ARmy Rumour SErvice

**smithyP** · 06-05-2012, 23:43

Originally Posted by theblindking

No you don't. You sign on for 23 or something similar.

To the OP; 2 years maybe enough time to get a tour in if there are any going on. That's not really the point and you mentioned return for investment. Do you think that 2 years service would be an adequate return even if you passed P Coy or might you you be considered a fly by night (no pun intended) piss-taker? I'd be very interested to hear the Dukes opinion on that.

I thought 2 years including a tour might be acceptable, if I was open about my plans with the Unit from the start?

To everyone else, what about staying in the TA during Uni aswell (5 years in total), and what bearing would this have on OASC etc?

**hungryhippo** · 06-05-2012, 23:49

Originally Posted by smithyP

I thought 2 years including a tour might be acceptable, if I was open about my plans with the Unit from the start?

To everyone else, what about staying in the TA during Uni aswell (5 years in total), and what bearing would this have on OASC etc?

What makes you think you'll get a tour? By the time you're old enough, have passed basic training, P-Coy etc, Afghanistan will be winding down or over.

**cloudbuster** · 06-05-2012, 23:50

This is the link to the PPRuNe Mil aviation board;

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew-57/

At the top of the page is a sticky, with a huge amount of current information, some of it from recent OASC Board members, as well as from some who've had recent exposure to the process.

**theblindking** · 06-05-2012, 23:54

Originally Posted by smithyP

I thought 2 years including a tour might be acceptable, if I was open about my plans with the Unit from the start?

To everyone else, what about staying in the TA during Uni aswell (5 years in total), and what bearing would this have on OASC etc?

Why would you think that 4 PARA's attitude to lack of commitment would be any different to 1, 2 or 3's?

**The_most_reverend** · 07-05-2012, 01:20

Originally Posted by dinosaur_poo

I was going to mention that and forgot.

(@OP) - if you do a bit of this and a bit of that for the next 7-8 years, it doesn't show you stick at anything. Yes you've got a broad range of experience, but it's a broad range of a little experience and not a lot of anything. The RAF don't want to take somebody on as a potential pilot who after 12 months of very expensive training decides that once again he's bored and needs a new direction. That's not what they're looking for.

With 2 years of TA, 3 of UAS... none of them will have given you any 'real' experience. They might have been nice fun hobbies with a bit of insight into service life, but nobody's going to look at 2 or 3 years in any service and consider it as giving you any real 'advantage' over somebody who hasn't. If you did 5 years in the TA or RAuxAF during college and university, that would probably stand better than half of each.

What is your experience to be giving such advice? You sound like a bit of a bull shitter.

**The_most_reverend** · 07-05-2012, 01:24

Originally Posted by dinosaur_poo

If you only want to be in the TA for 2 years, don't waste everyone's time and don't bother. Putting all that money into training you and putting you through courses when you have no intention of staying is not what they're looking for. 'Volunteering for ops' there is a bit more to it than that, the chances of being able to deploy having been in the TA for a year (especially as, by that time, Herrick will be drawing to a close anyway) are pretty slim, and that's if you're being optimistic.

Oh and by the time you've finished your training with the RAF and are a qualified pilot, your experience in the TA will have faded into insignificance. Your juniors will respect you because you are an RAF pilot, not because you did 2 years with the TA.

Are you a pilot?

**dinosaur_poo** · 07-05-2012, 02:03

Originally Posted by The_most_reverend

Are you a pilot?

No. But it doesn't take a degree in military history to see that when you're a qualified RAF pilot, what you learned on a couple of weekends with the TA is going to sit fairly far back in your priorities list. No?

Annual commitment to the TA is 27 days. If we allow extra for basic training and P Coy and say 40 days in the first year and 30 in the second, that's 70 days. 10 weeks. RAF pilot training takes about 4 years. 208 weeks. You do the maths.

Originally Posted by The_most_reverend

What is your experience to be giving such advice? You sound like a bit of a bull shitter.

You sound like a bit of a band wagoner.

What is your experience to be questioning it?

**dinosaur_poo** · 07-05-2012, 02:07

Originally Posted by Mr_Fingerz

Which is why Ryanair and Flying Tiger Line exist.

I don't think we're going to see Ryanair doing casevacs in 747s to be honest.

**The_most_reverend** · 07-05-2012, 02:08

Originally Posted by dinosaur_poo

No. But it doesn't take a degree in military history to see that when you're a qualified RAF pilot, what you learned on a couple of weekends with the TA is going to sit fairly far back in your priorities list. No?

Annual commitment to the TA is 27 days. If we allow extra for basic training and P Coy and say 40 days in the first year and 30 in the second, that's 70 days. 10 weeks. RAF pilot training takes about 4 years. 208 weeks. You do the maths.

You sound like a bit of a band wagoner.

What is your experience to be questioning it?

If you're 23 and I'm guessing aren't a pilot then why are you giving advice?
Do you have to pretend a lot?