as some of you may, or may not know, i work as a software developer for a fairly large government organisation. i've been working in simular roles since i was 18. i'm now 24.
i want a change of career now, and fast. until recently, i had never even thought about doing a job in the raf, navy or indeed the police until i got talking to a friend.
i've had a look on the rafcareers.com website, and there are some really interesting jobs to be had.
so, what i'd like to know is has anybody here been in any of the armed services, and if so, what were you experiences? was it a good career decision? how did it affect you as a person?
any comments at all would be greatly apprechiated.
dr sig
Ever been in the armed services?
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MrTomServo
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Mon 11 Aug, 2003 14.15
- Location: California
They might all be interesting, but at some point, they may involve people shooting at you. And, in the case of the military, screaming in your face. I really don't want the spittle of some drill sergeant buried into my pores at high velocity, so I don't think I'll be joining the military anytime soon.
Unless I'm drafted, of course, and "they" say that will be starting again perhaps next year. Maybe I'll just come over there and live with you lot.
Unless I'm drafted, of course, and "they" say that will be starting again perhaps next year. Maybe I'll just come over there and live with you lot.
Not necessarily. There are plenty of roles within the armed forces that don't involve spit or any kind of wetness at all. You can get some rather nice high end jobs in the army if you do a bit of investigation and research beforehand.MrTomServo wrote:They might all be interesting, but at some point, they may involve people shooting at you. And, in the case of the military, screaming in your face. I really don't want the spittle of some drill sergeant buried into my pores at high velocity, so I don't think I'll be joining the military anytime soon.
Unless I'm drafted, of course, and "they" say that will be starting again perhaps next year. Maybe I'll just come over there and live with you lot.
I am not a member but we've seen all of the tapes of what the Army is like and it is quite different than what people tend to think about it, there's more of an educational side to it, but still not my thing. When they came to our school no-one was interested at all, before and after the videos, same with the Volunteering thing. Though I've been stopped by a recruitment person in Stockton Heath Village (Outside the Mullberry Tree pub if you know what I mean) and they've been there at least 3 times in one year! But the guy who I spoke to said that there was lots to the Army, even an IT side to it.
A good friend of mine is currently in the RAF down in Portsmouth, though there's lots too it, such as daily 5am start, apparently they get food pay and I was suprised to hear that they also get a lot of creature comforts, Sky and DVD to name 2.
Though if you want experience and a good new career then it is highly recommendable, and if you don't like it for 4 years you can leave. Though you need to be fit for something like the Army as you do loads of running.
A good friend of mine is currently in the RAF down in Portsmouth, though there's lots too it, such as daily 5am start, apparently they get food pay and I was suprised to hear that they also get a lot of creature comforts, Sky and DVD to name 2.
Though if you want experience and a good new career then it is highly recommendable, and if you don't like it for 4 years you can leave. Though you need to be fit for something like the Army as you do loads of running.
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Ed Hammond
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.59
- Location: London
I was in cadet force at school (RAF section, actually). The silly blue uniforms, the requirement to do hours of monumentally tedious drill, the shouting and the bizarre necessity to be able to recognise various types of aircraft from their silhouettes all put me off for life. That and the big guns, which packed a punch even when firing off blanks.
Don't do it if you have any problem with blindly following the orders of others.
Don't do it if you have any problem with blindly following the orders of others.
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Dr Lobster*
- Posts: 2123
- Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14
i wouldn't want to do any frontline stuff, i'm more interested in the 'trades' part of the raf, such as a technical role. i wouldn't mind also joing the raf police either. but yeah, frontline combat is not my thing at all.
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Ed Hammond
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Fri 15 Aug, 2003 13.59
- Location: London
I suspect they'd make you do that kind of thing whatever you do!
You'd certainly have to do basic training - gun drill, all that incessant marching, etc - whatever part of the service you went into. Even as an officer (I might say especially if you're an officer). I'd definitely be inclined to say yes, change jobs by all means, but stay in "civvy street", as they say.
You'd certainly have to do basic training - gun drill, all that incessant marching, etc - whatever part of the service you went into. Even as an officer (I might say especially if you're an officer). I'd definitely be inclined to say yes, change jobs by all means, but stay in "civvy street", as they say.