Hi all,
I'm new here and created an account just to post this, so please go easy on me if i've not got it all right first time! I've seen and read through a few other discussions and love the response and support people are giving so thought i'd shoot my shot too.
First off a little background about myself; I just last September finished my A-Levels, successfully getting Bs & Cs in Maths, Physics and Biology. However i've always been mad about cars and also the prospect of being in the military (initially just the army).
So therefore after enjoying the summer I began an application to become a vehicle mechanic in the REME. However after an initial face to face chat with the local recruitment officer, he immediately said applying to be a VM would not be anyway near as challenging for me as i'd need it to be, (no disrespect to any mechanics out there!) and suggested I apply for Aircraft Tech instead.
After taking this home and mulling the decision over for a few weeks I come to think he's got a very accurate measure of me and is totally right, I would need the challenge. Not only that but I could easily see my love of cars being transferred to tinkering with and fixing aircraft.
As a few more weeks went by and I was becoming more sure of myself, I spent some time with a family friend who suggested something which I could not believe I hadn't thought of already: if i'm thinking of working on aircraft, why on Earth have I not considered the RAF?
This now leads me nicely onto my predicament; The Army or The RAF? If there is anyone amongst the readers that is currently holding a position in either of these forces I would love to hear from you. I'm trying to weigh up which would be better and the pros and cons of both. I know the lifestyles would be very similar, so I guess what i'm specifically asking is what is the rank progression time like? Also opportunity to gain civilian and academic qualifications? And how gruelling is RAF basic training?
Even if you're not in either role just a simple insight to the lifestyle too would be a welcome contribution.
If you've taken some time out to read this- thank you. If you reply- even better!