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Forces sweethearts

If you have a family member in the Royal Navy, RAF or army, find support from other Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

my bf wants to join the RAF

16 replies

Ally24 · 27/02/2008 18:18

My bf wants to join the RAF and we have a 16month ds. He thinks its a great idea. Can anyone advise the pros and cons?

OP posts:

littlelapin · 27/02/2008 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blandmum · 27/02/2008 19:13

You will move. A lot. How dependent are you on your family for support re child care etc, because you can't depend on that once he signs up.

You will not be entitled to a married quater unless you are married. If you are not married they will not pay to move you, or your ds, just him (I'm not saying this is right btw, just telling you the rules)

I was very happy with dh in the RAF, but you do have to be resilient and good at packing and making new friends. You also have to consider the impact of moving on the education of the kids once they get to school age

peanutbear · 27/02/2008 19:15

I didnt mind the RAF bit but DH was invalided out early on
does he want to fly eg go in as an officer

I have to agree with what MB says moving around is a pain in the arse and if he goes on to have a career as a pilot after the RAF you still move alot whilst they are getting up the career ladder and they are away a lot of time at very little notice

Blandmum · 27/02/2008 19:19

If he does want to fly he has to have 2 A levels and/or a degree and enter as an officer.

There are other flying jobs that you can have and not be an officer, but for pilot and navigator you need to do the officer course at Cranwell.

In addition you must have perfect vision (for pilot, not sure about nav) on entry.

You must want to fly fast jets, they fill all the other branches from the people who don't finish the fast jet course. Out of the 14 on DH's original course only 2 made it to go fast jets.

AbbeyA · 27/02/2008 19:38

The selection process is very tough. You start with a presentation and then have a first interview. If you get through the first interview you have a 4 day course at Cranwell and are weeded out as it progresses, even if you last to the end you might not get a place. Your life goes on hold for quite a long time.

gemmummy · 27/02/2008 20:05

hi ally. different perspective for you, i'm in RAF, so is DH. we both ground trades and let me tell you it's hard.....however once training complete it can be a fun way of life. i've been in 10 yrs and still like moving/meeting new people. helps if you're not shy!

McDreamy · 28/02/2008 15:58

DH is still in and I was in the RAF. Loved it and I am now loving it as a wife. Moving around is fine, the hardest part is leaving your friends behind every 2 - 3 years. We were both ground trades too (DH is a doctor and I was a PM) and it's a great life but you won't get anything if you are not married.

Original poster

Ally24 · 28/02/2008 16:08

he is not going for a pilot job, he is going for weapon system operator. He's 18. What happens after training? Is it very hard? What happens if you dont get through? Does anyone know if it envolves alot of written exams in subjects such as maths as he struggles with that a bit, and i notice you need a math GCSE or phsical science. apparently they will accept his application of number quallification instead of the GCSE but if the job involves alot of maths i wonder if he's suitable.

OP posts:

Notyummy · 28/02/2008 16:27

Hi Ally. My dh is a wso. You can join as a wso either as an officer or non-commissioned...depends on A level results and personality (i.e if you want to be in charge!)really.

There is a far amount of maths involved in the training tbh. At the very least you have to be very numerate i.e excellent at arithmetic etc. They also need to do various types of radar theory etc, which does involve equations etc. I would have thought that you would struggle without a reasonable grasp of maths. There are some exams and the training is quite tough. If you fail there is the possibility of being offered another branch within the RAF, however if they there is nothing vailable at the time, then they will just ask you to leave...I have seen it done!

PS: I used to be in the RAF too, and spent 2002 - 2004 training officer candidates at Cranwell. Let me know if you have any other queries, and if I can't answer them, then I probably know someone who can!

mumdebump · 28/02/2008 16:31

He will go to OASC Cranwell for interviews and assessments for aptitude. Would not be surprised if he is told to take a year and reapply (poss with additional qualifications or experience or maturity - not saying your BF is immature just repeating what has often happened to young applicants).If successful he will go to RAF College Cranwell for Initial Officer Training. Then he will be posted somewhere to hold whilst waiting for his branch (i.e. WSO) training. It is all hard work. If he doesn't gets through WSO training, he may be able to reselect to another branch. Seriously, if he struggles with maths, he needs to think long & hard about applying for a 'technical' job. Also, unless you are married, you will not exist in the eyes of the RAF, which can be particularly tough as he will be potentially moving a lot during the training period.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

McDreamy · 28/02/2008 16:36

Also his time at Cranwell will be quite intensive. I was single when I did it, don't think I could do it now. I know some of the guys found it hard not being able to see their families some weekends as you had to stay. It's not Mon-Fri 9-5!

Sorry don't want to put you off but it is hard work and we haven't even started on the deployments!!!

If he is serious about this you really need to think about the marriage thing as you will get no assistance without that piece of paper.

AbbeyA · 28/02/2008 19:01

It is interesting that other people have been told to reapply. My experience with officer training is that it is a series of waiting. I know people on the first interview who have been told to try again in 6 months and people at Cranwell told to reapply when they have matured a bit. The one person I know that did get in was on the second attempt, and they got to the end of Cranwell and were on the reserve list and had to wait 6 months to see if they had been selected-it took about 2 and a half years while her life was on hold! (this was not for a pilot job which I assume is the most popular). My DS tried to enter at 16 but accepted an apprenticeship the week before the interview so I don't know how difficult it would have been. He was going to do written tests at the interview, a lot of it would have been Maths.

VanillaPumpkin · 28/02/2008 19:30

My dh does interviews for PTI's at the mo. Hardly any pass first time. They are much better prepared the second time round though. If he really wants it don't be put off by rejection first time. What qualifications does he have? Would he condsider any other trade? They sort of like you to be RAF first and trade second if that makes sense. Cranwell is very tough from what I have heard. Difficult with a family being left behind as the weekends and little bit of social are all part of the training.
I have had the best experiences as a RAF wife. I have met the most amazing people and been to wonderful places and had once in a lifetime experiences (sitting in a Harrier, flying in a helicoptor, firing a machine gun (which my DH hasn't even done), rock climbing, abseiling, watching the Red Arrows train and perform for free not to mention the parties!!!) but it is tough moving around and leaving all those friends and then starting again. And things have changed now we have children and I only want to do one more move......
My confidence has got so much better because I have been put in difficult situations and had to go for it if I want any sort of life. And I do think the Officers wives are better at the 'social' side of things, though then there is the politics that goes with that.
I do complain sometimes but I know I would not get to be a SAHM without this lifestyle and it is exciting!

Original poster

Ally24 · 07/03/2008 22:03

we hope to get married next year anyway so then i should be allowed to join him. He want's to go for the non-comissioned wso, so i don't think he will be going in for officer training.

OP posts:

VanillaPumpkin · 10/03/2008 12:15

I think that is Aircrew so still intensive training at Cranwell I think. What feedback has he had from Careers Office? He will be away quite a bit in that job I think.....And I am afraid to say you will need to be married to claim the allowances...or in Civil partnership.

Notyummy · 10/03/2008 12:25

He will be at Cranwell for quite a while as Wso. The initial course is a few months, followed by flying training.

I will reiterate that it will involve quite a bit of maths. If he is serious, it is probably worth thinking about a night school course or some tutoring, because he will struggle otherwise. At very least he needs to be comfortable with GCSE A - C level maths, and his arithmetic (i.e time/distance/speed problems) needs to be first class. You can practice those sorts of problems, and there are websites etc to look at.

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