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Original poster

RAF and single parent

26 replies

girlywirly · 04/02/2007 16:13

I am really considering joining the RAF. My dad had been in there until he retired, and is very well looked after.
My quey is do you think it is actually possible to join when you have a 1 yo dd?
I am thinkin of joining as a Administration Officer. And has anyone done this before on there own?

Ta

OP posts:
Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 16:27

Haha have just read back on what i have written. (i don't usually have bad spelling - promise)

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saltire · 04/02/2007 16:34

I think Admin Officer jobs are civilian.

Unless you mean you want to go to Cranwell and train as an Officer in the Admin Wing, which covers personnel, etc
I know of a few single parents in the RAF, mostly in junior ranks, but be aware that being a single parent won't prevent you from getting sent on out of area detachments for up to four months at a time

McDreamy · 04/02/2007 16:37

I went to Cranwell with a girl who had a 3 year old at the time. Selection is tough esp for the admin trade as many people want to join but if you have the crudentials and the ability they shouldn't discriminate you because you have a child. But as saltire says you WILL get sent away and childcare is your responsibility they won't help you with that. There is no pare time or flexi time RAF it is all or nothing but if that is what you want then go for it. If you need any help or advice with the preparation I would be happy to help

Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 16:37

So would that mean the junior ranks stay in a particular area. and are you still treated as being in the RAF or would it be the same as working for instance in a Council?
It probably isnt so wise then is it....

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Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 16:40

Hello McDreamy it is definately something i am interested in, but i do not want to make my dd's life hard if anything i want to be able to provide her with a decent life. I am just wondering if i should take the plunge now (as she is still fairly adaptable) or when she is older, but not sure if she would appreciate being dragged away to somewhere foreign.

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McDreamy · 04/02/2007 16:44

Well that's the point girly she won't be going with you! There are very few overseas posts left, Cyprus Germany for the RAF and not much else. The trips abroad I am thinking of are places like Iraq, Afghanistan The Falklands Ascension where you will go for 4 months without her. Have you thought about childcare provision for while you are away once every 18 months? They will ask you all this at interview.

saltire · 04/02/2007 16:47

Junior ranks live in streets together and Officers live in Streets together, in much bigger houses, automatically get garages and automatically get three bedroom houses, so if you went into RAF as an Officer you would get a 3 bed house.
You would have the security, wether juunior or Officer rank of job security, paid on time every month. You wouldn't, as mcdreamy says get any help with childcare costs from the RAF, especially if you got posted to iraq etc.

Blandmum · 04/02/2007 16:59

You have to remember that even as admin officer you stand a chance as being sent on a detatchment abroad, and may well not be able to take your dd.

i know a Flt Lt single parent. It takes a lot of family back up and support for when you are sent on exercise/ detatchmants

Junior ranks also get sent away. Their postings tend to be slighly longer than those of officers (who are moved every 2-3 years), but you cannot rely on this. You may be away for as long as 9 months of the year. You might not, but you have to factor this possibility into your plans

Blandmum · 04/02/2007 17:01

For example Dh would be sent to the middle eat for 6 weeks at a time (living in tents) and then back home for 4 weeks. then back out. This lasted for almost 2 years. Women were sent out on the same rotation as the men

Shosha · 04/02/2007 17:05

Message withdrawn

McDreamy · 04/02/2007 17:05

Don't let us put you off, the detatchments are the only downsides apart from that you will be looked after. You will get a Married Quarter, regular income, a social life, you will have to move every 2-3 years ish although for some trades they are trying to reduce this, sercurity, a pension, the facilites on the camps are generally very good. It's ther detatchments I predict you will find hard with a little one and only one of you, difficult but not impossible.

Blandmum · 04/02/2007 17:08

Agree, it isn't impossible and there are pluses. I know of at least 1 single mum in he RAF an she has made a real go of it. But she also had a lot of family support and her child now boards in school.

You would have to accept potentialy long times away from your child. the RAF would make no allowance for your situation.

Shosha · 04/02/2007 17:09

Message withdrawn

Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 17:39

No that is what i meant (maybe cyprus or germany) So if i got posted out there does that mean i could still get sent to Iraq or afghanistan although i am already in a different country?

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McDreamy · 04/02/2007 17:40

Yep - I am currently sat here in Cyprus as DH is in Afghanistan.

Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 17:42

Sorry you guys didnt put me off, i had to feed dd dinner :-) I appreciate you pointing it out. I did ask for an honest answer and thankfully i am getting one. I need to think this one a bit more through.

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Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 17:44

Oh mcdreamy thanks for the explanation. I dont think i could then do that as i would have to find childcare in a different country (seems a tad impossible!)

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McDreamy · 04/02/2007 17:46

No problem girly if you decide to go ahead I would be more than happy to offer any help I can.

Blandmum · 04/02/2007 17:50

Girly, they can send you from anywhere, to anywhere! With very little notice. I have friends who have had their dh come home, pack and leave. Thankfully this never happened to us.

We have 'lost' two christmases, with dh being Iraq. Numerous birthdays, we were pulled back from one holiday, had another holiday cancelled.

People do make it work (not just simgle parents, but also families where both parents are serving), but often this is because they have grand parents who 'step in'. When the kids are older they often go to boarding school.

I wouldn't have been organised enough to make this work. But I have met people who have!

Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 17:52

I actually dont think i could cope being 4 monthd (at least) away from my dd. So to go back a few steps if i said a civilian job does that mean i stay in the uk or not? Sorry am starting to get confused!

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McDreamy · 04/02/2007 17:54

If you wanted a civilian job on an RAF camp you would have to apply locally. You wouldn't get sent away or posted. You wouldn't actually be in the RAF but classed as a civil servant. You wouldn't be entitiled to all the benefits either eg. housing but you would still have a secure job, pension etc. Are there any camps near you? You could write a letter t the Station Commander.

McDreamy · 04/02/2007 17:55

Oh and you could use the camp facilities. Gym, NAAFI etc

Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 17:56

i am in east sussex. I shall have another peek at the website

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Original poster
girlywirly · 04/02/2007 17:56

i LOVE the Naafi

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Blandmum · 04/02/2007 17:59

I don't think that they can post the civvies!
But at the same time I don't think the pay is as good, because they are not compensating you for the incovenience factor of the postings etc

Forces life can be very good. I have been married 'in' for almost 20 years. We have had some good times. But it does come with its own unique stresses and strains.