can't differentiate herself from all the other young, hungry candidates who are on the market with her.
Ultimately based on the points you made, the best advice to give is to make sure you're employed, while you investigate what your opportunities are. Losing your specialisation, leaves you at the risk of looking like everyone else on the market. You need to do what makes you happy though!
Edited by Polariz on Monday 29th September 11:42
Good luck in getting out. I'm actively seeking new employment now but in the energy sector.
Take it you travel to your parents?? Could you not get 'get you home mileage'? Get your parents to put you on the council tax bill and get you on some household bills??
You could go for a compassionate route and head to Odiham maybe?? Go through SAFA? 3-4hr drive to, well, Cornwall from Odiham. Plenty of my lads travel on the weekends.
Take it you travel to your parents?? Could you not get 'get you home mileage'? Get your parents to put you on the council tax bill and get you on some household bills??
You could go for a compassionate route and head to Odiham maybe?? Go through SAFA? 3-4hr drive to, well, Cornwall from Odiham. Plenty of my lads travel on the weekends.
PaulG40 said:
Take it you travel to your parents?? Could you not get 'get you home mileage'? Get your parents to put you on the council tax bill and get you on some household bills??
Basically, that's fraud.PaulG40 said:
Plenty of my lads travel on the weekends.
As you described them as your lads, I'm guessing you are an NCO or above?Brings your integrity in to question.
TLandCruiser said:
one thing I noticed in civvie street is how boring people are by literally only working Monday to Friday and that's all their life consists off, lazy and a bunch of whining fkers.
I really noticed this too! Couldn't stand working in a small town (minded) practice. That's when Dubai really appealed. kers. Your time in the RAF will never be wasted, you don't realise at the time but it's given you huge potential.
You still have plenty of time to change career a few times over if you wished.
I'm starting uni again next year and I'll be 34.
Good luck!
PaulG40 said:
Take it you travel to your parents?? Could you not get 'get you home mileage'? Get your parents to put you on the council tax bill and get you on some household bills??
Please don't do this OP. With the number and complexity of JPA audits going on I'd say the chances of you eventually getting found out are pretty high. Just isn't worth it. Paul I hope you don't fiddle the system like that?! A full JPA audit/inquiry isn't a nice thing to go through. (Voice of experience here...)
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