Free Uni when we leave!

[DrunkenMonki]

Just read this on the beeb, free Uni after we leave. Tuition fees paid for basically.

So it'll just cost you the same as when I went through Uni in 1995, I left with 6K debts. Better than a kick in the slats, but does it offer enough?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7503807.stm

Wadda ya fink?

 

[POB]

Fantastic idea. If they back date it I will come back to UK just for that!

However the money has to come from somewhere, and knowing the t0ssers in government at the moment, I bet it doesn't really come form central funds, I can just see them buying one or two less something or others and paying for it from the Forces budget.

 

[3wheeledtechie]

Bet its just a rehash of existing ELC and resettlement allowances, not extra cash.

 

[BillyBunter]

Blimey , thats a good thing , but I thought the idea was to be educated to be in the RAF first

Cant fault this and I will sure use this if it comes to fruition

Well done for the first good thing to come about for a long while.

Its too good to be true Im sure there are catches

 

[PingDit]

Sounds an excellent idea. I just hope they haven't stitched up the MoD by saying they've got to find the funds from the Defence Budget!

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

Bet its just a rehash of existing ELC and resettlement allowances, not extra cash.

Doesn't really go into specifics now does it. Sounds like a good idea don't get me wrong but after seeing some of our guys going on re-settlement and the beauracratic hoops they have to go through just wonder if it will be something that looks good on paper.

 

[Downsizer]

It will be a scam of some description and will be nothing more than a rehash of what we already get. Smoke and mirrors, mark my word.

 

[DrunkenMonki]

Well, i'd like to go back to uni when I leave, quite fancy radiography still! So i'm going to wait and hope its a good deal.

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

I've got one more year of uni to do when I leave (and have used all the ELC's up). Hopefully I will qualify!DT_Xtremez_19:DT_Xtremez_19:

 

[Ex-Bay]

Just read this on the beeb, free Uni after we leave. Tuition fees paid for basically.

So it'll just cost you the same as when I went through Uni in 1995, I left with 6K debts. Better than a kick in the slats, but does it offer enough?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7503807.stm

Wadda ya fink?

Would it not be as well to encourage ANYONE to try for a degree whilst still in the service?
I rather fancy the idea of a SNCO having a debate with a Zob and winning. . .

 

[DrunkenMonki]

All my current zobs are ex NCO techies, so they listen to the SNCOs anyway, and I've always worked in places that encourage day release etc. But I think we should be heading the way of the yanks, lots more money goes into giving them an education, especially once they leave.

 

[Natural_Wastage]

At my recent resettlement brief the careers lady mentioned that the RAF was about to open up the ELC sign on period again for the 'next generation'. Perhaps this has been spun a little by the PR machine (or the conditions altered) to make it sound like a huge investment in military welfare?

Reading between the lines the article states "The government will pay tuition fees to study for GCSEs, A-levels, university degrees or other qualifications". So it's not primarily aimed at degrees. It just sounds a lot better when they say 'degree' doesn't it? Sounds a lot better than plastering course or city & guilds in blah....

So just my guess but I think all it is is the next incarnation of ELC's. Still, it's good news for those not registered under the current ELC scheme.

Would it not be as well to encourage ANYONE to try for a degree whilst still in the service?

The thing is that people ARE encouraged to study. It's the ol' leading a horse to water story. My station (Benson) has; a big learning centre, internet centre, guidance counselor, college/uni open days, out-of-area support etc. Add to this the general service benefits such as financial help and maybe day release (for some) and there is miles more help than most civvies will ever see.

If an Airman/SNCO/Officer leaves the RAF without qualifications gained whilst serving it is purely through choice. I'm not saying that people who don't are lazy or whatever, just that they have chosen themselves not to study.

 

[Robby]

If this is just an extension of the ELC then we need to have standard rules and allow individuals to study what they want to study bot what is deemed to be appropriate to the individuals current trade.

If it is to open up training to everyone to learn any academic subject it goes against the Govt policy of Diploma training! Can we also try and have a standard system for OR's and Officers as opposed to the current differentials!- sorry I was day dreaming again!

 

[dantura]

I've been doing(abusing?) the day release thing for many years now. 2 years of day release left to get a law degree, also got an HNC, HND and 3 A-lvls (cheers Auntie Betty!)... Anyone who doesn't utilise it to the full is, IMO, a bit daft. Obviously there are the jobs that don't allow it, shifties etc, but there are always other means of study.
From a personal point, I think this 'new scheme' sounds excellent, finally it seems that something is being given back (We shall have to wait and see if there's a sting in the tail?).

(Hopefully, the allowance includes post grad qual's...it'd save me thousands.)

I hope everyone goes out there and uses it and there are no stupid criteria, other than the one's stated, that have to be adhered to, to qualify.



D

 

[Natural_Wastage]

If this is just an extension of the ELC then we need to have standard rules and allow individuals to study what they want to study bot what is deemed to be appropriate to the individuals current trade.

Now I'm normally all for milking the damn RAF for every penny available but I don't believe individuals should be allowed to study what they want (on the Air Forces tab) outside of resettlement.

Why should the RAF fund people to study whatever they want? They have a duty to help people resettle and obtain decent employment when leaving but do they have a duty to aid someone to get say a history degree?

A level 2 course for a history degree at the OU is approx £610 a year. That's £50ish spread over twelve months. £50! If someone can't sacrifice the equivalent of a meal for two and drinks (or three pints and some crisps in the Benson area) to study then how motivated are they for f's sake?!

Could you imagine approaching a civvie employer and asking them to fund a course in an area totally unrelated to the job and of no benefit to the employer? Not likely to happen!

 

[OK..Igiveup]

Addition or rebranding?

Addition or rebranding?

Right looking at it I reckon if you tot it all up

Reset grant 9000 (is it 9 or 12 yrs now)
SLC x 9 1575
ELC x 3 6000
Existing 16575 + travel and subsistance for your ressettlement

new scheme 9000

That would mean 25K worth of funds?
Would that not be better spent while they were in.
As someone said if you do 9 yrs and don't get any useful quals you cannot bleat about it?
Same as those who leave at 22 and moan they can't afford a house and need help?

I think we may just find that it will be lowering of the time needed to get the reset grant to cover those who dont qualify at the minute?

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

Would it not be as well to encourage ANYONE to try for a degree whilst still in the service?
I rather fancy the idea of a SNCO having a debate with a Zob and winning. . .

Sorry mate, no chance.. Its a rank thing.

 

[Realist78]

Now I'm normally all for milking the damn RAF for every penny available but I don't believe individuals should be allowed to study what they want (on the Air Forces tab) outside of resettlement.

Why should the RAF fund people to study whatever they want? They have a duty to help people resettle and obtain decent employment when leaving but do they have a duty to aid someone to get say a history degree?

A level 2 course for a history degree at the OU is approx £610 a year. That's £50ish spread over twelve months. £50! If someone can't sacrifice the equivalent of a meal for two and drinks (or three pints and some crisps in the Benson area) to study then how motivated are they for f's sake?!

Could you imagine approaching a civvie employer and asking them to fund a course in an area totally unrelated to the job and of no benefit to the employer? Not likely to happen!

So, when someone has left the RAF, what courses should they be able to do then? Something to benefit the force they have just left??????

 

[dantura]

Now I'm normally all for milking the damn RAF for every penny available but I don't believe individuals should be allowed to study what they want (on the Air Forces tab) outside of resettlement.

Why should the RAF fund people to study whatever they want? They have a duty to help people resettle and obtain decent employment when leaving but do they have a duty to aid someone to get say a history degree?

A level 2 course for a history degree at the OU is approx £610 a year. That's £50ish spread over twelve months. £50! If someone can't sacrifice the equivalent of a meal for two and drinks (or three pints and some crisps in the Benson area) to study then how motivated are they for f's sake?!

Could you imagine approaching a civvie employer and asking them to fund a course in an area totally unrelated to the job and of no benefit to the employer? Not likely to happen!

Any bachelor degree course is deemed to 'advance' the RAF, as the high level of thinking, reasoning and study methods that are incorporated by an individual can be carried over into the workplace.

I guess that you haven't taken up the opportunity yourself?
Is this the reason why you are whinging about something that is freely available to you and everyone, but are a little too lazy to study perhaps?

Try it, it's tough to juggle everything, home and work life et al. but you can't moan about others when the same is offered to you.

As an aside, I only claim £170 SLC, saving the ELC for when I'm out and my course is a lot more than your quoted £610 History degree. The rest comes out of my pocket.

D

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

Would it not be as well to encourage ANYONE to try for a degree whilst still in the service?
I rather fancy the idea of a SNCO having a debate with a Zob and winning. . .

Ha-ha. Thanks for 'flashing me back'. I was almost at the end of my OU degree (maths & physics); I was having a general chat with other SNCO colleagues plus a commissioned ars*. I posed the 'contamination' problem, i.e. 2 identical quantities of liquid A & B ... a measure of A is put into B, they mix freely. The same measure of the 'mixture' is returned to A thereby restoring the quantity levels. No trickery or skullduggery allowed. Question: Which is the most contaminated, A with B or B with A?

The SNCO's debated the problem logically. Himself declared what the answer was and refused point-blank to accept anything else "... are you saying I'm wrong, I don't think so". Eventually pure logic won the day and he stomped off and drank alone for the rest of the evening. Result!! DT_Xtremez_28: