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What did you do before you joined up?
- Thread starter MrMasher
- Start date
stingray888
Sergeant
- 503
- 0
- 16
Worked for WH Smith as a shop assistant for 5 years in Newcastle. One night the boss went home and left his drawer unlocked so me and my mate rummaged through it.
I found my annual assessment which said "Mr Stingray has reached his ceiling" 21 years old! I joined up 2 weeks later.
I found my annual assessment which said "Mr Stingray has reached his ceiling" 21 years old! I joined up 2 weeks later.
P
psycho-fluffy
Guest
Before I joined the RAF, I joined the WRNS, then had a bit of a life, got married, got divorced, got remarried, did nurse training and then offered to chum my mate to the AFCO, me in Purple hair and flower pattern Dr Martens. The forms were only supposed to be wind up to see what the CO said when he had to interview a Goth.
Before I joined the WRNS? At school, trying to pick university and course, big row with mother resulting in me stropping into nearest AFCO and asking what was quickest to get in. Dad signed the forms for 17 year old PF to join HMS Raleigh.
P-F
Before I joined the WRNS? At school, trying to pick university and course, big row with mother resulting in me stropping into nearest AFCO and asking what was quickest to get in. Dad signed the forms for 17 year old PF to join HMS Raleigh.
P-F
C
Crabbity Ann
Guest
My first full time job was in the bakery dept at the local Co-Op. After a while I got promoted to Asst Supervisor of the bakery which was a nice little pay boost but then a while later there was rumours about the possibility of another promotion. Suddenly I imagined spending the rest of my life in the crappy co-op working for a ginger, curly haired tosser that I hated and never leaving the little town I lived in ever again. On a bit of a panicked whim I applied for the RAF, quit my job and took two part time jobs to kill time and pay the bills: chambermaid in a hotel and cook in a cafe.
Here I am 7 years later better paid and more travelled but still working for a ginger, curly haired ****!
DT_Xtremez_35:
Here I am 7 years later better paid and more travelled but still working for a ginger, curly haired ****!
DT_Xtremez_35:
M
madpiglet
Guest
Before I joined up......
1984, couldn't see the point of learning anymore classroom-wise for A levels, so left and worked in private hospital as a tea girl.
Got all interested in what happened, so got a place on RGN training.
Didn't like the general nursing thing, they didn't like me either, apparently I asked too many questions, so left after 18 months and got a place on RMN training in 87. Brilliant course, passed it.
Got married about then too.
1st qualified job in 1990, staff nurse on nights on an EMI ward. It paid the bills! Thought I'd really rather like to join the RAF (Dad was ex-Para and Fire Brigade, so well-used to uniforms around) and getting a life that way, got all the brochures and everything, but then-hubby wouldn't have it. Also got fed up of paying off hubby's debts, so he left.
Then needed more money, so worked 4 years in acute admission NHS psych ward - utterly mad place, but best teamwork ever! Got a bit jaded by all that constant action and getting smacked by people, so then...
Worked 3 years at a nursing home for long term young mentally ill run along therapeutic community lines.
Divorce finalised eventually, met new bloke, got all keen again on the RAF, got supported in this idea, thought I'd best go for it before I was too old, and being as I could then do what *I* wanted to do....
Signed on dotted line in 1998 age 30. Phew!
1984, couldn't see the point of learning anymore classroom-wise for A levels, so left and worked in private hospital as a tea girl.
Got all interested in what happened, so got a place on RGN training.
Didn't like the general nursing thing, they didn't like me either, apparently I asked too many questions, so left after 18 months and got a place on RMN training in 87. Brilliant course, passed it.
Got married about then too.
1st qualified job in 1990, staff nurse on nights on an EMI ward. It paid the bills! Thought I'd really rather like to join the RAF (Dad was ex-Para and Fire Brigade, so well-used to uniforms around) and getting a life that way, got all the brochures and everything, but then-hubby wouldn't have it. Also got fed up of paying off hubby's debts, so he left.
Then needed more money, so worked 4 years in acute admission NHS psych ward - utterly mad place, but best teamwork ever! Got a bit jaded by all that constant action and getting smacked by people, so then...
Worked 3 years at a nursing home for long term young mentally ill run along therapeutic community lines.
Divorce finalised eventually, met new bloke, got all keen again on the RAF, got supported in this idea, thought I'd best go for it before I was too old, and being as I could then do what *I* wanted to do....
Signed on dotted line in 1998 age 30. Phew!
Shackfairy
SAC
- 100
- 0
- 0
Family Business
Family Business
First worked as a cardboard salvage lad standing up on top of piles of flattened bouncy cardboard on a bin lorry going along collecting boxes from shops (no stupid H&S in those days, 1965).
Tried for the Navy but rejected as wore glasses.
So got apprenticeship in ABC cinemas as Projectionist, I was the last Apprentice Proj. in UK. however a lot of the cinemas were closing so joined RAF in '69. Obviouse choice really as both Dad and Mum were in during the war. Then my brother, sister and Uncle joined up in'70/71 hence Family Business. Spent whole service at Kinloss on Shacks and nig-nogs (except for Swinderby & Cosford), came out in '81 to teach in College up there.
Now back with MOD at an Ammo Dump as a shiney.
Family Business
First worked as a cardboard salvage lad standing up on top of piles of flattened bouncy cardboard on a bin lorry going along collecting boxes from shops (no stupid H&S in those days, 1965).
Tried for the Navy but rejected as wore glasses.
So got apprenticeship in ABC cinemas as Projectionist, I was the last Apprentice Proj. in UK. however a lot of the cinemas were closing so joined RAF in '69. Obviouse choice really as both Dad and Mum were in during the war. Then my brother, sister and Uncle joined up in'70/71 hence Family Business. Spent whole service at Kinloss on Shacks and nig-nogs (except for Swinderby & Cosford), came out in '81 to teach in College up there.
Now back with MOD at an Ammo Dump as a shiney.
Left scool aged 15 and a bit, on the proviso I went to college. Lasted 2 days there deciding the education system wasn't for me.
Spent 2 weeks cutting down trees and hauling them out of the woods at the rate of £1 ph.
Then for the next 12 months I was working with Civil Engineers during the construction of a by-pass, carrying all their surveying kit all over the place. Went to the CIO with my best mate and was told if I wanted my original choice of trade I would have to wait 18 months, however if I took my current trade I could be in within 3 months. Downside was, it was YTS and on £17.50 pw. Still, I wouldn't change any of it.
Spent 2 weeks cutting down trees and hauling them out of the woods at the rate of £1 ph.
Then for the next 12 months I was working with Civil Engineers during the construction of a by-pass, carrying all their surveying kit all over the place. Went to the CIO with my best mate and was told if I wanted my original choice of trade I would have to wait 18 months, however if I took my current trade I could be in within 3 months. Downside was, it was YTS and on £17.50 pw. Still, I wouldn't change any of it.
School finished, tried to join up. Failed second interview, had a nice letter saying "come back in a few years with a bit of life experience). Went to college doing IT, took three years to do a two year course thanks to the pub next to college. While there worked as a factory cleaner in the evenings. Only male in a building full of bored housewives. DT_Xtremez_30:
Finished college, got a job in IT second in charge of a network spanning nearly three-quarters of the UK. Started seeing one of the secretaries and winding up the middle manager (turns out it was a massive old boys network all for ex pongo captains and the like).
Went again for the RAF and breezed the aptitude and interviews, although wasn't sure if it was for me. Decided to not turn up for the final signing on bit scheduled for the folowing wednesday. Got fired on the monday just before. Changed my mind about the Wednesday thing and here I am! Fate.DT_Xtremez_14: The company I worked for have since gone bust thanks to the credit crunch. That will teach them!!!
DT_Xtremez_30:Finished college, got a job in IT second in charge of a network spanning nearly three-quarters of the UK. Started seeing one of the secretaries and winding up the middle manager (turns out it was a massive old boys network all for ex pongo captains and the like).
Went again for the RAF and breezed the aptitude and interviews, although wasn't sure if it was for me. Decided to not turn up for the final signing on bit scheduled for the folowing wednesday. Got fired on the monday just before. Changed my mind about the Wednesday thing and here I am! Fate.
DT_Xtremez_14: The company I worked for have since gone bust thanks to the credit crunch. That will teach them!!!
S
shortie148
Guest
Trained to be a goldsmith.......like that's a job!!
C
captain arr
Guest
What did you do before you joined up!
What did you do before you joined up!
I left school and became an electrician. Worked on YTS for a while then went into installing burglar alarms. Got the sack from there after I had a big argument with the managing director and told him to RAMM IT!!!! after paying me peanuts.
Then went into a temporary job that lasted 4 years working for a manufacturing company doin stacker type stuff (and burglar alarm foreigners) then joined up with the oggies (auxiliary air force) at brize as a mover to fill my spare time.
Ended up being talked into joinin up full time by them talkin me into it and became a rigger!!!!DT_Xtremez_26:
What did you do before you joined up!
I left school and became an electrician. Worked on YTS for a while then went into installing burglar alarms. Got the sack from there after I had a big argument with the managing director and told him to RAMM IT!!!! after paying me peanuts.
Then went into a temporary job that lasted 4 years working for a manufacturing company doin stacker type stuff (and burglar alarm foreigners) then joined up with the oggies (auxiliary air force) at brize as a mover to fill my spare time.
Ended up being talked into joinin up full time by them talkin me into it and became a rigger!!!!
DT_Xtremez_26:
R
ROTORHEAD
Guest
Jobs
Jobs
Works on Dad's farm whilst at school, then did a while as a cabin boy on a coastal coal boat ( no Seaman Staines jokes please) before Swinderby in '77
Still not sure what I want to do when I grow up?
Jobs
Works on Dad's farm whilst at school, then did a while as a cabin boy on a coastal coal boat ( no Seaman Staines jokes please) before Swinderby in '77
Still not sure what I want to do when I grow up?
Kryten
Warrant Officer
- 4,266
- 206
- 63
I worked on a maintenance crew at a really tacky holiday camp in Dymchurch, Kent. I'd just dropped out of 6th Form for personal reasons, and for 7 months in 1989 I helped site caravans, install Sky TV cables, paint, mow grass and other stuff. When my parents moved overseas, I was offered the chance to live in an old chalet on the site and that was where the fun began!!