when you leave the RAF, does it stay with you?

[Talk Wrench]

Aimed at the ex RAF on the goat,

"You can take the man out of the Air Force, but you can't take the Air Force out of the man."


After five years and a few months from leaving, it still seems like that I was in the crewroom only the other day.

The day that I joined is just as vivid as the day I left.

I still iron my trousers and shirt sleeves. I still polish my shoes. I still look at my photo's as though it was yesterday.


I still wonder how my mates who are still in are. Also those people who I knew but didn't really know. I wonder how they are and what they are doing.


But most of all.


I HATE DIRTY SINKS AND WATERMARKED TAPS.





What do you ex Raffers hate, appertaining to your petty pet hates in the mob.

Indeed, what do the serving bods think you will hate the most in a petty sort of way.



TW

 

[Captain Slog]

I left 10 years ago but have stayed in contact with the RAF through my current job. I have never denied that during my time in a Blue Suit I was extremely proud of what I did but I confess that in my last year I did become disillusioned with the life due to pressure of work, lack of manpower and spares and incompetent management (and by some of the posts I have read, nothing has changed).

However, as I still have day-to-day contact with serving members, I believe that despite the fact we are fighting more wars than ever since WWII, I believe today’s men and women in Blue are still just as proud, albeit it sometimes reticent to admit it.

What does shine through is that, despite the bravado and blasé comments, I believe that the airmen and airwomen of today’s RAF still have the pride and self belief to get the job done despite the best efforts of the Officer Core to make their lives difficult.

So yes, I still clean my shoes every day, spin the old “when I was in the Mob stories” and sometimes dream of what might have been had it not been for the age 47 barrier.

Despite being a “Civvy Sh1t” as some of the younger members of the Goat class me, I still care and nothing, not even age, abuse and DTR will ever change that.

 

[gemarriott]

You are right when you say you can't take the RAF out of the man. I still get p1ssed off at all the things you say TW and here's a couple more.

People who work in a sh1t tip, the job is easier if it's clean

My kids who were crumpled clothes and look at me as if I'm odd for telling them about it.

tardy timekeeping

inability to get on with the job in hand as soon as possible.

Thing is though whenever I get back into RAF company it is like I have never been away.

 

[Dave-exfairy]

I echo all the above comments, I will think of me being RAF till the day I die and i'm extremely proud of having served. I meet WW2 and Korea Vets in my current job and I listen to their yarns, it's like belonging to a club, once they find out I served as well, out come the brews.

 

[Talk Wrench]

I think that the ex RAF community is understated.

Only recently, I have re-established contact here on the goat with a "lad" who has just got his first banana up.

We had some great times at Lyneham when we were doing our bit as real lineys should. ( getting pi$$ed, shagg!ng birds etc)

I will never forget the day when he said to me, " It doesn't matter whether we have been on the p1ss or not, you always have an ironed shirt on when we get to work"


Of course alwaysI had an ironed shirt on at work. And pressed (although ragged) trousers as well.




I know that some of my philosphies have been passed on to him. I am proud of that and I am very proud of our young and upcomong JNCO's.


T****oz, Well proud of you me old.


TW

 

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

Untidy hair-cuts, bad time-keeping and indecision. Ah $hit 'em. ::/:

calling everyone you work with 'mate'. DT_Xtremez_25:

ugh! DT_Xtremez_34:

I particularly dislike the 'can't-do' attitude of some of the civvies I work with. I just want to say 'JFDI!' like the good ol days...

ah well, 2 days left....

 

[mad_collie]

Untidy hair-cuts, bad time-keeping and indecision. Ah $hit 'em. ::/:

calling everyone you work with 'mate'. DT_Xtremez_25:

Sounds like my place Bengo.DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[gemarriott]

Untidy hair-cuts, bad time-keeping and indecision. Ah $hit 'em. ::/:

calling everyone you work with 'mate'. DT_Xtremez_25:

ugh! DT_Xtremez_34:

I particularly dislike the 'can't-do' attitude of some of the civvies I work with. I just want to say 'JFDI!' like the good ol days...

ah well, 2 days left....

That is the thing I hate most too.

On the bright side a couple of pongos have took hold of Barnsley DGH cardiology dept and turned it into a military operation. The WO PTI now runs the rehab section in the local leisure centre as it out grew the hospital gym, and the colour Sgt medic has waiting lists down from 6 months for some tests and investigations to 5 days or less.

How? By treating the staff properly, getting them the training they needed, standing up for the staff and mucking in themselves to show it is easier to get the job done than it is to try to avoid it. But mainly by being dedicated and showing a can do attitude to teamwork as well as the job.

Thry also have a boss who tells them what needs to be done but not how it needs to be done

 

[Chaka]

Us Veterans (have badge to prove it) have had standards ingrained into us over the years and these are hard to break when you retire.

Now I am a Civvie I hate the sods more than when I was in! I still work alongside blue suiters and I do my best to improve relations across the RAF/Civvie divide but I do get irritated by jobsworth civvies (be they in SPFS,Barrack Stores or Passes & Permits) who lack standards and do the minimal amount of effort to get by with the maximum amount of moaning.::/:

That's what I miss most-standards and pride in one's self.

PS. Off to have a cup of tea and moan at the aircrew now because I can!DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

Thry also have a boss who tells them what needs to be done but not how it needs to be done

that's my MD's biggest problem!! He's too hands-on and if you don't like his way - it's the highway. He has an issue with 'roadblocks to success' - IMHO HE is the biggest Roadblock there is!

 

[uber pikey]

I am not here to stand on anyones feet, its just that I work with about 30 civvies and I am the only service person in the same building as them.
The ones with service history behind them pretend to still be in the mob and are always trying to be military like. I will also add that they all bitch just like they are still in, its just a new topic!(Union s4it or something else). Every one of them are are tidy folk "once you get past some of their dodgy querks".

 

[Bluntend]

that's my MD's biggest problem!! He's too hands-on and if you don't like his way - it's the highway. He has an issue with 'roadblocks to success' - IMHO HE is the biggest Roadblock there is!

That attitude's not limited to civvie st. Mate. DT_Xtremez_15:

 

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

That attitude's not limited to civvie st. Mate. DT_Xtremez_15:

I'm quite aware of that - but it all adds up to not enjoying this civvy company. Particularly annoying is the fascination with 'the bottom line' and a complete lack of resource stopping anything getting done. I also really miss the sense of camaraderie and I'm fed-up with all the back-stabbing.

hmm, that "not limited to civvy st" comment is coming again isn't it?

 

[Bluntend]

I'm quite aware of that -

Oooh, get you ...

hmm, that "not limited to civvy st" comment is coming again isn't it?

Yes, but I'll save it for now...

 

[Mustang]

when you leave the RAF, does it stay with you?

when you leave the RAF, does it stay with you?

I think it does, even after 14 years. But it affects different people in different ways. Eg, ex officers who can't get used to the fact that they are no longer in and grace themselves by with their former rank. A civvy work mate summed it up when he saw a sign on a office door and asked " hey what does Maj retarded mean?" A quick look at the sign revealed the truth, "actually it means retired, but you may have a point" said IDT_Xtremez_28: .

 

[wolfy]

I believe it stays with you always, I know of ex servicemen who talked of never darkening the gate of RAF camps, throwing thier kit away as fast as they could etc. However it doesn't matter how hard they try, there is always a bit of the RAF there even if it is just cleaning your shoes everyday.

In my opinion those who have got the most out of the RAF like keen sportsman very often have the hardest time adapting to civiy street.

 

[CRYSTALTIPS]

Aimed at the ex RAF on the goat,

"You can take the man out of the Air Force, but you can't take the Air Force out of the man."


After five years and a few months from leaving, it still seems like that I was in the crewroom only the other day.

The day that I joined is just as vivid as the day I left.

I still iron my trousers and shirt sleeves. I still polish my shoes. I still look at my photo's as though it was yesterday.


I still wonder how my mates who are still in are. Also those people who I knew but didn't really know. I wonder how they are and what they are doing.


But most of all.


I HATE DIRTY SINKS AND WATERMARKED TAPS.





What do you ex Raffers hate, appertaining to your petty pet hates in the mob.

Indeed, what do the serving bods think you will hate the most in a petty sort of way.



TW

Im an ex-fish head and i can totally relate to everything you have said in the above, hence the reason why im joining back up again but this time to the RAF! (Dont remember the application process being as thorough and as long as this though when i joined the RN!)
Civvy street just isant the same as being in the armed forces and i miss the banter and everything else that you just dont get outside!

 

[burglar]

I believe it stays with you always, I know of ex servicemen who talked of never darkening the gate of RAF camps, throwing thier kit away as fast as they could etc. However it doesn't matter how hard they try, there is always a bit of the RAF there even if it is just cleaning your shoes everyday.

I can totally go with this statement. i can remember when I left nearly 18 years ago all the the above talk of "you'll never get me within a hundred miles of another camp etc", however looking back that's just bravado on the part of someone leaving something that certainly in my case instilled standards and loyalty into us. From then to now I have to iron my own kit at home as "her indoors" just doesn't do it "right!!" Polished shoes ? not so much--I was a Cold War liney after all!! I work with an ex rigger liney who joined 10 years after I left. The war stories are there and from this site it is clear that nothing changes . Feels like I only left yesterday. Would I do it all again?
Damn right even the 14 days in Bruggen nick!!!DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[firestorm]

Self pride and discipline? Yup, they stayed with me. The things I don't miss? Well I don't call people "Sir" anymore as I don't live in 1950's Britain anymore. I also don't miss some of the pathetic pi$$ poor management that I encountered in a blue suit (or a green string one) and though I still have standards I can't stand bull $hit for bull$hits sake.
I get ribbed for having clean shoes everyday as well, but hey ho.

 

[Past Engineering]

I would also like to add my two pennorth worth, I have been out since 99 and have worked in Aircaft Technical Publications (Hawk, Harrier, Typhoon, Tucano & Dunlop equipment) for nearly 6 years. Bumped into a few people from the RAF days, tell war stories.
I think I came out at the right time, I wanted to stay in untill age 55 but I also had to leave at age 47, is the RAF still in me? yes I would agree (so does the wife), now I am back on an RAF station working with both civvies (not ex service), civvies (ex service) and current service personnel.
I find some of the first group just don't get it the others are ok, some in the second group seem to have a big chip on their shoulder and are using their civilian status to 'get their own back' on the RAF, others in this group are just not interested as it is just a job, most in this group though apply all their RAF experience to benefit the workplace/standards, finally the last group: I sometimes wonder what the Airforce is all about nowadays, as has been said "it wern't like this in my day" DT_Xtremez_15: