To leave the forces or not

[DaGuv]

I have been in the Forces for 8 years as an electronics techy. I am considering leaveing next year. I feel I have done all I can now in the forces and I am ready for a new challenge. I have been looking around at offshore work or working in the wind turbine industry. I no a few people who have left recently and done quite well.

My worry is that I am leaving a secure job and risking it all. I also have a mortgage which I dont want to risk.

Any advice would be most welcome and thanks in advance.

[Papa Hotel]

The job market is down the toilet and you want to leave a secure job with decent pay and more perks than any civvie will over get?
Stay in, I had the bad judgement to leave when this recession was really getting going, biggest mistake I've ever made.

[N Dentressangle]

DaGuv said:

My worry is that I am leaving a secure job and risking it all. I also have a mortgage which I dont want to risk.

Those would be my worries too. Sit tight until you have something else signed for and definite, would be my advice in the current climate.

Risks are good in good times.

[Changedmyname]

Don't. stay putt, my brother regrets it, now in his 50s he feels useless everything applys for. ......Well he dose'nt get a look in.

[Crafty_]

Not familiar with the forces, but how long does it take to leave ? Could you secure employment before leaving ?
Even if its a long period but you have the skills a company wants maybe they'd be prepared to wait ?

[Papa Hotel]

Crafty_ said:

Not familiar with the forces, but how long does it take to leave ? Could you secure employment before leaving ?
Even if its a long period but you have the skills a company wants maybe they'd be prepared to wait ?

Twelve months, it makes it very difficult. You really need to commit to quitting before looking for a job, no employer in their right mind would wait 12 months on someone finishing their notice.

Currently, with all the redundancies, some trades will let people go on as little as 3 months notice but there is no guarantee they'll release on less than 12.

[Defcon5]

Could you move to a different department?

Would you get any kind of bonus for signing back up?

[DaGuv]

Thanks for the advice. The current waiting time to get out is 6 months for my trade (TG4).

A few of my friends have left in the last few months and have found very well paid jobs in the off shore industry. One is working as a wind turbine technician and the other is working on oil surevy ships around the world.

[rog007]

Whilst the risks should be considered, so should your motivation. If you're no longer motivated in your current role, then it must be a challenge performing in what is the ultimate team game, serving in the military. Presumably you're still liable for overseas deployments too, unless sick or injured. I would have thought that with the draw down of the military, you could either request to leave very quickly, or volunteer for the next redundancy tranche whilst looking to secure your next role outside of the military. Good luck!

[Extra 300 Driver]

Are you RAF?
I left the RAF a few years back (too many now) and I PVR’d. I was told 18 months notice! Went and got a job, got a signed contract and went to see OC PSF and told him I was leaving in a month, and if they couldn’t let me go then I was too valuable to the RAF and I should be paid more! Anyway he was insistent that I had to do my 18 months. Called my MP, explained that I was leaving the RAF and I had a job offer and if I don’t take it then in 18 months I could be another statistic claiming jobseekers allowance.

Within two weeks I was gone. My new job was rubbish, I mean really rubbish.


Bugger.

[Bitzer]

Buggles said:

DaGuv said:

Thanks for the advice. The current waiting time to get out is 6 months for my trade (TG4).

A few of my friends have left in the last few months and have found very well paid jobs in the off shore industry. One is working as a wind turbine technician and the other is working on oil surevy ships around the world.

We are the same trade fella.

fk, this TG4 lark is really fking wk now isn't it? Are you ex 3 or 11?

If I was you, I'd stay in. I'm thinking the same at the minute, but I just don't want to risk it whilst we have a good job. If you don't mind me asking, if you've been in 8 years are you still an SAC(T)?

I did 9 years as an EL TECH ENG/L TECH AD TG3 and left in 1999.

Looking back, it was a gamble, the job market in Telecoms died around a year later. I've been made redundant once since then and now contract into various different telcos.

If you're confident with yourself, then do it.

I would be coming up to my 22 year point in 6 months, and a pension at 40 would be nice If I'd stayed in, then I wouldn't have bought a house, but if I had stayed in then I'd spent a few more years in Cyprus

Good luck in what you decide - regret what you do, not what you don't....etc!

[VB]

It's been 5 years since I left (completed 5 years service before getting itchy feet) I don't miss the bullst. I do miss the boys, going out, Sqn Beer Calls, the uniform (strangely) and early stacks on a Friday.

If you're bored with your trade, then take up a sport & get paid to do it

I would suggest to anyone with near 50% of their career done to stay in. FFS man you will be retiring in 14 years. I bet you could near double that and still have 5 years left to do if you come out.

I've had this discussion with my mate (47 Sqn GE) who is on the cusp of retirement and is looking for Civie work. He has a couple of houses & is looking for something to keep him ticking over till he can't be bothered anymore. I suggested this to him & I'll do the same for you. Stay in & buy as many houses as you can afford- live in Quaters while serving. Once you retire, rent your (then paid for) house(s) out for extra income, buy an RV and travel around the World. fk this working till you're 65 bks!

Edited by VB on Thursday 24th November 12:52

Edited by VB on Thursday 24th November 12:53

[E-B]

Nice idea on thh houses. A mate of mine has done a similar thing.

I'm on my way outside too (11 yr RN Fleet Air Arm) with the skills of both a Sooty and a Rigger.

I waited for the redundancies only to be told that my rank (POAET) wasn't eligable.

Have been seriously Fd over for the last 5/6years. Got posted to a non preference station in '06 and have had 4 non pref' postings within the station since. Not a sniff of a deployment until earlier this year when i got posted to a unit that supplies aviation manpower to RFA ships, just in case a sqn or a visiting a/c lands on. 5 month long tours sitting on the back of ship in the Persian Gulf doing sod all! Hardly worthwhile eh? How's that going to support the guys that need our support in Afgan?

So i PVR'd. I'm fortunate enough to own one house outright and have a tenant in the other. But my Mrs is about to drop and i'm outside May '12. So i have commitments now. it worries me to a certain degree, bu the Mrs owns a small business that is slowly growing and could support us but i need to do my bit too.

I'll miss the RN, the sense of pride I get every morning when i put my uniform on, but i need to do whats right for myself and my family. So i'm going to work for myself, spend time with littl'un when it arrives and work like buggery to match my current salary.

Best of luck mate, & don't forget there's always the reserves to help keep your hand in.

[sparks_E39]

Hopefully I will be training this time next year (passed my RN RT in March) I wonder how hard it will be finding a job after I leave? I intend to do 22 years, I'll be 25 if I go in next year.

[ben_h100]

Hey OP, I'm also TG4. Where are you? I've also got itchy feet, even after getting my tapes recently, but I'd advise staying in. There is always 'the person' who everyone knows that left the RAF 'to earn a fortune', but a lot of this is the rumour mill in overdrive.

Are you in the techy side or IT side of the trade? Our trade is so varied that there must be something out there that will give you something to sink your teeth into. Alternatively there are loads of out of trade opportunities going.

If you can get DV'd before you leave then it can greatly increase your earning potential. As a MOD contractor you can easily earn £275-£400 per day(!) working on DII kit down south. Pm me for info if you want.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Bitzer said:

I did 9 years as an EL TECH ENG/L TECH AD TG3 and left in 1999.

Looking back, it was a gamble, the job market in Telecoms died around a year later. I've been made redundant once since then and now contract into various different telcos.

If you're confident with yourself, then do it.

I would be coming up to my 22 year point in 6 months, and a pension at 40 would be nice If I'd stayed in, then I wouldn't have bought a house, but if I had stayed in then I'd spent a few more years in Cyprus

Good luck in what you decide - regret what you do, not what you don't....etc!

I jacked in TG3 (AF) in 98. I would have been pension last month.
I don't regret it at all.

Edited by Mr. Potato Head on Thursday 24th November 23:57

[anonymous-user]

Anything available in DSTL for your line of work? I think they are the only growing part of the MOD. Could make transition to the Private sector easier, work more on the R&D techy side and still be in the "service" so to speak.

[Gazzas86]

Had a briefing this morning, if you're looking at possibly Tranche 2, Obviously its all 'rumours' until its announced next year, from Tranche 1 they didn't save any money due to large payouts i.e. fked up, therefore in Tranche 2 you'll only be getting 3 months pay. Alot of other things were said also but its more focused on the Maritime background.

[GSP]

With your background and experience you stand a very good chance at securing a career as a Wind Turbine Technician.

Its a very secure job for the next 25 years at least with plenty of scope for development.

Having a head for heights is a must.

[robmlufc]

Check out the Siemens UK career site, they are ramping up wind turbine work so any ex RAF Riggers and Leckies should be good for that.