The sheer range and volume of jobs as a JO. There are so many jobs available it would be almost impossible for someone to say there isn’t a job for them. Whatever environment you want to work in, Tactical/Operational/Support/Strategic/Deliver etc, there’s something for us all.
Yes. I’ve had uncles and grandparents serve in the Army and Navy which is why I originally joined the Army. My father insisted I got a trade for the transferrable skills and communications always appealed to me. It was working in Joint environments (Falklands and MOD Corsham) that I got the bug for the RAF and pushed for a transfer.
Even though I’d served for nearly 23 years, it was as a soldier. The fears of whether I would be a good leader was something that impact me. I’ve had bad leaders so always try to not be like them. I like that I can be who I am, around my team, and am aware I have different values and styles to other people. I do my best to be who I am and not someone else.
The interview at OASC. Under pressure, I’d simply forgot small elements of the Ph1 process and couldn’t recite them to the interviewee. I owned up to this! There’s nothing wrong with forgetting something under the immense pressure, we’re only human. The right thing to do though is admit this and move on. Don’t try to cuff it, they’ll figure it out and don’t dwell on it, what’s happened has happened.
I honestly don’t know. You can read and revise all you can but under pressure you just don’t know what’s going to happen. If anything, I’d say relax a little as the pressures and anxieties can be quite uncomfortable.
The summative exercises. I thought they were really good, incredibly like actual situations and scenarios and well ran. I can only comment due to previous experiences but was incredibly impressed by how similar they were.
The management of ICS/CIS within a deployed RAF environment. During my previous Ops and deployments it’s always been tailored towards Army and Joint so to see the nuances regarding an RAF deployment, working with the people as much as the equipment and the processes, was something that was certainly new to me.
Not that much if I’m honest. As much as we dealt with personnel, EOFT was tailored and primarily focussed on the deployed aspects and areas of an Engineering Officer and their roles and responsibilities. In my role as an OC, I don’t believe there’s many comparisons. I appreciate it’s hard for the course though, to create a package that suits the needs and requirements of all the students but it’s just how it is for me. If there’s one thing I did learn, it’s ask your SNCOs! They’ll probably have seen what you’re going through and have an abundance of knowledge and information. Treat them well and use them as much as you can!
RAF Northolt is my first posting but I already have my OOA lined up and am due to go to the SO3 Plans role in JFCIS (ME). From there I intent to fulfil my Staff tour but haven’t made any plans just yet.
Currently I am a Flight Commander and as an OC I have a number of roles. I liaise with personnel across the station regarding the provision of CIS and in a lot of cases I act as the main POC, but that is not always the case. I have some very talented and competent trades personnel within the Flight. If tasks get completed quicker and more smoothly, with external contractors and agencies going straight to them, I don’t mind. I’m more than happy to allow my SMEs autonomy over tasks and projects, within reason of course.
Every day is different, and I thoroughly enjoy that! There are some long term projects and jobs going on which require time throughout the week but every day will throw something in the mix that I wasn’t expecting, and I love that. Every day’s a school day and I leave work knowing something different I didn’t at the beginning of the day.
How do you think this compares to if you had an equivalent civilian job? From a technical perspective, ensuring everyone has the systems and services they require to carry out their main role. There’s also a management expectation when it comes to people and teams wanting capability that’s well above and beyond what they use normal. Within the office, my responsibilities are tailored to ensuring people can carry out their jobs well. I need to ensure everyone is content with how their careers are going and assist with any development for them, personally and professionally, as and when they want or need it.
Working with my team. I’m very fortunate that I have a cracking bunch of people, we all get along and can have a conversation and a social when the time allows it.
I’ve completed my degree and aim to register with one of the professional bodies aligned to our Branch.
Before my transfer I’d earned my BSc through Lincoln but many of my peers, and even some of my team, are studying in various areas to get some form of accreditation, be it BSc, MSc or something slightly different.
Very good. There’s slightly more flexibility to what I had when I was in the Army. Not only do I like to use this, I also push my team to take full advantages of it as well. I like to think that if people see me taking the time to develop in my chosen sports and hobbies then they’ll do the same as well.
Standard SLA really. Nothing exceptional, it’s fit for purpose and is comfortable.
I’m married unaccompanied therefore my family do not utilise any of the packages but for me they’re more than enough.
I routinely partake in the station golf events and will hopefully represent the RAF at some point in the near future. I’ve recently signed up for the Malta half marathon as well and will be representing the station on that as well.
None yet but will grasp the opportunities as and when they arise.
The fact that each day is different. As a people person, I like the fact that I/we work in small teams but for me, moving around as much as we do means I’ll have opportunities to work with other people throughout the rest of my career.
Graduating from RAFC Cranwell. At no point in the first 15 years of my army career did I ever think I’d have transferred to the RAF, let alone as an Officer. To have led a Flight on the parade square, and graduating in front of my wife and family was a moment I’ll never forget!
An awful lot, for a myriad of reasons. Some will be about passing knowledge of jobs/roles/experiences etc but the vast majority is simply to stay in touch, check up on one another and maintain friendships.
I honestly don’t know yet. I’m enjoying myself so much, professionally and personally, that I’m happy to just take every day in my stride and see how things go.
