IN THE WORKPLACE
• If I volunteer then I can be out within six months – if I get compulsory I’ve got to hang around for twelve months – when I think I’d rather be out quickly.
So, taking all that into consideration… I’ve still no idea! But I am considering my options now, which is more than I was before 17th Jan. Got a couple of weeks to mull!
Sometime later… Well, that’s it. The beginning of the end. The end of my RAF life and being a rank and number and the start of my promotion to plain old Mrs! Today, I filled out my application to be considered for redundancy – eeeeek! I am now officially pooping myself about leaving the bubble, but it actually feels good to have made the first move.
I love the RAF, and I love being an RAF Photog, and in a perfect world would happily stay and see out the rest of my working days in a blue suit, but I know that for a number of reasons it is better for me to apply to be made redundant. For all the reason above, plus: • By applying I feel in control of the situation, almost like they’re not telling me to go – I’m ASKING to go, it’s MY decision. I know it’s not like that, but it feels like it.
• With the numbers of photographer sergeants they want I’ve at least a 50% chance of getting hit with it, whether I like it or not. If I apply though, they are more likely to take me over a non-applicant.
• With my dodgy knee I am currently classed as medically limited deployable – meaning there’s only certain places I can go, so it would be more sensible for me to go,
rather than someone who can be deployed anywhere in the world, and therefore more useful than me. I don’t like being one of the ‘broken toys’. Although I’ve deployed operationally in the past, I still feel awful that I can’t deploy and take my turn alongside my colleagues.
• Voluntaries get to leave in December 12, compulsories in June 13 – if I’m going to go, I’d rather go sooner, not hang around for another twelve months.
• Those staying in the RAF are going to find it a very different RAF – I know every generation of personnel always come out with the “It’s not the RAF I joined”, but with less personnel, and the same amount of work, it’s not going to be so much fun!
• After fifteen years in the mob, I think I’m ready for the new challenges – I’ve got a couple of ideas in my head.
So that explains why I’ve done it, and I now feel much more relaxed about the whole thing – I’ve no longer got the proverbial Sword of Damocles hanging over my head. Now I’ve made the move, although I love the RAF, and am scared of moving out into the ‘real world’, I really do hope they pick me – Now I’ve thought it all through, I’m not quite as sure as I was that the RAF of the future is for me…
www.raf-ff.org.uk
Envoy Spring 2012
35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56