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Gunners what made you join the RAF?
Posted: Thu 18 Sep, 2008 5:14 pm
by bigdj
Just wondered what made current/ex gunners choose the RAF over the army, marines etc?
Posted: Thu 18 Sep, 2008 7:17 pm
by davo141
the
y're all plane spotters

Posted: Fri 19 Sep, 2008 12:49 am
by insert-coin-here
My own w@#k chariot

Posted: Fri 19 Sep, 2008 1:07 am
by gunner75
to join an elite fighting troop..
to specialise in elite modern warfare....
to become a member of one of the big three......
INCOMMMMMIN!!!
after being told by army afco i was too old ...my mate from 4 para mentioned the rocks so i found out about them and liked what i heard so went for it. plus having my own one man w*nkin chariot meant everyday was like christmas

Posted: Sat 20 Sep, 2008 1:35 am
by stever
i didnt fancy army or rm's they didnt appeal to me at the time
having been in the atc in my yoof i had been to a few raf bases and liked what i saw
re single bunks took me a year to get a single room in germany
when i arrived in germany the sqn single lads had been naughty and
i couldnt belive it when i had to make a bedpack in the 12 man room
Posted: Sun 21 Sep, 2008 12:42 pm
by wannabe_rock
Gunner75, how old were you when you joine mate? I'm 25 now and trying to decide whether or not I can live on an airmans wage, or if I need to try and get in as an officer.
Posted: Mon 22 Sep, 2008 1:27 pm
by gunner75
ahoy there!
intially after interviews and test etc was back end of 26yrs (say 27) but then I got injured and it was a niggly one which kept me away for a further year or so. was about 28 or over when i was actually there living the dream...
as far as wages go i had same dilema and thought I could cope and manage to pay for a house and car. on the lower wages. in theory yes but actually doing it A BIG NO. id say to anyone going in DONT have any outgoings to worry about, if you get into difficulties its one big stress you dont need! the pay is ok maybe for the young lad with no ties or responsibilities but for older lot that have you HAVE to be more prudent! cant speak for officer pay but you can get by on a crows wages, just enough for beer and birds

Posted: Fri 10 Oct, 2008 2:26 pm
by rockape34
gunner75 wrote:to join an elite fighting troop..
to specialise in elite modern warfare....
to become a member of one of the big three......
INCOMMMMMIN!!!
after being told by army afco i was too old ...my mate from 4 para mentioned the rocks so i found out about them and liked what i heard so went for it. plus having my own one man w*nkin chariot meant everyday was like christmas

... and for the Gucci kit no doubt
Having served in the army 9 years, 3 years regular reserve & TA decided to join up again - was told I was too old to re-enlist so joined the best along with a couple of mates (one an ex-para, one ex-RM).
Posted: Sun 12 Oct, 2008 4:56 pm
by sittingstress
rockape34 wrote:gunner75 wrote:to join an elite fighting troop..
to specialise in elite modern warfare....
to become a member of one of the big three......
INCOMMMMMIN!!!
after being told by army afco i was too old ...my mate from 4 para mentioned the rocks so i found out about them and liked what i heard so went for it. plus having my own one man w*nkin chariot meant everyday was like christmas

... and for the Gucci kit no doubt
Having served in the army 9 years, 3 years regular reserve & TA decided to join up again - was told I was too old to re-enlist so joined the best along with a couple of mates (one an ex-para, one ex-RM).
And if you are who I think you are then you joined up with me too! BG9/83, if not then I'm wrong.
Re: Gunners what made you join the RAF?
Posted: Sun 12 Oct, 2008 5:25 pm
by timex
bigdj wrote:Just wondered what made current/ex gunners choose the RAF over the army, marines etc?
It's easier.........(now where's that bloody helmet)?
Only kidding.............
Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 8:33 am
by London Boy
Posted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 8:40 am
by London Boy
Blimey, you old bastards 25,26,28.

I was 18 when I joined & my 19th was still a fair way off.
I wanted to be an elite solider or a copper as early as 14.
I was an RGJ cadet at 15, started Judo at 15.
Applied to the police cadets at 16. Then having passed everything decided against it. Left shcool at 16. Spent two years wokring in a deli & a warehouse. And after a gutful of that I applied and got into the RAF when I was 18. A letter inviting me, now as an adult, to attend Hendon Police College came a week after I'd signed on the dotted line for the RAF.
I had no illusions of being fit or suitable for anything else in the RAF other than soldiering.
Posted: Mon 20 Oct, 2008 1:40 pm
by gunner75
May i say in answer to that - the local harlots from down town Bury St. Edmunds prefered the older, mature and sophisticated gentleman. Good times!
Posted: Mon 20 Oct, 2008 9:24 pm
by Roki
Joined mainly due to it being a better career path over all.
I was dumb enough to never finish my education [moving from the usa to england at 16 left college as an only option.]
Alas, the only jobs available to me was general frycook/binman/construction site work... nothing that i exactly dreamed for at least
Joining the RAF regiment at least gives me something for me to be proud of :]
Posted: Sun 16 Nov, 2008 2:56 pm
by rockape34
BG9/83 at the tender age of 32