Did you get the career you wanted?

[Fablon biff chit]

As a stacker, I have noticed most of the people I work with intended to be something else.

For example I wanted to be an Air Loadie; but ended up on the supply scrapheap! It seems 90% of supplier are retreads from other trades, or got out the wrong side of the bed when the AFCO test day came around ;)

What were you originally signing on for? Did you get it? And if not, do you regret ending up where you have?

[rackrat]

im a stacker because im colour blind and the nice people at the manchester afco said i couldnt do much else:PDT_Xtremez_30:

[Noodle]

I went in, said I wanted to fix planes, liked the sound of riggering, got it, was a rigger.

However I did not get the career I wanted

[tommo9999]

I got the one I deserved.

[roverboy]

It depends on how you look at it. Originally I wanted to be a draughtsman. Then I wanted to join the REME and fix tanks. So based on that, I should say "NO", but when I settled on the RAF I always wanted to be either Avionics or Elect, so I've voted "YES"

[Man in Black]

I wanted to be a P & A Clk (as it was then), passed the test (spelt my name right), got accepted and have loved it ever since!!!!!

I've still got nice clean hands and that's all I care about...

[georgeios]

Im a proud peanut....(TG4 now blah):PDT_Xtremez_30:

[Late & Tired]

I set myself 3 targets when I joined:

1. Cause mayhem by removing trained manpower, spares and resources: - ACHIEVED under LEAN.
2. Cause mayhem by making exhausted, under resourced, overtasked staff undertake their own admin at the speed of a stunned slug: - ACHIEVED under JPA
3. Reach the rank of AVM and retire with a huge wad into a company consultant post dealing in LEAN and JPA...
Nearly there......

[Vim_Fuego]

I got put off going for what I am now by the CIO...Thay told me they were in dire need of what I was and were overflowing with what I am now...the lying b*stards...

Still...it all worked out in the end.:PDT_Xtremez_28:

[Red-Rock]

Only had one choice when I went to the CIO. RAF REGIMENT all the way baby:PDT_Xtremez_28:

Loved the majority of my time in, well not so much the last couple of years when I was on Recruit GDT at Halton. That sucked big time. Feckin recruits::P:

[rugby then work]

Voted yes as I got the trade I wanted after talking to the CIO, I'd originally gone in to join up as a PTI, fortunately a crusty old TG3 Sgt showed me that pay scales and I joined up as a techie.

[monobrow]

I voted yes, as I got the trade I wanted, but in the last 2 years, I've not done much "spannering" that I wanted to.

I use the term "spannering" lightly, but could be replaced with "changing boxes" being one of the lighter trades.

[airframe doctor]

Originally wanted to be a Flt Systems DE but my colour-blindness took care of any aspirations I wanted of an avionics trade(plus I'm $hit with electrics). Then went for Sooty or Rigger DE but got told by the CIO that that entry corridor was now closed, A Mech P had too long a waiting list so ended up becoming one of God's tradesmen.....A Mech A.:PDT_Xtremez_30: The rest as they say is history....some good & some not so good:PDT_Xtremez_28:

[roverboy]

Originally wanted to be a Flt Systems DE but my colour-blindness took care of any aspirations I wanted of an avionics trade(plus I'm $hit with electrics). Then went for Sooty or Rigger DE but got told by the CIO that that entry corridor was now closed, A Mech P had too long a waiting list so ended up becoming one of God's tradesmen.....A Mech A.:PDT_Xtremez_30: The rest as they say is history....some good & some not so good:PDT_Xtremez_28:

So you had to settle for 2nd best then, eh mate??:PDT_Xtremez_28:

[airforceone]

I can honestly say I still have no clue as to why I joined as a Shiney, there was an advert in the paper and I went for it. The thing is, apart from a 3 yr spell at HQ STC, the career has been pretty amazing in terms of the things I've done, people I've met, places I've been, etc. I am leaving soon and I'm sure I'll miss it at some point in the future.

[gemarriott]

you don't find many of god's chosen few complaining about the trade and I am not going to start now. Best job in the mob.

[budgie]

Yes, I did. Despite my liking for hammers and colour blindness I ended up a fairy.

[Northern Monkey]

Yes, i got the trade (fairy) although i'm not sure what made me do it! AFCO must have been on a fairy recruitment drive!

[airframe doctor]

So you had to settle for 2nd best then, eh mate??:PDT_Xtremez_28:


Oh how rude!!!!:PDT_Xtremez_03: :PDT_Xtremez_31: :PDT_Xtremez_31: :PDT_Xtremez_31::PDT_Xtremez_28:

[True Blue Jack]

Sort of. I applied for Pers Admin because that's what my mate was applying for. He didn't get in, I did.

It certainly hasn't been anything like I expected, but despite the contempt with which much of the RAF holds my trade I have been places and done things that I could never have done in any other trade. So yeah, I'm happy with my lot. :PDT_Xtremez_19:

[Shinyscot]

I wanted to be an Occifer, but OASC said no thanks. So I became a shiny. Have said no on the poll

[Plumber]

Being amonst one God's personnal favourites along with GEM, you bet I got the career I wanted. I think there's something in the job title that attracts a certain type of person.

[Gunnerrock]

I wanted RAF Regt, after the testing they offered me Data Analyst FFS. I think the trade was disbanded, to this day I still don't know what that trade did.

Could someone enlighten me to what I could have done?

[budgie]

I wanted RAF Regt, after the testing they offered me Data Analyst FFS. I think the trade was disbanded, to this day I still don't know what that trade did.

Could someone enlighten me to what I could have done?

Analizied Data:PDT_Xtremez_30:
I think they collected all the flying hours and fatigues for the planning of Maintenance. After the trade got binned they remustered to PSF, I think.

[Gunnerrock]

Analizied Data:PDT_Xtremez_30:
I think they collected all the flying hours and fatigues for the planning of Maintenance. After the trade got binned they remustered to PSF, I think.

Well thank fcuk I chose to be a hard ******* and shag loads of birds :-)

[auchtermuchty]

Being amonst one God's personnal favourites along with GEM, you bet I got the career I wanted. I think there's something in the job title that attracts a certain type of person.

Yes - mentally unstable!:PDT_Xtremez_28:

[paramole]

went to the CIO wanting to be a plod but was shown the light and became a rigger. first told i would go nowhere and would only get 9 yrs but now been in for 15+ and a jnco. ( cant remember why the police was in my mind when i went to join!!!!!):PDT_Xtremez_15:

[the_crab]

Voted yes even though I originally went to the CIO to be a Chippy (had just finished my apprenticeship). The Recruiter WAS a chippy and talked me out of it (and showed me the pay scales).

Ended up as one of gods chosen few (rigger) and had a whale of a time, especially on good ol Tremblers.

[Sad git]

16 year old SG gets off his moped and strolls into Leeds CIO.

CIO …….. Can I help you son?
SG …….. Yer, I want to be a mechanic.
CIO …….. What kind?
SG ……… Is there a choice?
CIO …….. Yes, here, read this list.
After about two minutes of reading.
SG ……… Weapons Mech.

10 years later CPL SD was offered his 22 but left for pastures new having enjoyed every minute.

I made better decisions at 16 than I did at 26. (20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing).

[roverboy]

Being amonst one God's personnal favourites along with GEM, you bet I got the career I wanted. I think there's something in the job title that attracts a certain type of person.

not to mention a fitting avatar!!

[roverboy]

Yes, I did. Despite my liking for hammers and colour blindness I ended up a fairy.

But you said you ORIGINALLY wanted to be a FLt Sys DE, but had to settle for A mech A in the end? Doesn't make sense

[Billy Whizz]

Tried joining up as an Armourer but am colour blind so ended up in the trade of the Gods - Rigger! :PDT_Xtremez_30:

[Statty Queen]

I wanted to be AATC, or ASOP, but was told I would have been bored!!!! I think they meant ASOP not Air Tragic. I was offered Data Analyst due to my aptitude test score. I'd never heard of it, but I'm glad I went for it. I hate being Pers Admin now, but that was the only trade offered to us when Data An was disbanded, tho I did try for FFTR back in 98. I was too short ::(:

Yes Gunnerrock, we do deal with Flying Hours and Fuel stats, but my particular job has a lot of one off stats to deal with, particularly PQs.

[the lovetoad]

Wanted to be an International man of mystery but the CIO said they didn't have that trade.

Went for Assistant Air Traffic on the grounds of "play your cards right and you conuld be a SGT controller in 6 or 7 years".....

17 years down the line and still waiting!!!::P:

[gemarriott]

Tried joining up as an Armourer but am colour blind so ended up in the trade of the Gods - Rigger! :PDT_Xtremez_30:

I didn't know that tg1 accepted those who were not physically perfect.:PDT_Xtremez_42:

[airframe doctor]

I didn't know that tg1 accepted those who were not physically perfect.:PDT_Xtremez_42:


Off Topic Ahh but we are only classed as imperfect by those who say we are. In a bizarre twist of life we could actually be perfect its just that somebody somewhere decided that our perception of colour was wrong and spread the evil word around and everyone else jumped on the band wagon!!!Off Topic

[Billy Whizz]

I didn't know that tg1 accepted those who were not physically perfect.:PDT_Xtremez_42:


They did when I joined up!!! Long time ago mind and they've been trying to get rid of me ever since - a blot on the copybook me thinks!!! :PDT_Xtremez_30:

[gemarriott]

Off Topic Ahh but we are only classed as imperfect by those who say we are. In a bizarre twist of life we could actually be perfect its just that somebody somewhere decided that our perception of colour was wrong and spread the evil word around and everyone else jumped on the band wagon!!!Off Topic


Bit like red being the "new" green eh? :PDT_Xtremez_14:

[The Bowmeister]

Walked in to the CIO and said i wanted to work on Engines!, got persuaded to become one of "Gods Chosen Few" / "Trenchards Brats" and got the best of both worlds. Nice to see the RAF is finally catching on and trying to make all Proper Techies DUAL TRADE:PDT_Xtremez_15:

[airframe doctor]

Bit like red being the "new" green eh? :PDT_Xtremez_14:

Off Topic Something like that yeah, but seriously when I joined for Riggers & Sooties colour blindness wasn't a problem, don't know what the limits for Plumbers were though! Nowadays if there is any work involving colour differentiation I have to raise an indie and get it checked by a "normal" person. Off Topic

[Billy Whizz]

Off Topic Something like that yeah, but seriously when I joined for Riggers & Sooties colour blindness wasn't a problem, don't know what the limits for Plumbers were though! Nowadays if there is any work involving colour differentiation I have to raise an indie and get it checked by a "normal" person. Off Topic

Off Topic Had that b0ll0cks speel from the Medics too - handy when you're the only person able to do Indies! :PDT_Xtremez_25: Off Topic

[Jim_P_Pulfrew]

I walked into the CIO and wanted to be one of the Flight Line Mechanic Fellows who marshal C130s in Cyprus in shorts and desert wellys.

I ended up as one of those Flight Line Mechanic Fellows who marshalled Hawks at Valley mid winter dressed in a zoot suit and woolly hat.

28 years on I am now on C130s in shorts and desert wellys and body armour.

He who waits and all that!!

[airframe doctor]

But you said you ORIGINALLY wanted to be a FLt Sys DE, but had to settle for A mech A in the end? Doesn't make sense

Off Topic Did you have a "confused" caption earlier RB???:PDT_Xtremez_08: Off Topic

[Gunnerrock]

Originally wanted to be a Flt Systems DE but my colour-blindness took care of any aspirations I wanted of an avionics trade(plus I'm $hit with electrics). Then went for Sooty or Rigger DE but got told by the CIO that that entry corridor was now closed, A Mech P had too long a waiting list so ended up becoming one of God's tradesmen.....A Mech A.:PDT_Xtremez_30: The rest as they say is history....some good & some not so good:PDT_Xtremez_28:

The only reason God is a Techie is because he failed the Trainee Gunner course, I've seen his course report - Its bad.

[airframe doctor]

The only reason God is a Techie is because he failed the Trainee Gunner course, I've seen his course report - Its bad.

Off Topic Oh Gunnerrock you are a little off the mark there my man, go & bathe in & then wash your mouth out with Cillit Bang:PDT_Xtremez_17: .......thats blasphemous!!!
:PDT_Xtremez_31: :PDT_Xtremez_31: :PDT_Xtremez_31:Off Topic

[Noodle]

Off Topic Had that b0ll0cks speel from the Medics too - handy when you're the only person able to do Indies! :PDT_Xtremez_25: Off Topic

Shouldn't be such a wierdo then should you?

[Billy Whizz]

Shouldn't be such a wierdo then should you?


Off Topic Thanks for that vote of confidence Noodle Off Topic

[roverboy]

Off Topic Did you have a "confused" caption earlier RB???:PDT_Xtremez_08: Off Topic

No, why????

[airframe doctor]

No, why????

Off Topic Thought you had got confused between mine & Budgie's post, probably a mistake on my part.:PDT_Xtremez_35: Off Topic

[The Sleepy Priest]

Sort of, as wanted to be admin sec but when the CIO said I was too much of a thick fcuk went shiny instead!

[roverboy]

Off Topic Thought you had got confused between mine & Budgie's post, probably a mistake on my part.:PDT_Xtremez_35: Off Topic

No mate, I don't think so. Budgie said that he wanted to be Flt Sys but had to settle for A mech A, however he later said that despite having a leaning towards hammering, he ended up a fairy. Mind you, I have been known to have "senior moments". I do like in the old folks home, after all !!

[MrMasher]

I went to the CIO and asked for a job where I can sit in the tbar all day painting my nails. He replied, sorry son, we have too many fairies in at the moment!

Ha ha ha. Not really. Like an earlier post I thought the trade "rigger" sounded cool so I went for that and got it.
Just over 6 left to my 22 and being a heavy I am wondering if I should remuster just to get a decent posting before I leave!
Looked at the PMA's latest overseas trawl, the one where you just click on your trade group and it gives you a list of what is available. Come on PMA types. You might as well take TG1 off there completely!!!!!

[budgie]

Off Topic I am a Colour Blind Fairy, and I too must have normal people check my work. It's ace as it means less soldering/welding for me! I didn't want to be a rigger, I just like hammers.Off Topic

[Billy Whizz]

Off Topic I am a Colour Blind Fairy, and I too must have normal people check my work. It's ace as it means less soldering/welding for me! I didn't want to be a rigger, I just like hammers.Off Topic

How did you get past the medical Budgie?

[sparks will fly]

I tried to join up as a Royal Marine but failed the medical, offical line was if, I got SHOT in my right eye my left eye was not good enough to fire the weapon. That was the only thing that stopped me from getting in. went next door and joined the RAF as a Ground Leckie, lucky escape i think.

[budgie]

How did you get past the medical Budgie?

Off Topic At the time I joined they must have been desperate for people. It didn't really effect me until '96 when they stopped letting the colour impaired be techies. It hasn't stopped me or nowt, just a bit of a nause when I sign on.

[Warwick Hunt]

I wanted to be a Scopie (why?!?! the naivety of youth!!), but when I went to the CIO in mid 92, they weren't taking them on. "Try AATC - it's almost the same thing" the recruiting sgt said. So off I trotted to Shawbury. Lo and behold, I failed the final exam, so I went begging to PHF at Innsworth to give me another job (as I said, I was naive) so the gave me Pers Admin. So I'm TWO trades away from the one I wanted! :PDT_Xtremez_42:

But I can't complain in the long run. I've got a chest full of gongs, I've been all over the shop, I've met some really cool people, some real wasters as well, but on the whole it's been good. The only downside is, it put me in a position where I came into contact with my (then) wife-to-be. So it hasn't been all good. :PDT_Xtremez_15:

[Tigger]

I failed (fail come back in a year) OASC before I joined. Always wanted to be aircrew, but never got round to it again. Can't complain about my choices, I knew I wanted rigger if I didn't get in as aircrew.

Don't think I can honestly say there were any other jobs I preferred.

[Ex-Stacker]

Did well enough at the CIO to be offered Sooty, but as my step-ather was desperate for me to do that and I hated the cnut, decided that I would do something/anything else. Let the pretty young SAC(W) persuade me that being a Supplier was exciting (well I was only 16) and told the SNCO that's what I wanted.
Met the cow at Honington as I got posted there from training & she got posted there from Ipswich, but at least she had the decency to buy me a pint in the Barnham Naafi to make amends.
All in all, I loved it, despite what others think of the trade, it gave me the experience to be able to walk into most logistics jobs for a fairly decent wage, and I earn enough to pay for a mortgage in Toontown!!!!:PDT_Xtremez_17:

[The Helpful Stacker]

I wanted to be a Rifleman in the only decent regiment in the British Army, the Royal Green Jackets, and I was for a bit (2 years) until an accident on exercise ended my soldiering career. I was offered a re-badge within the Army but couldn't face being in the Really Large Corps or drop-shorts. so accepted a medical discharge.

Anyway, shortly after hitting civvy street I realised it was crap and as an uncle of mine had been in the RAF and seemed to do well out of it I popped down to Chatham CIO to have a look. Straight away I had my eye on joining the RAF Regiment as I thought it might be like being in the infantry and even though I had been medically discharged from the Army as unfit for infantry duties I was accepted for the RAF Regiment. Unfortunately (though as I'd latter discover fortunately) a couple of days before I was due to sign the dotted line the trade was shut due to manning cutbacks and I had to choose another trade. Now luckily I had already thought about a few other trades and being the cabbage that I am I wanted to spend as little time wearing blues and hanging around MOBs as possible, so the Supply trade was chosen and Tactical Supply Wing was my goal.

After spending quite a few years on 'The Wing' I realised a few things.

1) Living out of bergan is not big or clever.
2) I was bloody glad I didn't join the RAF Regiment.
3) I was racking up a fair few civvy qualifications that could earn me a damn sight more outside of the RAF.
4) A wife and daughter are for life, not just for R&R, sitting at the other end of a phone and short breaks between detachments.

Ah well, not long left in uniform....:PDT_Xtremez_14: