Job Advice if you would be so kind...

[Twinblade]

Hi all.

I am looking for some advice really as I am not really sure which avenue to take. I am torn between two, and before someone mentions visiting an AFCO I want to get it sorted in my head first, as the nearest one to me is an hour and a half drive.

Firstly, a little background. I am a 25 year old male, married with 1 child (almost 2) and another one on the way, only 12 weeks into pregnancy, so plenty of time to go there (this is something that is going to need to be considered after I have got the role out of the way). I am currently sitting at work not sure what to do. I have to put it blunty become disillusioned with my current job role and it doesn't feel me with any sense of enjoyment anymore, and there is no motivation towards the job.

I was first interested in a military role when I was just leaving school, but in the end I opted for university, with the intention of reconsidering the forces again upon graduation, after having some vital life experience, but the I met my wife and career aspirations have been on the back burner since. I am qualified to 2:1 degree level with 3 A-Levels and 10 GCSE's so from reviewing the RAF Career website I am qualified academically to undertake the roles I wish to apply.

A few friends of mine are in the military, both Army though, and they keep telling me that I am not suited to the forces because I don't come across as the military type (they say you won't understand this unless you've had the experience) however when I hear about the stories and the things they have done it makes me even more determined to pursue a military career. However, I am a determined person, and want to be able to finish a shift and go home and feel that I have achieved something, which I am not currently getting.

First off, I don't want to be a frontline soldier, and have two roles in mind that I have read up on and that interest me, so basically I am looking for some information on the two, is anyone here serving in this roles, or have they, or had experience of them?

First up is the role of Intelligence Officer - my degree is in Psychology and Criminology and the Intelligence aspect of the degree course was my most enjoyed and although my current career is not crime based there is a lot of data that I need to analyse in a similar way. Its one of the only elements of my current role that I enjoy. So, this would seem the perfect career choice.

Secondly there is the RAF Police Office role - not the most exciting of the roles offered within the RAF I was told by a serving friend, but it is something I have wanted to do, hence the degree in criminology. I did apply to be a Police officer in my loca force, but due to an accident a few weeks before my fitness test (broken leg playing sport) I was unable to complete the fitness assessment and therefore failed the application process, as a result I was not able to apply for another 12-months. Obviously this role would allow me to kill both birds with one stone, (military and police officer) but would appreciate some feedback from serving officers if possible.

Finally, I know I said only two, but something keeps drawing me back to Weapons Systems, but I keep looking at it and then thinking, no, I couldn't do that. Are there any WSO's here who could tell me a little more about it?

Well, I think thats everything, and a good starting position, sorry if its long winded, but hopefully you can tell I have been giving it some serious thought, just looking for some direction.

[London Boy]

Hello there, to start off with it concerns me that you're thinking of a
military career while your wife is pregnant.

The stress on military and police wives/girlfriends is enormous even more so when they're pregnant.

So you really need to work that out with her first.

I know, I'm ex-RAF Regiment and ex-London Met police.

Next, I think a serious question you have to honestly answer for yourself, regardless of what friends and family said back then or say now, is this: Why didn't you go for it when you first thought about it or when you were 18 instead of going to university?

Your decision back then, when you remember it now at 25, might still be valid.

Dig deep first and answer those questions, and deal with those issues before even considering various military roles.

Then I would point out,in view of the fact of an imminent baby to take care of, that police and military pay scales are worlds apart. I'll use my own case as an example. When I went into the Met police as a trainee constable in mid 83 I was getting three times the pay I had prior to that as a fully trained SAC RAF Regt Gunner. And even as a simple warehouse worker at 17 before I joined the RAF I was getting more money. My wage when I left the RAF was £15 less a week than I was clearing in the warehouse.

And unless military pay has improved drastically over the last 20 or so years, I would imaigne it is still way below the national average.

[Twinblade]

London Boy.

Thanks for the swift reply and the helpful comments, much appreciated.

As I mentioned in my post, the pregnancy will have an impact on when I decide to apply. The reason for the post primarily is because I want to get a better understanding of the roles that I am interested in and what they entail.

Once I have everything clear in my mind I will proceed when appropriate, I am obviously not going to sign up with the wife being pregnant and expect everything to go along smoothly like our first childs pregnancy did.

Secondly, as pointed out in my post. I decided against applying to join the RAF back when I was 18 because I personally didn't feel I had the life experience to jump into something like the military. However, some 7 years on I feel I am in a much more suited position to do so.

The pay element you mentioned is obviously something that I need to consider, however, from the limited information provided on the RAF Careers website a RAF Police Officer after training can expect to earn £28,200 whereas a Civilian Police Officer after training where I live can expect to be on around £19,000 so obviously the military police are on better pay. However, I am not sure what the pay is like during training, as this is not mentioned on the website.

Once again, thank you for your comments. Hope the above clarifies a few points.

[Hyperlithe]

What does your wife say about it? That'sprobably going to be one of the most important considerations I would think!

Bear in mind that it takes about 12 months from initial application at the AFCO to actually starting a course, so if she thinks you should go for it, you could decide between you at what point after the baby is born you both would feel happy with you starting the training, and work back from there for starting the application.

As for which branch to apply for, you don't have to only put one choice down on the application form! It's probably better if you do have 2 or 3 options, because then you have more chance of being accepted.
Just make sure you know as much as possible about each one, what the job involves, how long the training is, where it happens and what it involves etc. Intelligence Officer is a post that is quite difficult to get; when I joined up they were only taking on 4 per year, and they were mostly from within the ranks, but that may have changed now.

I don't think the pay should be too much of an issue for you, being a graduate, just bear in mind that you will probably be getting around 18k during IOT, until you graduate. Don't worry about people not thinking you're the 'military type' either - joining up was probbaly the last thing my parents expected me to do, and I still don't feel particularly military half the time!

I have to say though, I was in the same position as you with the career path I'd set myself on after uni, and now I can't imagine anything I would rather be doing than this. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Twinblade]

Hyperlithe

Thanks for the posting, again, very helpful advice.

I have spoken with the wife about it, and for obvious reasons he is a little sceptical about the whole thing, mainly due to the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, she has her worries about my safety. However, that said, she is willing to support me regardless of my decision because she wants me to be doing something I am happy doing.

I wasn't aware of the exact length of training, the website doesn't give a clear explanation of that, infact it suggests it will be alot shorted than 12-months. Still, if thats the case then it would make things a little easier when determining when to start. Still, I can learn more about that from a trip to the AFCO.

I was expecting something along the lines of your comments regarding the Intelligence Officer post, as I thought it would be a popular role. The careers website suggests that that position is urgently required, but again, I guess that can be taken with a pinch of salt.

[Hyperlithe]

I believe we are actually recruiting IntOs at the moment, so it's worth a try!
The 12 months I mentioned was from applying to joining - if you get in as an officer the course is 3 terms of 10 weeks each, with a week of leave in between, so you're looking at 32 weeks to graduate, as long as you pass each term first time, and not everyone does. Not sure about the specialist IntO training, but like you say, the AFCO can help.

[Ponomis]

I'm in a similar situation. I have a daughter with another one on the way. I also already have a place on IOT 15. I'm so bored of office work and would go crazy if I had to do it any longer. I wouldn't worry about the pay either as you start out on 23k and go up to 28k after six months, so it is really quite reasonable. There is no reason why you couldn't put down all three branches on your application and let the people at Cranwell decide what you are best suited for. I would have loved to be a WSO, but my eyesight lets me down. I've done nothing military related in my life ever, but that hasn't stopped me being selected so don't listen to your friends and just go for it.

[Ponomis]

Hyperlithe

Thanks for the posting, again, very helpful advice.

I have spoken with the wife about it, and for obvious reasons he is a little sceptical about the whole thing, mainly due to the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, she has her worries about my safety. However, that said, she is willing to support me regardless of my decision because she wants me to be doing something I am happy doing.

I wasn't aware of the exact length of training, the website doesn't give a clear explanation of that, infact it suggests it will be alot shorted than 12-months. Still, if thats the case then it would make things a little easier when determining when to start. Still, I can learn more about that from a trip to the AFCO.

I was expecting something along the lines of your comments regarding the Intelligence Officer post, as I thought it would be a popular role. The careers website suggests that that position is urgently required, but again, I guess that can be taken with a pinch of salt.

With regards to the IntO position. It is a highly competitive branch and I've heard that they only recruit in the single digits each year. Don't let that put you off though, as you only need one of those places to be successful.