S
sam1222
Guest
Hi all,
My name is sam and i'm looking into joining RAF Regiment as a gunner, but would like some advice first due to my age, i'm 33, and having found this site it seemed the best place to ask as there are many ex- or serving members of the RAF here.
my concerns are not with my fitness, i work in the building trade, and i'm an ex-boxer (i still train regular) so i'm fit, healthy and strong, and confident i would pass the selection tests and could compete with lads half my age on the fitness side of things, (for the past few months i have also been training my cousin to join the army and my brother next to join the fire service) and as i'm mature, being away from home is not going to be too much of a problem either, i'll miss the missus and my kids but its not going to be forever right? and the RAF seem (from the research iv'e done) to look after the families of servicemen very well.
i suppose my concerns are whether i would fit in, are the RAF intructors going to be harder on me due to my age? jump on me more to prove my fitness alongside younger lads? this wouldnt put me off, just make me dig in more, i'd see it as a challenge. i also spent a few years in the TA when i was younger so its not going to be a completely alien environment to me. i just feel the RAF could offer the challenge i'm looking for, a secure job with career prospects (for a few years at least haha) a sense of doing something worthwhile, make good mates, travel, all that. i considered the foreign legion for a while for the same reasons, but mainly due to the fact i thought i was too old for any of the british services, then found out the age limit for the rock ape's is 37 and having now researched them they seem to have what i'm looking for.
any advice would be appreciated.
cheers,
sam
My name is sam and i'm looking into joining RAF Regiment as a gunner, but would like some advice first due to my age, i'm 33, and having found this site it seemed the best place to ask as there are many ex- or serving members of the RAF here.
my concerns are not with my fitness, i work in the building trade, and i'm an ex-boxer (i still train regular) so i'm fit, healthy and strong, and confident i would pass the selection tests and could compete with lads half my age on the fitness side of things, (for the past few months i have also been training my cousin to join the army and my brother next to join the fire service) and as i'm mature, being away from home is not going to be too much of a problem either, i'll miss the missus and my kids but its not going to be forever right? and the RAF seem (from the research iv'e done) to look after the families of servicemen very well.
i suppose my concerns are whether i would fit in, are the RAF intructors going to be harder on me due to my age? jump on me more to prove my fitness alongside younger lads? this wouldnt put me off, just make me dig in more, i'd see it as a challenge. i also spent a few years in the TA when i was younger so its not going to be a completely alien environment to me. i just feel the RAF could offer the challenge i'm looking for, a secure job with career prospects (for a few years at least haha) a sense of doing something worthwhile, make good mates, travel, all that. i considered the foreign legion for a while for the same reasons, but mainly due to the fact i thought i was too old for any of the british services, then found out the age limit for the rock ape's is 37 and having now researched them they seem to have what i'm looking for.
any advice would be appreciated.
cheers,
sam