Joining the forces at an older age...

[dome]

Hi guys

Thought I'd post this in here instead of in the jobs forum to get a wider response.

I'm 31 and thinking about joining the RAF-was made redundant at the end of last year and am fed up with regular jobs-have been made redundant 4 times in the past 8 years and it's getting to me as I'm not progressing up the career ladder as I should be.

I came close to joining when I was younger (19) but failed the final interview(NCO Aircrew)-always loved aircraft and was in the ATC as a kid which I loved and the lifestyle still appeals to me. The chance to travel, earn OK money, work towards qualifications and have some job security and a decent pension sounds good to me.

I had thought I was too old until I went to the local careers office with a friend the same age a year or so ago and it turned out the maximum age for alot of the trades has gone up to 37.

But, realistically, am I too old at 31? Has anyone any experience of someone joining the forces at this kind of age? I am single and have no ties and I'd definately be going for a trade, not sure which one though.

Any opinions/experience welcome.

Cheers

Brian

Although given my luck if I join up the RAF will go bust

[soad]

Absolutely not. Your maturity is what will help you succeed.

Its not uncommon now adays for men over 30 to join up and be successful.

Just understand and be prepared for the fact that your going to have alot of really young guys in charge of you and making some decisions for you.

You will not regret it. Good luck to you.

[Groober]

No I don't think your to old. Apparantly life experiance is a good thing when you are being considered by the forces.

Good luck chap.

[Lefty Two Drams]

Good luck!

What do you want to do in the RAF?

[Extra 300 Driver]

Good luck,

I left, 5 years ago. Changing time mean that I would look at going back. I am still a reserve and they write to me about once every 6 months asking me to return full time. If I were you I would strongly suggest that you go for a commission, I am sure your life experiences will hold you in good stead.

Its strange as I thought they were looking to reduce the size of the RAF.

[alfa pint]

I work with a couple of blokes who joined up in their 30s - as long as you can keep up physically, especially in basic training, then you're at an advantage all round.

Assuming of course you can:

- Iron
- Cook
- Be reasonably clean
- Be organised
- See the bigger picture in order to deal with some of the bullst
- Accept your DS' reasoning and not keep questioning 'Why do we have to do this again?'

[GSP]

The hardest part to overcome at 31 is the fitness test.

Easy to pass at 19, not so easy at 31.

[alfa pint]

GSP said:

The hardest part to overcome at 31 is the fitness test.

Easy to pass at 19, not so easy at 31.

Dunno, my last job was as an instructor at a new entry training establishment - the teenagers were invariably the worst runners and lacked the muscle to do well in the gym tasks, the mental stamina to push through when the going got tough and carried as much fat as the older lot.

[YAD061]

alfa pint said:

I work with a couple of blokes who joined up in their 30s - as long as you can keep up physically, especially in basic training, then you're at an advantage all round.

Assuming of course you can:

- Iron
- Cook
- Be reasonably clean
- Be organised
- See the bigger picture in order to deal with some of the bullst
- Accept your DS' reasoning and not keep questioning 'Why do we have to do this again?'

I think an older person would already be at an advantage there. I joined the RAF at a, relatively, old 21 and found it a doddle.....apart from the ironing. You are able to see the training for what it is and not become brainwashed

[Cara Van Man]

dome said:

Hi guys

Thought I'd post this in here instead of in the jobs forum to get a wider response.

I'm 31 and thinking about joining the RAF-was made redundant at the end of last year and am fed up with regular jobs-have been made redundant 4 times in the past 8 years and it's getting to me as I'm not progressing up the career ladder as I should be.

I came close to joining when I was younger (19) but failed the final interview(NCO Aircrew)-always loved aircraft and was in the ATC as a kid which I loved and the lifestyle still appeals to me. The chance to travel, earn OK money, work towards qualifications and have some job security and a decent pension sounds good to me.

I had thought I was too old until I went to the local careers office with a friend the same age a year or so ago and it turned out the maximum age for alot of the trades has gone up to 37.

But, realistically, am I too old at 31? Has anyone any experience of someone joining the forces at this kind of age? I am single and have no ties and I'd definately be going for a trade, not sure which one though.

Any opinions/experience welcome.

Cheers

Brian

Although given my luck if I join up the RAF will go bust

I'm under the impression we've all but stopped recruiting at the moment....the RAF is starting to haemorrhage people at the this time and contract (PVR) leaving times have been slashed to 6 months. I've jumped ship and know lots of people considering the same.

To be blunt, it's a st time to be joining up. If the rather substantial rumours are anytrhing to go by promotions and postings are being slowed right up meaning it'll become stagnant (again). The reasons they are doing this is to make people leave and cut the numbers without having to pay out redundancy packages. We need to shed 10k people before the next govt review of the forces...and guess what is coming up? Yes, an election!

Go to a recruiting office and try to get a straight answer. Good luck

Edited by Cara Van Man on Thursday 11th February 12:20

[jhfozzy]

Have a look at these two pages.

HERE for Air(persons)

and

HERE for Officers.

All the trades apart from Med and Dent are under 30 for Airpersons, but most are under 36 (apart from the obvious like Pilot/RAF regt/Weapon sys/PTI) for officer entry.

Only knew as I'm 29 and am considering it too (Ex Army Avionics Tech). Good luck with the search and training

[dome]

Cheers guys

I'm reasonably fit-I mountain bike a lot and try to stay in shape so that's not a problem

I can iron and look after myself-left home at 19 so that's not an issue.

I don't have a problem with being bossed about by folk younger than me-my attitude is they've worked hard to get where they are and deserve the rank.

Not sure what role to go for-I'd still like NCO aircrew on Nimrods but they're coming out of service-perhaps Intelligence Officer or WSO.

Think I'll visit my local careers office in the next week or so and see what they have to say.

Brian

[escargot]

I would. If everything went tits up for me in my current life I'd be straight down there.

[okgo]

Housemate is in the latter stages of joining the marines at 29.

He was average fitness a year ago, he has since lost two stone, and now able to beat the running, press up, and sit up tests they set, so he will be in if he can hold his head together.