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a bit of advice needed
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tasha-jane
- Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu 08 Jan, 2009 12:12 am
- Location: lincolnshire
a bit of advice needed
Hi my husband is looking to join the raf he has been and spoken to the corpral at our local recruitment center who said they arent taking on till april for the police which is what my husband wishes to do. so he has given him some more jobs he might be interested in doing as my husband is eager to join. i am just looking as to what this entails for me and his son as there doesnt seem to be much explaining as to what will happen with us. i was just wondering if anyone could explain what the wife's role is in all of this as i was thinking of getting my own career as a primary school techer which means going to university etc. if someone could just give me a bit of insight to being a raf wife that would be great!!
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mr_man_2168
- Member
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Wed 26 May, 2004 10:41 pm
- Location: SE London
Have you had a look on here:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/lifeinthe ... family.cfm
There's a fair bit of info. Mostly it's from the opposite point of view, but there are bits and pieces aimed at the non-serving half of the partnership as well.
I'm not really qualified to comment too much beyond that, I'm not in the RAF (yet) and not married (yet), but with both coming in the future the other half and I have been doing the same research.
Hopefully someone will be along who can offer you a bit more useful information. If there's anything specific you want to know, get your hubby to ask the AFCO.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/lifeinthe ... family.cfm
There's a fair bit of info. Mostly it's from the opposite point of view, but there are bits and pieces aimed at the non-serving half of the partnership as well.
I'm not really qualified to comment too much beyond that, I'm not in the RAF (yet) and not married (yet), but with both coming in the future the other half and I have been doing the same research.
Hopefully someone will be along who can offer you a bit more useful information. If there's anything specific you want to know, get your hubby to ask the AFCO.
AST - PASSED
Interview - 13/01/09 - PASSED
Medical - 20/01/09 - PASSED
PGAC - 13/04/09 - CANCELLED
PGAC - 27/04/09 - FAIL DUE TO INJURY
PGAC Re-Attempt - 14/09/09 - ?
TG Course - ???
Interview - 13/01/09 - PASSED
Medical - 20/01/09 - PASSED
PGAC - 13/04/09 - CANCELLED
PGAC - 27/04/09 - FAIL DUE TO INJURY
PGAC Re-Attempt - 14/09/09 - ?
TG Course - ???
Hi Tasha,
Whilst a wifey of a member of the RAF, I'm also currently serving. So whilst were not in the same situation I can give you a bit of background.
OK, during your hubbies basic training at Halton (9 weeks) he will get the odd weekend off, however dont be too disappointed if he doesnt come home and definately dont bank on it. (9 weeks may seem a long time for you and the little un sat at home waiting for Daddy's pass out parade but for him it will pass in a heartbeat). He will phone you and moan but just be supportive.
Once thats over and you get to see him at his passout parade, which will be one of the proudest days in his life he will be off to Southwick Park in Hampshire to begin his trade training, where he will be taught the ins and outs of how to become an RAF Copper. Now don't quote me on this because it is all dependant on how long trade training is, but some couples during trade training are able to get themselves an SFA (Service Family Accomodation), which is usually a small housing estate located either inside the camp perimeter fence or close by. But to be honest this is something to discuss with hubby because you will only be there for a short period of time before he finishes his training and goes onto his first "posting". It is sometimes just as well to stay in the original family home until he get his first posting.
OK so once he is a fully fledged copper. You will then have the option to either remain in your current home and have hubby commute or apply for a SFA. Sometimes this can be a big change for partners especially if they have strong ties in their home town. Only you can decide which works for you.
Most Units have a good family ethos, with youth clubs, mother and toddler groups, a HIVE:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... nity/Hive/
The staff at the HIVE are available to help you settle into the local community, providing information about the camp, it's facilities and the local area.
You will also be in the same situation as many other wives, some of whom will also be fresh to the RAF wife lifestyle and some who will be "old hat" and able to offer advice. It is also a good idea to keep your goals in mind and have something to focus on, but bear in mind you may have to spend substancial chunks of time on your own whilst hubbie does his stint in the desert, which may make childcare a bit more difficult, but many many wifes manage it.
All in all Tasha, if you can handle hubbies trips away for 4 months at a time, him being stuck with duties last minute and having to cancel family plans (please try not to blame him, theres not an awful lot he can do about it), then the RAF or for that matter Armed Forces lifestyle is not a bad one.
Sorry its a bit of a lengthy post and lot of this information you may have already known, but I hope some of the info was of use to you.
D.
Whilst a wifey of a member of the RAF, I'm also currently serving. So whilst were not in the same situation I can give you a bit of background.
OK, during your hubbies basic training at Halton (9 weeks) he will get the odd weekend off, however dont be too disappointed if he doesnt come home and definately dont bank on it. (9 weeks may seem a long time for you and the little un sat at home waiting for Daddy's pass out parade but for him it will pass in a heartbeat). He will phone you and moan but just be supportive.
Once thats over and you get to see him at his passout parade, which will be one of the proudest days in his life he will be off to Southwick Park in Hampshire to begin his trade training, where he will be taught the ins and outs of how to become an RAF Copper. Now don't quote me on this because it is all dependant on how long trade training is, but some couples during trade training are able to get themselves an SFA (Service Family Accomodation), which is usually a small housing estate located either inside the camp perimeter fence or close by. But to be honest this is something to discuss with hubby because you will only be there for a short period of time before he finishes his training and goes onto his first "posting". It is sometimes just as well to stay in the original family home until he get his first posting.
OK so once he is a fully fledged copper. You will then have the option to either remain in your current home and have hubby commute or apply for a SFA. Sometimes this can be a big change for partners especially if they have strong ties in their home town. Only you can decide which works for you.
Most Units have a good family ethos, with youth clubs, mother and toddler groups, a HIVE:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... nity/Hive/
The staff at the HIVE are available to help you settle into the local community, providing information about the camp, it's facilities and the local area.
You will also be in the same situation as many other wives, some of whom will also be fresh to the RAF wife lifestyle and some who will be "old hat" and able to offer advice. It is also a good idea to keep your goals in mind and have something to focus on, but bear in mind you may have to spend substancial chunks of time on your own whilst hubbie does his stint in the desert, which may make childcare a bit more difficult, but many many wifes manage it.
All in all Tasha, if you can handle hubbies trips away for 4 months at a time, him being stuck with duties last minute and having to cancel family plans (please try not to blame him, theres not an awful lot he can do about it), then the RAF or for that matter Armed Forces lifestyle is not a bad one.
Sorry its a bit of a lengthy post and lot of this information you may have already known, but I hope some of the info was of use to you.
D.
Poor is the man who's pleasures depend on the permission of another.
