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Hi all, i'm 17 and currently applying to be an RAF Regiment Gunner with my PGAC coming up on the 4th to the 6th of May. I'm in the Army cadets at present, ive also been in the ATC which is where i found out about the RAF regiment through an annual camp at RAF Honington and all i keep getting from people when i tell them i'm looking to join the RAF regiment, is Criticism and being told that all they do is guard air bases and that the regiment is the lowest kind of job within the RAF and how boring it would be and that when i eventually leave i will have great difficulties in obtaining a decent job, and that i'd be better off getting a Trade as ive got the qualifications to do so to enable me to get a decent job as they put it. I would really appreciate some feedback and opinions on what people would recommend.

What do you want to do with your life??? If you want to be a gunner, then be a gunner and sod what everyone else says...

At the end of the day it’s your life, live it the way you want to, not the way people think you should...


lew

If they say that you can't obtain a job afterwards thats bollox because you will always have the qualifications, you can always get a trade after you come out. I agree with lew Its you life, live it to the full and if joining the RAF to be a gunner is what you wanna do go for it mate.

Cheers Bird

Are you a bit on the thick side then? Why the f*ck would you join the RAF regiment to stag on outside air bases? Don't you take any notice of the bullshit that will be given to you about nice locations etc.

Your 17, either make a choice of getting further qualifications now or join the forces for a career/term.

I would suggest to you that you have not got a clue what you want to do. You have seen some glossy poster about life in the RAF and decided that that looks 'fun'.

The fact is you will end up coming out after 6 years and getting a job in security with the other numpty bollocks. There are enough poor fu**ers leaving the forces with no transferable skills as it is without you actively deciding to enter in to it.

If you want to play at soldier join the TA and have fun with guns and wearing green kit. You can then do some further education or try at a civvy career.

If you want to be a soldier join the army, sailor - navy, airman - RAF. If you don't know what you want do in the forces don't bother with the application form. Only a thick fu**er with little education and few chances in civvy street would sign up to this.

Be the best that you possibly can, setting your sights so low will only end up in you saying to yourself in 12 months "what the hell I am doing here"

If your interested in soldiering then join your local regiment for 3 years, you'll learn more and come out a better rounded individual at 20/21 years of age.

Chapps...why so negative and abusive? What happened to put that huge chip on your shoulder?!?

Personally, I feel that the RAF Regt is a great choice for someone who wants to go some proper soldiering. Unlike most line infantry units, the RAF Regt are deployed regularly (no sitting around in Germany for half your career) because they are always in support of RAF Ops....and the RAF are always involved!!! In addition, they do the same job, same NI stints, same training as any other infantry unit in the Army. What's more, they also contain a Para unit, Rapier Sqns (equiv to RA), Queen's Colour Sqn (equiv posting to a Guards unit) and are the lead unit within the Joint NBC (they accompanied both 1 Div and 3 Cdo Bde during OP TELIC).

If you think they spend their time sitting around on RAF bases you are sadly mistaken. Given that the threat to air base operations mostly exists from stand-off (rocket/mortar/surface to air) weapons their role is to conduct aggressive operations at long range from the base. Normally this consists of OPs, VCPs, Patrols and, when required; ambushes, assaults etc.

They have snipers, forward air controllers, heavy weapons and everything else you'd find in the Army. They put more than their fair share of people into SF employment. They conduct exchange postings with the Paras and RM. Also, unlike the Army, the RAF places a large priority in recruiting Officers from the ranks....so there are huge prospects for self-improvement. (A guy on IOT at the same time as me was an Ex-RAF Regt Sgt, 8 years in SF and then commissioned into RAF Regt..!!!)

In addition, post-RAF employment prospects are good. The standards required for Regt Gunner are far higher than the Army require for most of their trades. The simple fact that you have to pass the generic RAF entry test sets you apart from the grunts who manage to dribble their way through the Army BARB test. The simple fact is that you get out of a military career what you put into it. If you take advantage of the opportunities for further academic training in Service, then you'll easily be on a par with people who go to college - except for the fact that you'll be more employable because of the personal and proffesional standards the RAF has taught you.

btw, Chapps...an RAF Regt Gunner is an AIRMEN.

Ah, what you've forgotten Biggles is that Chapps is a major supporter of the one, the only, The Parachute Regiment!

They have such an exciting life. They never have to stag on, they go to all of the exciting places and they have no respect for others (sorry that's just Chapps, not the whole regiment).

The RAF is a great service to serve with. They do tend to have the best of everything........Still doesn't mean that I want to be in the RAF though.

Mind you I have met some really thick rockapes in my time.

Chapps claims to have served in the,

Reg

, and is probably sweeping roads at this present moment in time, which is probably why he has a ferkin big chip on his shoulder , pass the salt...........well said cliodna, noz and biggles

Noz wrote:
Mind you I have met some really thick rockapes in my time.

Where were you then? I met some bloody clever ones!

Where were you then? I met some bloody clever ones!

RAF Honington. I believe that is where they do their depot.

I'm not having a go RobT. I've met some extremely intelligent members of the Armed Forces but I've met some extremely stupid ones as well.

It takes all sorts, and in the Forces you meet them all.

Going back to the original post by brooksy.......

If you are goin on PGAC, you'd best give it 100% effort because most of the technical trades are now closed for recruiting. They are likely to remain closed for some time.

Biggles1211 wrote:Going back to the original post by brooksy.......

If you are goin on PGAC, you'd best give it 100% effort because most of the technical trades are now closed for recruiting. They are likely to remain closed for some time.

What's all this about then. Has the RAF recruited too many for this FY?

Could it possibly be that they're overstaffed. Is it going to be two to a bunk?

Might reconsider my application

Seriously though, what DO you mean?

There have been numerous changes made to the trade structure of the RAF technical trades. As a consequence, the numbers required for this year are very low. Of the small number of training places available, most of the vacancies have been filled.

Your best bet is to pop down to your local AFCO and chat to them about what trades are still open to recruiting. One thing is for sure, the RAF Regt will still be recruiting Gunners for the rest of the year.

Morning Brooksy,

Like others have said, if you want to join the Rocks then go for it and good luck.

Personally I would always advise going for one of the technical trades working on aircraft. It's a step closer to the'real' Air Force that I used to hear so much about ( ) and at the end of the day you can get your civvie licenses and believe me, the world is pretty much your choice of shell fish after that.

Good luck with whatever you decide to go for.

What can i say chaps. Apart from your one complet ********.
Don't preach about hat you know nothing about.
I study for 3 years in computer science before joining the regiment.
I have been to more places than the average sgt in the army. I get paid more than and army solider. I get treated better than an army solider.
Heard the phrase 'thinking mans army'.
What gives you the right to say things about the regiment. Have you served. It really p***** me off when people like your self speak complete s****.
Go pass basics and then pre para and once you have a few tours under your belt you might be able to have your opinion.
I tell you now, the average army unit has about as much chance in getting the same amount of kit as we have as you talking sense.
Minini, USGL, Sophie (if you know what that is), WMIK, quads.
We may be a small unit but you don't know half the stuff that goes on.
We currently have one of the most experienced mortar lines in the forces. We are used for every FAC course, compared to the odd range here and there like most units.
Can you tell me where the regiment have been over the last few years???
Exactly most ops are not known. Thats the way the regiment works, the people we support don't want every spotter going to know every time we go away, what equipment we've taken etc.
I shall not waste my breath any longer on you. The time i spent in Iraq back last april probably taught me more than you'll ever learn in your life. So long chaps!!!!!!!!!!

PER ARDUA>

Biggles1211 wrote: One thing is for sure, the RAF Regt will still be recruiting Gunners for the rest of the year.

How do you know this? I know they are crying out for them e.g the "Urgently needed" part of the RAF careers site.