MT Driver

[sam1222]

Hi All,
I'm Sam, and i joined e-goat last year as i was interested in joining RAF Regiment. I've since changed my mind and i'm now in the process of applying to join the RAF as a driver. i'm 34 years old and work mostly in the building trade, groundwork, labouring and fencing mainly but i also do gardening on the side. i'm sick of going from job to job with no security and with the building trade in such a sorry state at the moment i'm finding myself having to endure more and more periods of unemployment and i'm sick of it. so i've decided to give the RAF a go, as i figure as long as i'm suited to it it will give me the job security i need for the next X amount of years and hopefully provide me with the challenges, travel, new friends, etc that i feel is missing from my life, along with providing me with a trade for when i return to civilian life, better equiping me for the future job-wise.
Having read the info regarding MT Drivers i feel this would suit me and was impressed by the level of skills/qualifications i would gain. so if there are any MT Drivers on here any advice/info would be greatly appreciated, even minor info that may seem unimportant,and anything that they dont tell you at the AFCO would also be good ::
Cheers guys.

 

[GmanJock]

a mate of mine re-traded to MT from Regiment and is loving it. currently doing his driver training

all the best mate DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[sam1222]

a mate of mine re-traded to MT from Regiment and is loving it. currently doing his driver training

all the best mate DT_Xtremez_30:

Cheers mate, has he said what the course is like etc?

 

[sam1222]

94 Views and only one reply?? come on guys i need info!

 

[vim_fuego]

Its a Saturday so traditionally quieter on here than a week day...plus an MT driver may not have seen this yet!

Cutbacks, drawdowns and leaning aside (if you don't know what these terms mean you will do as you trawl through the forums) the RAF still gives you a platform to improve yourself...It is mostly down to you but also a percentage of this 'track' is our responsibility...Learn who to trust, judge who to listen to and get your head down and learn your stuff...

Be the best you can be at what you do and be known as the bloke who says yes to a job THEN asks what the job is....You won't go far wrong then...And since you're joining a bit later than most you've potentially got less time to make it to the top of your ladder...On theplus side is that you've come from a background where you know what a hard days yacker is (same here...ex plasterer) which is something some of the yoof of today know little about so you'll be showing them the way...

 

[sam1222]

Hi All

Hi All

i'm in the process of applying to join the RAF. ive done the application and passed the entrance test etc and am now awaiting a date for selection. however, when i first went to the afco my intention was to apply for MT/Logistics driver, but have been told recruitment for this job is closed til the end of september, and that i should go with my second choice of RAF regiment. this is fine, as they said that its just to keep the process going and that i should be able to change my job choice further down the line, which again i'm fine with.
The thing is, i'm not sure which to go with now, regiment or driver...
I feel my standard of fitness would make me more suitable for the regiment. i'm a boxer and pretty much a fitness freak. ive tested myself over the last couple of days against the pgac fitness standard and am happy with the results. i run 3 miles in 18 mins, can do 3 sets of 20 pull-ups followed by 3 sets of 10 before going straight into the press-ups and sit ups test, 60 sit-ups in 1 min and 75 press-ups in 1 min. i do regular gym circuits, burpee's, squats, squat thrusts etc on top of my boxing training. i also swim/cycle regular too.
BUT, i want a trade....advice please.

 

[vim_fuego]

What did your aptitude tests (AST's?) say you were suitable for? Whats the age limit on PTI?

 

[sam1222]

both mate, i scored high enough for the regiment or for the driving but the MT Driver jobs are closed til september/october. but i want to get on with it as quick as possible cos i'm 34, time is against me a bit, so they suggested i change my first choice to raf regiment and they'll get me on the next available pgac course, then if i want to change my choice later i can.

 

[Krusty_Crab]

both mate, i scored high enough for the regiment or for the driving but the MT Driver jobs are closed til september/october. but i want to get on with it as quick as possible cos i'm 34, time is against me a bit, so they suggested i change my first choice to raf regiment and they'll get me on the next available pgac course, then if i want to change my choice later i can.

Do NOT believe all the boll***s about being able to change trade EASILY. Re-mustering is extremely difficult and almost impossible when recruiting is good (which it is at the moment). If you want to get in quick then you will have to go RAF Regiment (and that's where you'll stay). Having said that there are opportunities within the RAF regiment to get specialised driver training and when you come to leave you can use your resettlement time to get your HGV licence.
MT Driver is fuly recruited with loads of people in reserve. If you applied in Sept when the trade re-opens (briefly) you'll be lucky to get a date before June 2010.

If you're as fit as you say you are, and as mature as your age suggests you should be, then you should have no trouble joining the Regt. However you will need to realise that most of the people in charge of you will be younger (but more Regt experienced) so if you can handle that - crack on!

 

[he_who_dares_rodney]

I've been out of the RAF for a while but I used to be MT
Have you thought of the Auggies or TA?

I would suggest 34 is old for the Regiment considering they are Infanteers by trade
Also don't believe the "you can remuster once your in" rubbish
MT will still have it's waiting list's
The Regiment is pushing to get bigger they will want every boot they can find for new Squadrons if they get them so they probably won't let you go for a few years anyway

You could join an RLC TA unit or an Auggie unit and get your licences that way

Good luck either way

 

[Stevienics]

it will give me the job security i need for the next X amount of years and hopefully provide me with the challenges, travel, new friends, etc that i feel is missing from my life, along with providing me with a trade for when i return to civilian life
Cheers guys.

I think given this statement, you may even feel more fulfilled in the Rock Apes than as an MT Driver - and I say this as an ex-MTO. Indeed, with the driving courses open internally to the Regiment and a resonable package of resettlement, you can go quite a long way towards achieving the same driving qualifications as an MT Driver plus a few more security related "saleable job-skills" to boot.

.........I hear your yearning for travel isn't much of an issue these days at least!

 

[sam1222]

Its a Saturday so traditionally quieter on here than a week day...plus an MT driver may not have seen this yet!

Cutbacks, drawdowns and leaning aside (if you don't know what these terms mean you will do as you trawl through the forums) the RAF still gives you a platform to improve yourself...It is mostly down to you but also a percentage of this 'track' is our responsibility...Learn who to trust, judge who to listen to and get your head down and learn your stuff...

Be the best you can be at what you do and be known as the bloke who says yes to a job THEN asks what the job is....You won't go far wrong then...And since you're joining a bit later than most you've potentially got less time to make it to the top of your ladder...On theplus side is that you've come from a background where you know what a hard days yacker is (same here...ex plasterer) which is something some of the yoof of today know little about so you'll be showing them the way...

Sound advice, cheers mate.

 

[sam1222]

Do NOT believe all the boll***s about being able to change trade EASILY. Re-mustering is extremely difficult and almost impossible when recruiting is good (which it is at the moment). If you want to get in quick then you will have to go RAF Regiment (and that's where you'll stay). Having said that there are opportunities within the RAF regiment to get specialised driver training and when you come to leave you can use your resettlement time to get your HGV licence.
MT Driver is fuly recruited with loads of people in reserve. If you applied in Sept when the trade re-opens (briefly) you'll be lucky to get a date before June 2010.

If you're as fit as you say you are, and as mature as your age suggests you should be, then you should have no trouble joining the Regt. However you will need to realise that most of the people in charge of you will be younger (but more Regt experienced) so if you can handle that - crack on!

Jesus, 2010! wow, are you serious? the rocks it is then haha
I am as fit as i say mate yeah, take my fitness very serious, always have done, same goes for maturity, no probs there. ive no probs with my superiors being older than me either, ust the way it is right? the only reason i want in as quick as possible is down to my age, and when i looked into joining the RAF last year it was the regiment i was interested in. i feel i would be well suited and only started looking at applying as a driver after advice from friends who said it would be better to get a trade, which is true really, but judging from the replies here this still appears possible...
What are the chances of me being passed over for an operational role due to my age tho? if i'm joining the regiment i want to serve in a field squadron like everyone else, i doubt i'll have any trouble keeping up with the young 'uns as ive been training my cousin (who's 17) for the army and my brother (who's 18) trains with me regular, and i also train with lads in their early to mid twenties in the boxing gym and more than hold my own. i dont mean to come across as arrogant here, i'm just confident.
Anyway, cheers for the advice/info guys, anything else you think may help just let me know.
cheers
sam

 

[vim_fuego]

Have you thought about supplier (with the thought of going down the tactical supply side of things - research TSW) or a movements operator (research MAMS)...Both these trades are doubtless closed at the moment but will re-open and could offer you something different from being a rock...Both these jobs are operationally stetched at the moment and may suit someone more of your age bracket...