Am I mad??

[merpolcon]

Looking for some advice here. I am a police officer, on a decent wage, great girlfriend who i am looking at marrying, great standard of living. BUT since the age of 15 I have wanted to join the RAF Regiment. When I first joined the police this feeling went away. I love the police its a great job, but I can't help thinking I should have joined the RAF first.

My big problem is if I leave the police to join the regiment it will be a massive wage drop. Now that doesn't really bother me but I can see my family and girlfriend having a major problem with me taking what could be a £7000 wage drop to join up.

Is the RAF something I should bite the bullet and go for or does anyone think it would be career suicide?

[Tab]

Personally I think you would be nuts to leave the Police Force. With Government cutting away at the armed forces just how long will the RAF Regiment last, then what will you be left with. you would either wind up in the RAF Military Police, or doing some other little job in the RAF earning just fraction of the money that you earned as a PC. Now people say that money is not every thing, true, but it does make life bearable for both you and your family and it reduces another aspect of friction between a husband and wife. Lets face it while you are of playing at being an RAF Soldier it is your family that will live with your decision

[Liquidius]

Although I'm all for the "follow your heart" and "do what you want, you'll only regret it later", in this situation I agree with Tab. You have a family to support - and such a change in lifestyle, and wages will only create friction between you both. Have you tried discussing it with your girlfriend? What has she said about it?

[BigStevie]

Have to agree with Tab and Liquidius - could cost you more than you could ever afford to lose, much more than you might - a big might - gain.

Stick with the police mate, a lot of people would give their right appendage to have what you have. You could 'split the difference', try one of the TA RMP units.

[merpolcon]

Thanks for the advice fellas. I know people in the forces who who give anything to have my job, and I know "the grass is always greener ...", I just have this nagging feeling I should have done the regiment first.

I can see the sense in everything you have all said so for now at least I should probably just shut up and put up. It's not as if I don't enjoy my job, I love it. If I hated it I suppose it would be a different matter. Thanks for all the comments, you have helped me loads.

[Foxtricks]

There maybe a ta section for this regiment i know the RMR get a good deal.. And I know a police man in the RMR. They release him whenever he wants to go away and play soldiers..
Just a thought..

Foxy..

[wannabe_bootneck]

Yes there are oggy rocks but there are only a few squdrons about. I will tell you this now, I don't know what your take home money is in the plod but as an LAC on botom payband for LAC you will be getting about 730 a month after having food & accom, life insurance etc. taken out of the pay, which is lovely if you are a young singly like I am, cause it's just money for beer, same as it is for the young privates and marines and matelots. But you have a family... You reall do need to look at the financial side I'd say as you are now obviously accustomed to a way of life, for five and a half months you'll be training in basics, then you'll pass out get a week or twos leave then come back to the depot and do a 9 week field gunners course. Then you'll get onto your squadron wherever that may be and within 6 months you will be going on operations and that is the reality of life in the corps at the minute, things are moving bloody fast, I love it like this at the minute, but it's all stuff to bear in mind.

[Hostage_Negotiator]

you would either wind up in the RAF Military Police, or doing some other little job in the RAF earning just fraction of the money that you earned as a PC.

Bit of a trend here of late , beginning to think you don't like RAF Coppers Tab and personally I'd be taking a substantial drop in pay if I were to go Civpol!


Lets face it while you are of playing at being an RAF Soldier it is your family that will live with your decision


I must remember that next time I deploy! "Get back up Jones! you're not really dead cos we're only playing at it!"

Dissapointed Tab..

[Tab]

Well I must admit I never knew that the RAF police were that well paid that they can out strip their civilian counter parts. Of course when they are deployed into a combat zone they take their chances like every one else that is why their casualty figures are so high..

[Hostage_Negotiator]

Well I must admit I never knew that the RAF police were that well paid that they can out strip their civilian counter parts.

At my present rank and pay grade I would stand to take a loss of somewhere in the region of £10K + if I were to join Civpol NOW!

Of course when they are deployed into a combat zone they take their chances like every one else that is why their casualty figures are so high..

Yes we take our chances like everybody else....however I'd love to see where you get " high casualty figures " as in 18yrs service I can name every colleague killed! and I can assure you the figure is exceptionally low!

Personally I'm shocked that a "veteran" would even make such a crass, glib comment in today's climate but I guess like some of the elderly you feel free to say what you feel regardless of how it may affect others!

I'm pretty sure if one of the schoolboy wannabees had made such a comment the old & the bold etc. would be all over them however I doubt that will happen in your case!

Having worked with Para Reg, Royal, Guards, SF etc I can honestly say that the modern serviceman comes across as professional and courteous and whilst their is always going to be inter service / corp / unit rivalry and banter, so maybe bigotry and rudeness is just the province of those who left a long time ago. However that obviously can't be the case as I only have to think of the likes of Steve, Bert, Mike and Pauli to name a few to dispell that idea!

Maybe it's just you and your perceived injustices against you by some copper! I suppose it's true what they say that you only need worry if you've done something wrong!

I'm sure I'll be in the doghouse now for daring to criticise one of the old and bold but hey ho! I'm more dissapointed that of all people it had to come from someone I previously held in high regard and respected!
H_N

[RAF Reginald]

Steady on a second HN. I think you may have mis-interpretated Tab slightly. When he said about he casualty figures I'm sure he was probably refering to the Military Police as a whole, remember the guys killled at the Iraqi police station in the early days of Telic? I don't think his remark was made in a derogitary manner at all, quite the opposite in fact. I interpret his remark as a compliment to the MP's (Tri-service) willingness and ability to 'get in amongst it' with everyone else. But of course, I may be wrong, Tab?

[Hostage_Negotiator]

I hear what you're saying Reg and if that is the case I'm more than willing to say I was wrong and offer my apologies or if the Mods require it I'll leave the forum for good this time but I feel that certain elements on here (not referring to any one individual) seem to spend a lot of effort slagging off anybody who's not serving or ex Para or Royal! The constant putting down and ignorance of the role and capabilities of units such as RAF Regt and RAFP is starting to get on my t*ts! I spent the majority of the last 12 mths either in Afghanistan or Iraq and don't appreciate being told I'm only playing at it! I defo don't appreciate hearing it from someone who should know better.

[Tab]

HN....It is through these forums and people like you that I can get a broader picture of what is going on in other units. At time i will be a bit to glib to try and provoke the correct response for it is when some let flies you can learn the the most.

[Hostage_Negotiator]

Hope you got the result you wanted and that it was worth it.

[Hostage_Negotiator]

Military Police as a whole, remember the guys killled at the Iraqi police station in the early days of Telic?

Not likely to forget them mate, I served with one them's brother in Afghanistan and to see the effect all the media and subsequent investigations have had on his friends and family is devastating!