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RAFP - Handler VS Officer

As the title says, i’m between paths. I‘m a person that always wants to do the best and be the best. Regarding civi jobs, i wanted the highest role and especially the biggest wage packet. The forces has diverted that a bit, and now i’m looking at job satisfaction more; possibly because of the benefits the force provides. Though I still want to earn a pretty penny in the civi world when my time in the services is up.

Anyway, everyone’s always directed me to the Officer route, saying it’s got a better wangle, better benefits, better career prospects afterwards, and if i’m smart enough and got the drive, then i should go for it. I feel the same way.

On the other hand, i have this deep-seated desire to work with the dogs. I always thought a job in bomb detection or something of the like would be very interesting.

I’m between head and heart. The dogs would be a dream come true, but i think the officer route would be more beneficial for career prospects after the RAF, considering the budget cuts for the dogs in the civi police, and transferable managerial skills. I just don’t see what a handler job could get me in the civi world besides with the police dogs.

Opinions?
Reply 1
I don't know anyone who said they were joining the military because of the job prospects it would give them in the future. They were joining because they wanted to be in the military, with all that the lifestyle offers. You need to decide what you'll be satisfied with for the long haul, though bear in mind if you go RAF Police there's no guarantee of selection for dog handler.

You'll still get transferable skills going the non-commissioned route. Moving up the ranks put you into supervisory roles. You can get involved in organising events on base, or with clubs and societies, with positions like treasurer or secretary, that show responsibility and planning. Plus you'll have an opportunity for personal education in the RAF, so you can gain other qualifications.

Think shorter-term: what would make you happy to be going into work for, say, the next 12 years?
Original post by Surnia
I don't know anyone who said they were joining the military because of the job prospects it would give them in the future. They were joining because they wanted to be in the military, with all that the lifestyle offers. You need to decide what you'll be satisfied with for the long haul, though bear in mind if you go RAF Police there's no guarantee of selection for dog handler.

You'll still get transferable skills going the non-commissioned route. Moving up the ranks put you into supervisory roles. You can get involved in organising events on base, or with clubs and societies, with positions like treasurer or secretary, that show responsibility and planning. Plus you'll have an opportunity for personal education in the RAF, so you can gain other qualifications.

Think shorter-term: what would make you happy to be going into work for, say, the next 12 years?


I don’t mean for it to come off like that, I want to serve for as long as they’ll let me, but i’m also concerned for what kind of life I could live afterwards. I mean you hear the horror stories of people ending up homeless or unemployed, but i guess that’s just the same as if you never joined anyway. I think i’m a bit of an over-planner in that respect.
Original post by frank.ie
As the title says, i’m between paths. I‘m a person that always wants to do the best and be the best. Regarding civi jobs, i wanted the highest role and especially the biggest wage packet. The forces has diverted that a bit, and now i’m looking at job satisfaction more; possibly because of the benefits the force provides. Though I still want to earn a pretty penny in the civi world when my time in the services is up.

Anyway, everyone’s always directed me to the Officer route, saying it’s got a better wangle, better benefits, better career prospects afterwards, and if i’m smart enough and got the drive, then i should go for it. I feel the same way.

On the other hand, i have this deep-seated desire to work with the dogs. I always thought a job in bomb detection or something of the like would be very interesting.

I’m between head and heart. The dogs would be a dream come true, but i think the officer route would be more beneficial for career prospects after the RAF, considering the budget cuts for the dogs in the civi police, and transferable managerial skills. I just don’t see what a handler job could get me in the civi world besides with the police dogs.

Opinions?

Hi

The decision of which role you apply for is entirely up to you, no one can make that decision for you. We advise everyone to apply for a role they really want to do as you could be doing it for a long time, so it needs to be right for you and you need to enjoy it.

Whether an Officer or Airmen role offers you better post-service career prospects will depend entirely on the career you want to have after service. If you want to have a more 'hands on' career in the RAF then you should really look at an Airmen role, although some of the Officer roles are hands on. (Pilot, Air Ops Control, Regt etc). But conversely, some of the Officer roles are very specialised with little or no civ equivalent. There's no Air Operations Control/Air Space Battle Management in the civilian world, for example...

You'll get the same benefits whether you apply as an Officer or Airmen, it's what you want to do with your time in service that will be the limiting factor. Also, you could apply as an Airmen, do a few years in service then apply for your commission at a later date.

Kind regards
Adam
RAF Recruitment
Original post by RAF_Adam
Hi

The decision of which role you apply for is entirely up to you, no one can make that decision for you. We advise everyone to apply for a role they really want to do as you could be doing it for a long time, so it needs to be right for you and you need to enjoy it.

Whether an Officer or Airmen role offers you better post-service career prospects will depend entirely on the career you want to have after service. If you want to have a more 'hands on' career in the RAF then you should really look at an Airmen role, although some of the Officer roles are hands on. (Pilot, Air Ops Control, Regt etc). But conversely, some of the Officer roles are very specialised with little or no civ equivalent. There's no Air Operations Control/Air Space Battle Management in the civilian world, for example...

You'll get the same benefits whether you apply as an Officer or Airmen, it's what you want to do with your time in service that will be the limiting factor. Also, you could apply as an Airmen, do a few years in service then apply for your commission at a later date.

Kind regards
Adam
RAF Recruitment


Hi, thank you for your informative response. How likely is it that if i did apply as an airman, then i would be able to apply for commission later on? From the people i’ve spoken to it seems difficult and unlikely, so i’d hate to pin any hopes on it if it isn’t feasible.
Reply 5
Original post by frank.ie
Hi, thank you for your informative response. How likely is it that if i did apply as an airman, then i would be able to apply for commission later on? From the people i’ve spoken to it seems difficult and unlikely, so i’d hate to pin any hopes on it if it isn’t feasible.

Nothing stopping you applying. Zero guarantees you'll get it.
Original post by frank.ie
Hi, thank you for your informative response. How likely is it that if i did apply as an airman, then i would be able to apply for commission later on? From the people i’ve spoken to it seems difficult and unlikely, so i’d hate to pin any hopes on it if it isn’t feasible.

Hi

The decision is yours. It's not difficult (if anything, with prior RAF knowledge as an Airmen/women then you'll have a better understanding of what's required) and certainly not unlikely, unless the Officer role you want to apply for is currently closed for applications at that particular time, but they will re-open eventually.

As long as you meet the entry and eligibility requirements for the role at the time then you can submit an application.

As has also already been advised elsewhere, you will submit an application in the same way an external applicant does, it's so you go into OASC in the same way. You'll have the same chance as everyone else who applies at that point. It's how you do at OASC that will determine whether you get to be an Officer in the RAF.

Kind regards
Adam
RAF Recruitment

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