Should we stay or should we go

[The_last_of_TG3]

Seeing The Masked Geek post on another thread (added below)

Thought this was a good place to drop my seminal comment. (post convalescence)


All these threads are full of rumour, speculation, twists, turns and maybe the odd bit of reality.

There is only one real fact: we are yet to be appraised of the whole picture. Probably because there is no whole picture yet.

Putting together all the rumours and snippets of real information paints a bleak picture but there may be a hidden gem in there somewhere.

This leaves us two choices:

a. Ride out the storm and see where it takes us.

b. Pull the black and yellow handle to heaven.


I'm riding it out for now.

Made me think about the Pro's and Cons of staying or jumping ship

To Stay:-

The good old job security.

Promotion if everyone jumps ship

Get to see the world


To Go:-

Possible higher pay (depending on civvie quals)

It could turn out the in 5 years the jobs market will be saturated with ex TG4 people so getting a job now could be easier

No more rubbish 4 month holidays (rumoured going up to 6 months)



I am sure there is more, and I am sure someone else could add some

 

[The Masked Geek]

The only thing keeping me in is the host of qualifications I'm getting for my current job which are increasing my value massively.

Oh yeah, I''m in the pension trap too. DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[The_last_of_TG3]

I am 80% sure I am going to ride it out, but if the right opertunity came up then it would be me gone

 

[rodger-dodger]

Ride the storm

Ride the storm

My veiw for what it's worth.

Ride the storm, we'll all come out the other end OK.

There are only two options open to every one, and they are as follows,

1. If the RAF is as sh!t as you think it is and causes you to moan about it day in day out. then the only answer is to go and find something else to do (Incoming from the, I'm fed up with those people who say, "well leave then" type people).

2. Accept the fact that the RAF is changing. Bite the bullet, work harder for your money and CRACK ON.

Easy peasy.

if you need any more help on the issue giz a shout. DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[The Masked Geek]

work harder for your money and CRACK ON.

For some of the jobs out there, "Work for your money" may be more appropriate. DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[rodger-dodger]

Ha

Ha

For some of the jobs out there, "Work for your money" may be more appropriate. DT_Xtremez_14:

LOL, Agreed, mine being one of them. Sorry to but in on a specific TG issue, but i felt the urge.

 

[The_last_of_TG3]

I think the RAF is becoming less of a life style and more of just a job. I am sure that most of the young ones that pitch up now see it as a job for a few year and then move on.

I was not saying we should all leave, My first post was all about the pro's and con's of where we are as a trade at the moment and what everyone's views are

 

[3Chordwonder]

I guess there a few people in my shoes - got caught in the promtion freeze which left me a JT for 8 years. Then, having attained the dizzy heights of Cpl, saw 2 and 3 year SAC's being promoted !
Now, I'm stuck as a 7 year Cpl, with apparently no more promotions for 3-4 years....

I have to stay in to get the pension (no point in jacking it now with under 6 yrs left)

So I could get a job paying 35-40K - thats only 5k more than now and would be wiped out by having to find a proper place to live, work clothes etc....

I probably would have to work stupid hours too.....

I guess it's not all doom and gloom.....loads of hols, time off in buckets to do my hobbies (recognised as a RAF duty too ffs !!)

 

[The Masked Geek]

I guess there a few people in my shoes - got caught in the promtion freeze which left me a JT for 8 years. Then, having attained the dizzy heights of Cpl, saw 2 and 3 year SAC's being promoted !
Now, I'm stuck as a 7 year Cpl, with apparently no more promotions for 3-4 years....

What happened to "Career Management" then? I wonder what would happen if we all sued them for mishandling our careers?

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

I guess there a few people in my shoes - got caught in the promtion freeze which left me a JT for 8 years. Then, having attained the dizzy heights of Cpl, saw 2 and 3 year SAC's being promoted !
Now, I'm stuck as a 7 year Cpl, with apparently no more promotions for 3-4 years....

I have to stay in to get the pension (no point in jacking it now with under 6 yrs left)

So I could get a job paying 35-40K - thats only 5k more than now and would be wiped out by having to find a proper place to live, work clothes etc....

I probably would have to work stupid hours too.....

I guess it's not all doom and gloom.....loads of hols, time off in buckets to do my hobbies (recognised as a RAF duty too ffs !!)

It's not all bad. A guaranteed job, pension at 22 yrs with a guaranteed income. I'll be out at 43 (only 12 yrs to go). But it's job security. Obviously it's not as cushty as when a lot of peole joined but it is and still is a good life. I don't fancy TCW in the future now that I have a wife and kid but loved the last job I had. Saw a mate leave years ago with MCSE and had problems getting a job. Plan for your future that's the key.

Everywhere you go we have the David Brent's of man management, not just in the RAF.

The Grass is not always green on the other side. A lot of ex-forces have to work for their money.

Personally I would ride it out. A change of job via the Chief's Clerks bulletin is only a phone call, e-mail away if your current post in naf.

 

[Shortie]

Yep, those shoes fit exactly for me! The main thing that I'm fed up with is the TOTAL lack of information and guidance coming from above. Thank the Goat as it's the ONLY source of information as to what could be, possibly, maybe going on with the future of the trade. (Some info is better than no info!!)

 

[mad_collie]

Just had my first resettlement brief this morning. I'm out the door bang on my 22 year point.

There is no fecking way I'm hanging around on the off chance things will improve.

Most of the people I joined up with are doing the same, so there will be plenty of Cpl-Sgt promotions coming soon for those that stick it out for another 18 months.

 

[JAFAD666]

Just had my first resettlement brief this morning. I'm out the door bang on my 22 year point.
.

Er ?
Hangon a mo I thought you were after mine or your old job out here :0

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

Just had my first resettlement brief this morning. I'm out the door bang on my 22 year point.

There is no fecking way I'm hanging around on the off chance things will improve.

Most of the people I joined up with are doing the same, so there will be plenty of Cpl-Sgt promotions coming soon for those that stick it out for another 18 months.

Good luck MC.

Is your current post still classed as a TG3 post or could it be done by a former TG11 bod (TG4 post)? Or even worse dis-established for a civvy contract? Don't really mean to start a bun fight again but right now it seems TG 11 are going to get promoted ahead of us and if they were deemed "able" to do your job we would be screwed over again. As you already know a big fat ZERO from former TG3 seem to have been promoted from Cpl-Sgt.

Interested in your thoughts on this in the forum

 

[mad_collie]

Good luck MC.

Is your current post still classed as a TG3 post or could it be done by a former TG11 bod (TG4 post)? Or even worse dis-established for a civvy contract? Don't really mean to start a bun fight again but right now it seems TG 11 are going to get promoted ahead of us and if they were deemed "able" to do your job we would be screwed over again. As you already know a big fat ZERO from former TG3 seem to have been prmoted from Cpl-Sgt.

Interested in your thoughts on this in the forum

All the JNCO/SNCO jobs here are ex-TG3, as there is legacy & IM equipments to work on. There are 3 Sgts leaving the service within the next 18 months just in this section. The TG3 promotion side will probably pick up with an offer to swap to IM, I'd encourage people to do it.

 

[pilgrimshuffler]

MC, As an old Sweat, when did you first see the seeds of the TG4 happening? Things seem to have moved really blady quickly over the last 3 years??

 

[mad_collie]

MC, As an old Sweat, when did you first see the seeds of the TG4 happening? Things seem to have moved really blady quickly over the last 3 years??

I was at HQSTC when the ideas were first being banded around in about 97-98. The original idea was for a trawl through ALL trades for people with aptitude to create an all-round CIS trade to support all aspects of the RAF.

 

[pilgrimshuffler]

Blimey that was a while ago, I just beleave that it was a chain of events that put it through, the first was the TS, being a TG11 he's my new best friend! I do understand TG3 Greviances though but i don't beleave that it is down to him, with him he pushed it through and just saw that TG11 was dying on it's feet and saw a slot for us there and was just quick to react.
The main problem has been not forseeing these problems which really should have been sorted by alot more info being made available and stamping on rumours, being exHQSTC i'm sure you are aware of the circus and how scary it is to see how the decisions are made! Good luck to you though mate, hope you return to god's country on retirement!!!
Oggy Oggy Oggy

 

[mad_collie]

Blimey that was a while ago, I just beleave that it was a chain of events that put it through, the first was the TS, being a TG11 he's my new best friend! I do understand TG3 Greviances though but i don't beleave that it is down to him, with him he pushed it through and just saw that TG11 was dying on it's feet and saw a slot for us there and was just quick to react.
The main problem has been not forseeing these problems which really should have been sorted by alot more info being made available and stamping on rumours, being exHQSTC i'm sure you are aware of the circus and how scary it is to see how the decisions are made! Good luck to you though mate, hope you return to god's country on retirement!!!
Oggy Oggy Oggy

To be fair, the TG11 TS went to sections that were predominantly TG3 and identified jobs that could be taken over by TG11, and we were in full support of the idea that the 'front end' could go over to TG11. (Not mant techies want to answer phones and reset passwords)

With the commcens closing, we could understand the need for the jobs to switch between the trades. Originally all the network diagnostics, software troubleshooting etc would have been kept TG3, but then the IM idea came to light. It all went downhill for us since then.DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[POB]

The original idea was for a trawl through ALL trades for people with aptitude to create an all-round CIS trade to support all aspects of the RAF.

Were there many people that actually made the leap from other trades? I remember there used to be a software development type organization at West Drayton, and there was often a note in SRO's about volunteering for Out of Trade computer type stuff. I knew one person that went for it but not sure how far he got.

Had this organization been funded better, or even established a new trade back in the late 90's, would both trades still be surviving? Just curious...