Irrationally scared about son joining RAF. Talk some sense into me!

[Stressedout65]

My 24 year old son is about to join the RAF. if he passes out I shall be so proud of course. But what happens after that? I'm so scared of things escalating & they get posted to somewhere dangerous, but that's the nature of the job. Having read about Russian soldiers torturing Ukraine civilians has made it worse. I also remember from the Iraq & Kuwait war in 1990 a couple of British airmen tortured, beaten up & paraded on TV by the Iraqi forces. I'm so irrationally scared I have a permanent knot in my stomach. Please talk some sense into me!

@ObjectionHearsay Again, depends on the trade.
Mine aren't hanging around doing a lot of fuck all, I can assure you.

YABU,
Non of the armed services feature in the most recent " list of most dangerous occupations".
He would be more at risk if he was a paramedic, HGV driver, binman or even a nurse.

Officers' Messes can be dangerous places!
Many many years ago, when the Falkland's conflict kicked off the husband of a friend was going and I asked her if she was worried and she said He's been in the Army for over twenty years and it'll be the first time he's fired live ammuniton in a real situation.

@Summerholidayorcovidagain My mother filmed the wrong recruit for my entire passout parade. As a result I have a video of a girl from my flight who happened to be the same height and build as me with the same colour hair. She had no idea until we all watched it back together 😂

Overheard at HMS Raleigh passing out parade
"There are half a dozen men by the flagpole and one of them is your daddy"
Matelots! Don't you love them.

Be proud he is in a role in which he is doing something positive, on an organisation which is one of the best in the world.
As regards risks, yes, but he will be trained and equipped to deal with whatever is likely to come his way.
After his time Inside, he will be a better, rounded human being and will be ideally suited for a role as a civilian.

Please could you DM me a link to the group? My daughter has just started at RAF Halton

I think it is understandable to worry, particularly if he is the first/only in the family to join. There are, of course, risks and sometimes, you just have to hope that the fact that they are very well trained gets them through.

To give some positives though. My brother joined the army as a tank soilder at 16. He is now nearly 41 and still in the military as a sergeant (different role now - can't say what it is on a public forum).

He has gained qualifications, travelled the world and made many friends. He is married with two children and he and his family have a lovely lifestyle.

For the right person, it can be a brilliant career.

Well, he is signing up for a job whose entire purpose is to kill/main or kill and be maimed. How do you think the mums of the people he will be bombing and firing at feel 😐 Not that there is much you can do about it to be honest, since he is of age.

RAF is probably safer than anywhere else in the forces in terms of physical injury - not sure re. Mental health/homelessness/drug addiction etc. This is probably a bigger risk.

My son was in various bits of the army and involved in a number of active roles. He came out after ten years with PTSD. He now has a senior role in HM Government and seems to be thriving.
He tells me that his active service was, to date, the best part of his life. He saw and was involved in some appalling situations, but feels that it was, on balance, justified and that the Army's presence lessened the destruction of a vulnerable country and its terrorised people.

My son joined the RAF just before the pandemic ruined everything. Pass out parade was magic.
My son is very level headed and matter of fact. He most certainly did not join up to go and fight and boot the hell out of others, but he knows it’s the nature of the job at times. There is a huge amount of humanitarian work carried out by the RAF. It’s not just about trotting around an airfield with a gun.
He works on large aircraft. The RAF personnel are given briefings about what’s going on in the world and where etc in relation to what they’re doing regularly. Although he’s not particularly party to the higher up ranks and their goings on.
He gets a good wage. He’s got some great skills, great qualifications but he doesn’t think he’ll be there for life.
I hear some hilarious tales of some of the goings on. The Regiment have a great reputation and there’s many many amazing guys and girls in there. Honestly, I’ve howled with laughter every time he comes back for the weekend. He’s gagging to go off on a posting around the world. He tells me about the American airforce personnel he’s met, the French, Germans, Dutch (they like Buckfast for some reason and it never ends well……) Canadians, Greeks, and he loves it so far.
You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t feel apprehensive. Anyone would. The thing is, many RAF personnel are not front line.
My son reminds me of this on a regular basis. Yes, there are risks. Same with so many other jobs.
DM me if you wish, anytime.

My dsil is in the raf. Warrant officer. She joined at 16 and has had a brilliant career. Been to afghan but was never in frontline. Air traffic controller