Leaving the army. General advice please.
Discussion
Hello there.
I have been in the army for coming up to ten years now and am only weeks away from leaving. I have been excited up till now and have a contract for a new job already in place and am waiting for the start date so I can leave.
But now that I am looking at places to rent I can't work out whether I am excited or anxious. I went from living at home to the army at an early age and although joining the 'real world' does not worry me too much I would appreciate any advice on pretty much everything you guys think is relevant to coming out the army.
If it helps I am looking at a flatshare/lodging/living well within my means first off in the Northern Ireland area as i don't want to overstretch myself financially straight away and incur all the hassles and stress that entails. Plus my work is not regulated time wise in that I may be away a week or so at a time or more possibly so money wise I am unsure of my regular wage. I do intend on buying somewhere eventually.
I am not from Northern Ireland but am staying here due to a relationship.
I have been in the army for coming up to ten years now and am only weeks away from leaving. I have been excited up till now and have a contract for a new job already in place and am waiting for the start date so I can leave.
But now that I am looking at places to rent I can't work out whether I am excited or anxious. I went from living at home to the army at an early age and although joining the 'real world' does not worry me too much I would appreciate any advice on pretty much everything you guys think is relevant to coming out the army.
If it helps I am looking at a flatshare/lodging/living well within my means first off in the Northern Ireland area as i don't want to overstretch myself financially straight away and incur all the hassles and stress that entails. Plus my work is not regulated time wise in that I may be away a week or so at a time or more possibly so money wise I am unsure of my regular wage. I do intend on buying somewhere eventually.
I am not from Northern Ireland but am staying here due to a relationship.
Can't offer any specific advice, but good luck.
Take all the help and advice you can get. A friend has just been retired from the forces in his 50s and is in pretty bad shape medically, but has been properly screwed over by the army and is struggling by on benefits at the moment, his pension apparently being worth 3/5s of F all...
Makes me angry that he spent his life serving his country and he is now in this situation. Amazingly he is not bitter though!
Take all the help and advice you can get. A friend has just been retired from the forces in his 50s and is in pretty bad shape medically, but has been properly screwed over by the army and is struggling by on benefits at the moment, his pension apparently being worth 3/5s of F all...
Makes me angry that he spent his life serving his country and he is now in this situation. Amazingly he is not bitter though!NiceCupOfTea said:
Take all the help and advice you can get. A friend has just been retired from the forces in his 50s and is in pretty bad shape medically, but has been properly screwed over by the army and is struggling by on benefits at the moment, his pension apparently being worth 3/5s of F all... Makes me angry that he spent his life serving his country and he is now in this situation. Amazingly he is not bitter though!
Usually the army pension scheme is pretty good with a lump sum and pension on leaving and another lump sum and higher pension on reaching 65. Makes me angry that he spent his life serving his country and he is now in this situation. Amazingly he is not bitter though!43034 said:
I believe someone on here has was in the forces that has left to go to the civvy world. I am struggling to remember his name but he was a bomb disposal man with a very large dog! BruceV8 rings a bell...? Maybe he'll post some advice for you!
It was indeed BruceV8. There are quite a few exforces about, as it happens. You could always try the Civi St section on ARRSE too, if you haven't already.I left the RAF 8 months ago after serving for 9 years, and it was a bit nerve wracking.
It's nice now to have my own house that I know I won't be leaving soon due to postings, there's no more B/S in the form of fitness tests, random training courses and detachments.
I ended up putting on a stone in weight as I wasn't doing any phys anymore, I never thought I'd want circuit training and PT back in my life!
I would say save as much money as you can before you leave, things are a lot tighter budget-wise when you cant go to the mess to eat, and you're room in the block doesn't just cost a few quid a month. I ended up blowing a load of money I'd saved on a car, and now I can't afford a washing machine for my house and use the launderette in town. No great shakes, but I don't even own that car anymore, so it was a bit stupid to fritter the dosh away like I did.
It's nice now to have my own house that I know I won't be leaving soon due to postings, there's no more B/S in the form of fitness tests, random training courses and detachments.
I ended up putting on a stone in weight as I wasn't doing any phys anymore, I never thought I'd want circuit training and PT back in my life!
I would say save as much money as you can before you leave, things are a lot tighter budget-wise when you cant go to the mess to eat, and you're room in the block doesn't just cost a few quid a month. I ended up blowing a load of money I'd saved on a car, and now I can't afford a washing machine for my house and use the launderette in town. No great shakes, but I don't even own that car anymore, so it was a bit stupid to fritter the dosh away like I did.
Hello,
I left the RAF fifteen years ago, after 22 years. Loved every minute of it ~ it was just time for a change.
I did all the re-settlement courses I could, but to be truthful, they did me no good at all.
This worked for me :
Firstly find somewhere to live. Family ? Friends ? Rent somewhere.
I was OK as I had my own house.
Then a good CV. I sought advice from a Recruitment Agency.
A girlfriend’s brother was a HR Manager : he helped as well.
That is SO important. White A4, black print, no fancy fonts.
I went to a recruitment agency for a job, any job. Money coming in is better than coming out your savings.
First Job ? - building circuit boards for 9 months. Great job, no prospects but £250:00 a week take home.
A long story short, I worked for Airbus for a while. Then a Balancing / Vibration Company in the Middle East and am currently a Systems Engineer in the North Sea.
I am proud to say I have been unemployed once in my life. For 3 days. I am 55 years old.
I wish you all the best, but remember one thing. It will NOT come to you, you have to go and get it yourself !!!!
Remember GOYA – Get Of Your Arse !
All the best for the future,
Sam
I left the RAF fifteen years ago, after 22 years. Loved every minute of it ~ it was just time for a change.
I did all the re-settlement courses I could, but to be truthful, they did me no good at all.
This worked for me :
Firstly find somewhere to live. Family ? Friends ? Rent somewhere.
I was OK as I had my own house.
Then a good CV. I sought advice from a Recruitment Agency.
A girlfriend’s brother was a HR Manager : he helped as well.
That is SO important. White A4, black print, no fancy fonts.
I went to a recruitment agency for a job, any job. Money coming in is better than coming out your savings.
First Job ? - building circuit boards for 9 months. Great job, no prospects but £250:00 a week take home.
A long story short, I worked for Airbus for a while. Then a Balancing / Vibration Company in the Middle East and am currently a Systems Engineer in the North Sea.
I am proud to say I have been unemployed once in my life. For 3 days. I am 55 years old.
I wish you all the best, but remember one thing. It will NOT come to you, you have to go and get it yourself !!!!
Remember GOYA – Get Of Your Arse !
All the best for the future,
Sam
Hi Pimping,
I left the army six weeks ago but my situation is a bit different from yours, in that I left after 24 years, so got an immediate pension and a gratuity. I also already own my own home and have started a business. Its also a bit too early to offer sage advice about civvy street as I'm new to it myself!
However, I'll make the following points, most of which you probably know already:
Get as much from the army, in terms of resettlement training and advice, as you can. Its free and most of it is good.
There is a lot of help available from the Royal British Legion and other service charities if you need it. I haven't so far but I do intend to join the RBL, even if only for the cheap beer!
Being an ex serviceman puts you into a network of other ex servicemen, some of whom have made a great success of civilian life. They might be able to open doors for you. There is The List, RBL again, regimental associations etc...
I don't know what your army trade is or what your civilian job will be. They may be relavent, they may not. But - I'm told - the military ethos of professionalism, self discipline, drive, leadership and teamwork not to mention a 'can do' attitude are greatly prized by many employers. Its just up to you to translate the army jargon into civilian HR speak to show the many skills that you have - and may not realise you have.
Try to stay in touch with your army mates. Most people say that the thing they miss isn't the job but the lads and the banter. If you still have that, there won't be much that you miss. But remeber that you have chosen to make the break (as we all must as some point) and that its up to you to make a new life for yourself. Although there is help, its ultimately down to you.
This is all very general stuff. If there's anything specific, just give me a shout. Good luck!
I left the army six weeks ago but my situation is a bit different from yours, in that I left after 24 years, so got an immediate pension and a gratuity. I also already own my own home and have started a business. Its also a bit too early to offer sage advice about civvy street as I'm new to it myself!
However, I'll make the following points, most of which you probably know already:
Get as much from the army, in terms of resettlement training and advice, as you can. Its free and most of it is good.
There is a lot of help available from the Royal British Legion and other service charities if you need it. I haven't so far but I do intend to join the RBL, even if only for the cheap beer!
Being an ex serviceman puts you into a network of other ex servicemen, some of whom have made a great success of civilian life. They might be able to open doors for you. There is The List, RBL again, regimental associations etc...
I don't know what your army trade is or what your civilian job will be. They may be relavent, they may not. But - I'm told - the military ethos of professionalism, self discipline, drive, leadership and teamwork not to mention a 'can do' attitude are greatly prized by many employers. Its just up to you to translate the army jargon into civilian HR speak to show the many skills that you have - and may not realise you have.
Try to stay in touch with your army mates. Most people say that the thing they miss isn't the job but the lads and the banter. If you still have that, there won't be much that you miss. But remeber that you have chosen to make the break (as we all must as some point) and that its up to you to make a new life for yourself. Although there is help, its ultimately down to you.
This is all very general stuff. If there's anything specific, just give me a shout. Good luck!
GeraldSmith said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Take all the help and advice you can get. A friend has just been retired from the forces in his 50s and is in pretty bad shape medically, but has been properly screwed over by the army and is struggling by on benefits at the moment, his pension apparently being worth 3/5s of F all... Makes me angry that he spent his life serving his country and he is now in this situation. Amazingly he is not bitter though!
Usually the army pension scheme is pretty good with a lump sum and pension on leaving and another lump sum and higher pension on reaching 65. Makes me angry that he spent his life serving his country and he is now in this situation. Amazingly he is not bitter though!Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff