Any Armed Forces Reservists on here?

Have been toying with the idea of joining the RAF Reserve for a while now. Am due to attend an info day with the 614 Squadron soon but does anywhere on here actually serve in any of the 3?

Very curious on how you find it and if it is worth the commitment with a family etc?

I was for a while after leaving the regular Army.

Was in uni so had plenty of free time and even with a young child it was ok. One weekend a month and 2 week ex in the summer (or a course if you could manage that).

Since working full time and moving away from Wales I have left. I don't think I could manage it nowadays mind.

The opportunity to do 'extra' like playing sport, extra weekends and lots of courses is great and the temptation also huge as you get paid for all of this.

Suppose it depends on your family life? The bare minimum as stated above is doable. But you'll want to do more.

I found them to be a cracking bunch of people, who place a massive emphasis on the social aspect once all training is completed. If you have any questions, I know all the instructors (and quite a few of the Sqn members) so feel free to ask.

I've never used the private message function on this board, (hence I don't know how to) but depending on the nature of the questions it might be the best option.

Jimmy, how long ago did you leave 614 as I've possibly met you?

I found them to be a cracking bunch of people, who place a massive emphasis on the social aspect once all training is completed. If you have any questions, I know all the instructors (and quite a few of the Sqn members) so feel free to ask.

I've never used the private message function on this board, (hence I don't know how to) but depending on the nature of the questions it might be the best option.

Jimmy, how long ago did you leave 614 as I've possibly met you?

It was TA for me mate. I was regular Army. Served most of my career with the RAF though in tri-service establishments. Good bunch... most of them! Lol

I found them to be a cracking bunch of people, who place a massive emphasis on the social aspect once all training is completed. If you have any questions, I know all the instructors (and quite a few of the Sqn members) so feel free to ask.

I've never used the private message function on this board, (hence I don't know how to) but depending on the nature of the questions it might be the best option.

Jimmy, how long ago did you leave 614 as I've possibly met you?

It was TA for me mate. I was regular Army. Served most of my career with the RAF though in tri-service establishments. Good bunch... most of them! Lol

Thanks both - my first port of call is of course the information day but with 2 young children & a full time job I think I may be pushing my luck. From the outside it does seem like a very good prospect, but until you speak to people who have experienced it you never know.

103 - I will drop you a PM if that is ok mate. Only a few basic questions as I cannot find the answers on the internet.

Not interested in the regulars?

You'll have to stop smoking that kush too

Thanks both - my first port of call is of course the information day but with 2 young children & a full time job I think I may be pushing my luck. From the outside it does seem like a very good prospect, but until you speak to people who have experienced it you never know.

103 - I will drop you a PM if that is ok mate. Only a few basic questions as I cannot find the answers on the internet.

I've attempted to send you a PM, but to say my computer literacy is lacking would be an understatement of epic biblical proportion, so I'm not sure if you've received it. I'm working with the 614 Flight Sergeant tomorrow as it happens, but I can email them questions anytime so there's no rush.

Nubbsey makes a valid point about going full time. There's no immediate pension anymore (although it's still better than most civilian pensions as its non-contributory), the wage has been cut slightly and there's generally less perks than days gone by due to budget cuts, but it's still better than working for a living and 95% of the time you get paid extremely well for what you do. There's also the 5% of the time when you'll hit rock bottom stuck in some war zone, but the banter will get you through. :
You'll also get to experience living in different parts of the UK, with the option of volunteering for oversees duties to places such as Cyprus.

The reserves would enable you to stay in your current employment (whether that's good or bad) and not move around the country on a regular basis with your family, thus providing stability. Being a weekend Dad is an option, but I personally wouldn't want to do it. It will give you a taste of military life, whilst getting you fitter and paying you for it as well.

You'll do a vast array of things such as theory and practical lessons, gym sessions, soldiering on exercise and live shoots on military ranges. At the end of the training weekend, they normally have a BBQ and have a few pints so you get to socialise with people from all different backgrounds, which can be interesting and a great form of networking for a new civilian job.

If I'm honest, I'd highly recommend either, depending on what you want out of life of course.

Not interested in the regulars?

You'll have to stop smoking that kush too

I'm in a nice stable job with decent pay so the regulars is a no go. I originally wanted to join full time years ago but that ship has sailed with the kids etc.

The kush has long gone now hahaha

Thanks both - my first port of call is of course the information day but with 2 young children & a full time job I think I may be pushing my luck. From the outside it does seem like a very good prospect, but until you speak to people who have experienced it you never know.

103 - I will drop you a PM if that is ok mate. Only a few basic questions as I cannot find the answers on the internet.

I've attempted to send you a PM, but to say my computer literacy is lacking would be an understatement of epic biblical proportion, so I'm not sure if you've received it. I'm working with the 614 Flight Sergeant tomorrow as it happens, but I can email them questions anytime so there's no rush.

Nubbsey makes a valid point about going full time. There's no immediate pension anymore (although it's still better than most civilian pensions as its non-contributory), the wage has been cut slightly and there's generally less perks than days gone by due to budget cuts, but it's still better than working for a living and 95% of the time you get paid extremely well for what you do. There's also the 5% of the time when you'll hit rock bottom stuck in some war zone, but the banter will get you through. :
You'll also get to experience living in different parts of the UK, with the option of volunteering for oversees duties to places such as Cyprus.

The reserves would enable you to stay in your current employment (whether that's good or bad) and not move around the country on a regular basis with your family, thus providing stability. Being a weekend Dad is an option, but I personally wouldn't want to do it. It will give you a taste of military life, whilst getting you fitter and paying you for it as well.

You'll do a vast array of things such as theory and practical lessons, gym sessions, soldiering on exercise and live shoots on military ranges. At the end of the training weekend, they normally have a BBQ and have a few pints so you get to socialise with people from all different backgrounds, which can be interesting and a great form of networking for a new civilian job.

If I'm honest, I'd highly recommend either, depending on what you want out of life of course.

I had your PM Mate, thanks very much. I am not sure if my original PM sent though so God knows.

I'm current working at Abbey Wood as a civvie so more than happy there, but the main reason is the kids are settled and wouldn't want to drag them around. The reserves seem to scratch an itch I have had for many years,although we will see.

Having looked at the 614 I will need to see what is available role wise as I am undecided. The next nearest base is Brize and that is a bit of a stretch to look at aome other jobs haha.

What itch are you trying to scratch? What do you actually want out of it? Because with alot of the reserves you'll be hanging around doing FA once your qualified etc.

If its a propper military kick your after go and you think your body is able enough then go for Royal Marine reserves

What itch are you trying to scratch? What do you actually want out of it? Because with alot of the reserves you'll be hanging around doing FA once your qualified etc.

If its a propper military kick your after go and you think your body is able enough then go for Royal Marine reserves

More around the fact I never joined many years ago and have always wondered what I am missing. Maybe not much, but I am keen to answer the question either way.

What do I want out of it? The option to travel and potentially do something different from my day to day project management work. That may not be possible, all depends on what the 614 have available or if I look further afield like Brize.....

The Reserve Forces and by that I mean all three services have drastically changed, during the Operation Herrick (Afghanistan) period money was thrown at the Reserve to bolster Regular troops from all three Services. Those days are gone now and with no immediate threat on the horizon apart from deployments to the former Estern Bloc countries such as Lithuania, Moldova etc the money has stopped.

Do not be fooled by Reservist Open Days or Evenings, you will be shown lots of Gucci kit, wonderful powerpoint presentations and lovely stories of skiing and fun times......The reality is there is no money, not enough kit and very few man days. It also a fallacy that Reservists are recruiting well as per what the government wanted and what the Options for Change want. 30,000 reservists targeted and probably in the region of 20k short of that.

The join the Reserves target and big recruitment drive was to replace sacked Regular troops who had fought their bollocks for ten years only to be cut when the money men wanted change.

Regular soldiers are leaving the regular army by the bucket load and not joining the Reserve because they know there is no money available. REALITY: Regular units not fully manned, Vehicles crumbling, vehicles designed for Afghanistan now being cannibalised to fix other ones as the spare parts process is so shit.
Soldiers stuck in camp all day with nothing to do because there is no money, Reservists given shitty jobs and pretty much expected to sacrifice their secure jobs for the MOD who do not give a toss about you.

Whatever itch you have mate then being a Reservist is not going to cure it, there is no combat anymore as we wont commit to something like it again, we could not even deploy to the Falklands like we did last time. Everything has been cut from bullets to the social side.

BEST ADVICE: Go to the Open Day/Night and see what they offer and then ask before you commit could you attend drill nights for the next month or two......if the answer is Yes you can then do that, if the answer is No you cant, then the Open Day is exactly what it is meant to be...Tempt you in and then reality dawns on you.

What itch are you trying to scratch? What do you actually want out of it? Because with alot of the reserves you'll be hanging around doing FA once your qualified etc.

If its a propper military kick your after go and you think your body is able enough then go for Royal Marine reserves

More around the fact I never joined many years ago and have always wondered what I am missing. Maybe not much, but I am keen to answer the question either way.

What do I want out of it? The option to travel and potentially do something different from my day to day project management work. That may not be possible, all depends on what the 614 have available or if I look further afield like Brize.....