Bullying in RAF

[Unglamorousgranny]

Has anyone got ds in RAF? Do they enjoy it? Is bullying, physical & mental abuse as widespread as the media make out?
My son is due to start his first 10 weeks training in a couple of weeks. He's excited & my friends say I should be proud of him.
I am proud of him & I'm not voicing my fears to him as I don't want to influence his decision; but I'd really prefer him to stay on civvie Street. I could just cry all most of the time at the thought of anything like this happening.
Admittedly, sitting up in the middle of the night reading about it is maybe not making me think in a rational manner.
Someone tell me to get a grip!

I mean this kindly - but yes, do get a grip. What media have you been reading to say that bullying is so widespread? The RAF is a fantastic career if that’s what they’re after, with an incredibly stringent HR and cultural approach to bullying. It won’t baby your child but it has a caring approach to its people. It will give him opportunities way beyond civilian life, and leadership qualities that will help him thrive.

I have family, friends (men and women) and partners who are RAF and grew up on bases my whole childhood and not once have I heard challenges around bullying. The Army has more publicised bullying challenges, but it is a significantly larger and very different culturally organization.

Basic training is not an easy time but he will get through it with determination. An RAF station is a much more civilised and quieter environment to an Army camp. I’m an Army wife and ex-RAF who also worked with the army. There is bullying in every work environment but there are procedures in place to put a stop to it and help available. That is what Service complaints are for ( they don’t always have the desired outcome before someone else says it!). Please try not to worry and don’t put your worry’s into him as he needs to have his head together over the next 10 weeks.

Sorry auto-correct has made my grammar sound terrible!

I know several RAF servicemen and not a single one has ever mentioned anything to do with bullying. If anything, most of them found their lifelong friends from it.