Received a letter from APC offering me the "opportunity" to re trade from electronics tech to avionics tech due to the electronics side being "critically overmanned"

Just wandering if anyone else has been offered a re trade or has any thoughts on whether it would be a good idea?

I'm doing my JCLM at the moment so im a bit unsure what effect going back to Arborfield for 9 months (i think) would have on my promotion chances. Any insight would be a appreciated

I probably would take it, with the redundancies you know your safe another nine months. (probably)
If a service is overmanned, you can bet your bottom dollar where the cuts are gonna come in.
MOVE
I would

Promotion or job?

Difficult choice.............

Difficult one and I guess it depends on how long you have done, how close to class 1 you are or how likey it is that you will be made redundant.

I understand that the prospect of going to Arborfield for what is essentially a 9 month trade course (6 month career courses are bad enough) isn't top on anyones want-to-do list, but, if to stay in I would rather that than the uncertainty of civvie street. Plus it wont do you any harm by getting more engineering qualifications.

Just don't get me started on the "prestigious" light blue beret!

I'm quite far away from class one to be fair. There's obviously pros and cons for both and I haven't got a clue what i will decide yet.

The simple answer might be this;
Which one will give you the best chance of a job once you leave the REME?
Which one will get you the highest paid job ,Once you leave the REME?
Which one will I have most job satisfaction with for the rest of my life, Once I leave the REME.

SK

The answer seems obvious, it's just a difficult decision to make when i'm loving life/job at the moment.

I could never stand that light blue thing, an absolute twat to keep clean!! Nor could I understand, why when in a REME Aircraft workshop or a Battalion, we couldn't wear our own dark blue ones.

Pottertech -

Undoubtedly they are offering you this because your trade is overmanned and the Tech Av trade isn't. I assume when you say you're "fairly far away from your Class One" that means you're a Cfn/LCpl that has finished your Class 3/2 Course within the last year or so. If this is the case then there are only a small number of Redundancies in Tranche 2 in your slot (3). Pm me your details if you are unsure (Rank, time served etc).

There is the possibility in future tranches that you will be in a higher risk group for redundnacies (or indeed a lower risk group). It's difficult to say but a good combat indicator would be that Av Tech seems a safer bet if they are asking people to volunteer to move across.

As for the job itself, well its just fixing other stuff than what you do at the moment - the principles are exactly the same. When you say a nine month course at Arborfield, is that what you have been told or is that the normal length of the Av Tech course? Bear in mind you've already done BE anyway, so surely it will be a case of just having to do the Equipment and Aviation specific modules? It is just a course at the end ofthe day and although moer classrom work seems unpalatable, it is also a period of time when you're not going to be in the frame for HERRICK etc.

If you want to know any specifics about the trade, feel free to PM me or indeed ask here, there will be others in your position undoubtedly. Theres also a very good stickie at the top of the REME forum which has loads of info about the trade.

The other points other posters have made need to be considered, but regarding promotion delays etc etc - this is a lot less important now than it would have been under timed promotion. Simply put, a six month/one year delay isn't really significant ove a twenty-two year career (conversely over a four year career it is!) and if you're good enough you'll be promoted. Personally, if you were to come across and I were writing your SJAR I would put that in a positive light as you have volunteered to make a sacrifice in order to continue to serve, and would write the SJAR appropriately to ensure you hadn't been disadvantaged.

Plus, you get the coveted Light Blue Beret that makes you instantly superattractive to the opposite sex.

Looking beyond the military, avionics engineers are currently like hens teeth in civvy street.

A licensed av eng working on offshore oil and gas helicopters in the UK would be on 50-60k. Dual rated with frames and engines would add another 4k.
Overseas it could all be double.

The trick is to ensure you have your civvy licence in place before you leave.
LRTT now do a self study course tailored for serving servicemen (and women).

Good prospects for those leaving soon but as to the future who knows.

Out of interest I am off to start my civvy avionics training on Monday having spent all my career working for a living on frames and engines in both the army and civvy worlds. Only problem is I am too old to really make it pay (55).

I would say make the most of your army time as it is the experience and training that civvy employers really want. Couple that with a licence and you become a valuable commodity.