Considering becoming an Instructor

[enginesuck]

I am bored.... very bored in my current post. I need a challenge, to get out of my comfort zone so to speak, which is why I have been toying with doing something I swore id never do. TG1 Instructor at Cosford. I know about the qualifying process and the presentation I would need to make for my trade specialist but I have a couple of questions.

Does Cosford run an open day for potential instructors or is the any scope for a few days spent down there to get a feel for the instructors side of the job?

What are the Quarters like?

What are the primary schools like / where are they?

Anything else I should know?


Cheers

 

[Tin basher]

You may have done this already but have a look through the Cosford camp forum on here lots of gen in there mixed up with the normal triv and chat.

Try this one

http://www.e-goat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4830

TB

 

[propersplitbrainme]

Does Cosford run an open day for potential instructors or is the any scope for a few days spent down there to get a feel for the instructors side of the job?

Can't see any reason why you couldn't come down and get an idea of what things are like from the other side of the student's desk, but don't know of any official open day type scheme where you could come down in the firm's time and do it. Goatherdingsplitter may know.

What are the Quarters like?

Mine was OK if a little small on the Occifers side of the patch. Some really good ones out at Redhill which is in Telford and shared with Donnington.

What are the primary schools like / where are they?

In Albrighton, as good as any other but someone with primary aged kids would know more.

Anything else I should know?

Crikey, how long is a piece of string? Beware that the place IS niff-naff central, but on the other hand the working routine is generally quite agreeable. You'd be teaching RAF and international students as well and it isn't actually as bad as folks would have you believe.
When people have a bad experience of Cosford it is quite common that the one they should go looking to blame can be found in any full length mirror DT_Xtremez_31:

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

If you can't swing a couple of days off from your workplace for a visit, you could try the Force Development route; there is a very good museum to research Cold War Air Power and you could also visit the training sqns to update yourself on AMM & FT training (if you get my drift).
If you managed to tear yourself away from work, you would I'm sure, be made welcome; anyone wanting to give it a go is more than welcome to visit my neck of the woods. PM me if you want any more gen.

 

[Nec Aspera Terrent]

I can't speak for TG1, but I am a very strong advocate of folk doing an instructional tour.

I was 'selected' to instruct at DMSTC and to say I wasn't happy about that was something of an understatement. In the week I heard I sent my CV to 30-odd organisations and was offered several interviews and 1 job.

If I hadn't been so close to pensionable Service I would've gone.

That would've been a HUGE mistake. Instructing is incredibly hard work. The hours are long, the lesson-prep tedious, Phase 2 students can be horrible little sh!ts and the thanks come rarely and sparcely. BUT... the satisfaction you get from helping someone understand something and the thrill of seeing the penny drop when you've explained something four times in four different ways is incredible. As an instructor you make a difference to people. I'm sure you remember your trade-training instructors (good & bad!), your students will remember you too.

Instructing is a high profile job that develops your career in so many ways. You will develop a new level of confidence, you will explore the minutiae of everything you do in your trade and become a better tradesman for it. You'll also get some grey hairs, wrinkles and a deep dislike for people in course design, but every job has its downside!

In short, I was the most cynical man in NATO. I thought I'd hate instructing. As it was, I went into it with a (fairly) open mind and probably loved and hated it in equal measure (not a bad average in today's RAF). There were high points and low points, but now 2 years later with a promotion I doubt I'd have got without doing the job, I realise that instructing is the best kept secret in the RAF.

And best of all, the only qualification you really need is to be a gobsh!te!

Go for it!

 

[Harry B'Stard]

Cosford and instructing.

Cosford and instructing.

Engine sucks,

Cosford aint as bad as you would remember from your days here as a trainee!

The local schools are ok, my little 'un is doing well and they tend to keep parents in the loop.

There are a good range of houses, old, newer, brand new pfi. We are short of 4 bedders. Houses on camp, in albrighton and outskirts of Telford.

Job wise, as ever depends upon where you work. I enjoy it... bit of bull 5hit to put up with, which is offset when you get what I call "A lightbulb moment"! Definately better than working a pulse line.

If you're after a visit I'm sure it can be arranged.

If you need more detailed stuff PM me!

HTB

 

[Liney Hasbeen]

Well if HTB can do it then you'll be fine mate, beware that as a 'Mechanical' tradesman you might find yourself teaching the riggers bits and bobs, not a big deal though we look after our sootie friends !!

If you can swing a trip then I will be more than happy to host your visit if thats ok with the Goat herder .............

Its a great job with the same old crap as anywhere else to deal with but you can almost be certain you will be at home every night and all weekend.

 

[fat lazy techie]

If you want to come to Tossford then I can only offer this advice. Whatever you do avoid 238 Sqn (HTF/LTF) like the plague, it's going to hell in a rocket propelled handcart.

Housing wise the Telford dwellings are really quite good and you have no dealings whatsoever with MHS, which can oly be a good thing from my past experiences of dealing with them.

 

[squipper]

If you fancy a total change and Instructional work is your bag then good luck....but....have you looked at possible going to Trenchard Sqn as a Trainee Development Co-ordinator??? PM me for more info

 

[enginesuck]

OK Bit of an update.... When i posted this thread in march I was all geared up for putting in for an instructional tour, but after of some councelling from my boss and a sweetener of day release I opted to stay at Kinloss. 9 Months later after starting my HNC they have gone and decided to retire Nimrod early so as of today I have put Instructor at Cosford at the top of my employee preferences... I hope they still have vacancies !

 

[TrickyTree]

I'm quite an experienced instructor, Cert Ed and all that blah, done it for 6+ years and am currently chasing QTLS. I've taught both Phase 2 and 3 and must say I much preferred teaching Phase 3. The trouble I found with Phase 2 is that being experienced tradesmen there is so much we take for granted - that those things that you used to do every working day almost in your sleep, it's quite hard to think about them on a really Noddy level. And in Phase 2 you have to do this, because the trainees in front of you have are a total blank slate (some are quite literally this DT_Xtremez_34. Then again, I do know other instructors in Phase 3 who seem to find difficulty in accepting that a lot of those students have vast experience in their own right and end up talking down to them.

Overall I found it to be extremely rewarding. To be paid to stand up and talk about aeroplanes all day long - absolutely fantastic!

These days though I'm back on a squadron mending some extremely sharp and extremely pointy aeroplanes. And that, too, is f***ing brilliant!

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

OK Bit of an update.... When i posted this thread in march I was all geared up for putting in for an instructional tour, but after of some councelling from my boss and a sweetener of day release I opted to stay at Kinloss. 9 Months later after starting my HNC they have gone and decided to retire Nimrod early so as of today I have put Instructor at Cosford at the top of my employee preferences... I hope they still have vacancies !

There are always a few vacancies cropping up, but gapped posts are currently as rare as hens teeth. If you are looking for a move post March 10, drop me a PM and I'll see what's coming up.

 

[Twiggles]

Cosidering putting in for instructing myself. Might as well get it in early rather than hang around to decide on the outcome of next years Harjet debate.