Joining the RAF (part 2)

[theleeroy55]

Thankyou to eveyone who was so supportive. I guess when i asked my question before I did not give enough background info. So here we go.

I am 22,

I have GCSEs and A-levels

I don't want to go to Uni.

I live in HULL and it is a horrible place to try and make something of yourself.

The RAF like so many people have said will give me a trade ( I want to do electronics)

I have passed the entrance exam and need medicals etc.

When i mentioned it to my dad (a teacher) he listed off the most dangerous places in the world and said I could be going there. I get the sense that he thinks I have not thought about it.

What do i say to my dad when he says

" so what if you get sent to basra to set up electronics close to the front line? "



Thankyou in advance, the answerbank rocks!

[johnlambert]

I stand by what I said in you 1st post leeroy, can i also add that most people who go into the Armed Forces and serve in dangerous places do not get killed or wounded, I served for 10 years in the Infantry in Northern Ireland, and in the 1st Gulf war, in NI we lost 3 blokes, and during the fighting in the gulf we only lost 1 guy killed . I then joined the Royal Armry Medical Corps for 11 years serving in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan (a broken ankle kept me out of the 2nd Gulf war), and during those years in the RAMC, once again we only lost one bloke killed.
I can understand your Dads arguement about dangerous places but he is probably in motre danger driving to work that you will be in Iraq/afghanistan

[B00]

Hiya theleeroy- again, you may have to accept that your dad may never accept you wishing to join up. Think about it, their son is theoretically putting himself in dangerous situations, day in, day out. However please don't let this put you off if it's something you really really want to do. All you can do is try to understand where they're coming from.

Hopefully, whilst they may not be happy with your career choice, they come to accept it.

Good luck :-)

[puddicat]

Just go for it, i was in the services from 1973-1980, and loved it, couldnt have stayed in was pregnant though married, and service women were not allowed to stay in, otherwise i would have!, you will make so many good mates, and have wonderful experiences, tried to encourage my 2 sons to join, not interested! anyway wish you the best of luck!!

[johnlambert]

hey puddicat!! were you a W.R.A.C?

[puddicat]

i was a wraf, dont confuse the army with the airforce lol

[johnlambert]

aaaaah right, sorry mate
I was Army and got talking to a girl soldier who had attitude from hell,
I asked her how long she'd been a WRAC, she said the was a femail soldier, a rack was something that gets screwed into a wall, and she didn't the funny side when I said that I hadn't tried it against a vwall and was she up for it?

[Mammar]

You say "I've thought about that and I still want to do it. Next question, please."
Like John Lambert I stand by what I said.
If everyone had the same attitude as your Dad we would all be speaking German.
No, I take that back, it was a bit harsh but I do think you're mature enough to have thought this through for yourself. I think you realise that life is full of risks. I'm going to pull out the old "ht by a bus" thing.
The point is, do you want to "live" before you die? Or do you just want to exist, always wishing you'd followed your dreams?
Of course your Dad will worry about you. He loves you. But does he want to see you unhappy with a constant "if only" hanging over your head?
By the way, my son-in-law to be will be heading out to that front line in Afghanistan with the Signals in November. My daughter's likely to be getting a posting abroad next time, too, and her ambition is to be an ATO! I am proud of them both and I'm not asking your Dad to do anything I'm not willing to do.