IN THE WORKPLACE
Reasons to go, Reasons to stay
by Heidi B
17th January 2012. When I woke up that day I wasn’t really thinking much about the Armed Forces redundancy announcement that was due at 9am. Having spoken to other RAF Photographers, we were all pretty convinced that our trade wasn’t really at risk of having personnel cut. We were due to have loads of people leave through ‘natural wastage’, people who were leaving at the time they expected to. So no-one was really worried that we would feel the hit…
I
t came as a little bit of a surprise then, when the details of the requirements came out and they were looking to make 25 RAF
photographers redundant. From a trade of around 140 that was quite a big chunk of us, and they were all to go from the corporal and sergeant rank levels, preserving the newly joined/ trained photogs.
So, me being a sergeant, who has been one for more than three years, and not due to leave the RAF for well over three years, meant I was well in the bracket for redundancy. A little bit of a reality check for me, bringing me down to earth with quite a bump – This job for life that I love, just like one of those ‘bags for life’ you get from a supermarket, ain’t necessarily for life.
Yes, I know, that one way or another, be it now or in fifteen years, I would have to find my way out in the big bad real world, but when you’re in your bubble of a comfort zone, you can pretend that it’s not going to happen. So, having not even contemplated being out of the RAF, the announcement forced me to think long and hard about the future.
I thought so hard, and talked it out with Mr Photog and my parents, that I reached a point in the evening when I just had to stop myself from thinking about it as I’d given myself a headache!
After a good nights sleep I went back to thinking and realised I needed to list the pro’s and cons to make a proper decision as to whether I should just volunteer for it, or if I should just sit and wait for the chop. If I volunteered I would find out in June, and
34 Envoy Spring 2012
leave in December. If I didn’t volunteer and they decided I’m going anyway (ie. they don’t get 10 volunteers) then I’d find out in June and leave in June 2013.
Reasons to stay in the RAF for another 15 years: • Very, very proud to serve. • Friends and teamwork. • Work well within the military mentality and work ethics.
• Love being an RAF Photog, taking photos, filming video.
• The ‘bubble’ – medical care, dental care, cheaper accommodation, free gym facilities.
• Decent pension immediately on leaving the RAF. If made redundant no RAF pension until age 60, and then not a massive amount.
Reasons to take the money and run: • Can finally live with my husband like a normal couple! Something that will never happen whilst serving in the RAF as our jobs are 120 miles apart.
• Hate the drive back to work, spend loads of money on fuel up and down the country.
• Redundancy pay-out would be decent deposit on bigger place near Mr Photogs work, rather than living in one bedroom flat down there, with military house at base.
• Still young enough to get a full 20+ year career in before retirement.
• Could be a great opportunity for a new challenge.
• My next level of promotion in the RAF will mean that I spend my days behind a desk – less getting out and taking photos/video.
• Not going to get sent back out to Afghanistan, thus stopping husband and family worrying about me.
• Not having to do duties – guard duty etc…!
• No more camouflage uniform/wearing berets and hats!
• I’m doing my Certificate of Education so will have the qualification to teach (graduate in Dec 12) and also have pretty good quals/experience in photography, videography, video editing etc… so have opportunities for work.
• Love sewing bags etc... so could spend loads more time sewing and selling!
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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