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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 16, 2021 15:38:20 GMT 12
I am 16. This means that I am moving in the fun stage of life were I get to figure out what to do with my life. My first choice is to be super rich and do nothing. That’s not going to happen. So what I’d like to know is what sort of culture I’d find? And also what sort of personality is suited to the RNZAF? Bearing in mind that I’m currently interested in the very original, Biggles inspired career of being a pilot. Cheers Jack
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 16, 2021 18:04:08 GMT 12
You need to be smart and intelligent, a quick thinker, willing to take orders but also capable of independent thought. You need to be fit and healthy. It's crucial you're a good team player and have leadership qualities. Be well-read, and knowledgeable about the world, places, cultures, science, technology, etc. You need a good head for physics to be aircrew.
Have you considered joining the Air Training Corps? They tailor teens towards Air Force life.
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 16, 2021 19:04:39 GMT 12
Have you considered joining the Air Training Corps? They tailor teens towards Air Force life To be honest no. What I’ve heard of ATC seems to be a lot of parading. Plus I’ve got Saturday’s booked out with cricket umpiring most of the summer, and I’m a compulsive study, which takes up a lot of time.
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 16, 2021 19:05:21 GMT 12
That last post just looks like one big excuse, I know. Thanks for the answer Dave.
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Post by shorty on Nov 16, 2021 20:02:19 GMT 12
Parading is about team work. Mind you the way the Air Force is going the 5 guys left won't be enough for a parade!
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Post by aircraftclocks on Nov 16, 2021 20:50:09 GMT 12
That's enough for a quarter guard.
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Post by shorty on Nov 16, 2021 21:16:59 GMT 12
I thought 1 on the gate, 1 to pull the flag up and down, 1 Joe boy, 1 on Jankers and the last one to supervise the other 4
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 17, 2021 7:39:09 GMT 12
Parading is about team work. I hadn’t thought about parading like that. What’s everyone’s best reason for joining the RNZAF? Please not just regurgitated recruiter waffle.
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Post by tbf2504 on Nov 17, 2021 8:01:52 GMT 12
As Shortly states, parading and drills (Marching, parade ground work) are all part of team building so that each member of the "team" knows instinctively what to do and that their mates alongside will being doing exactly the same. This installs disciplines which in the event of operational situations or such the team acts as a whole
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2021 9:08:13 GMT 12
What’s everyone’s best reason for joining the RNZAF? It is over 30 years since I joined up Jack, and whilst the RNZAF is a little different nowadays, it's still our Air Force with the same fundamental aims and purpose. For me, when I decided to join up, it was because it offered a career and trade training in a trade that had a wide variety of skills and applications, plus I got to be around aircraft, which I loved. Once I was in though I realised the RNZAF is such a great place to work because everyone is smart, intelligent, fun, has a sense of humour, and are great people to be around because they are all hand picked as the top candidates from the hundreds of applicants for each recruiting cycle. They and we were elite, in a way, when compared with general society. High achievers with determination, flexibility, dedication and a can-do attitude. It did not matter what trade or section they were in, you knew you could count on them. Everyone was on the same level as you - no shirkers, wasters, lazy bastards, thickos or dickheads. Everyone was part of a really smart team with similar viewpoints and a willingness to work together for the cause without any issues. Admittedly there were one or two exceptions to this but one or two out of thousands really does set it aside as a unique working environment where every day you feel motivated and inspired. These days there are less operational squadrons and less people, bases and aircraft, after constant squeezing by the successive governments, but on my visits to RNZAF bases in recent years I have instantly noted that the esprit de corps is still there in spades among the current generation. If you do get selected for pilot training, you will get terrific training and enjoy a great career, or you can use the skills gained to go onto a brilliant career in commercial aviation. If you do not get selected though, don't be disheartened. Ask the recruiters if you can try for a ground trade - if you got that far they already know you have the right personality for Air Force life and they will help you into a trade that fits you. I was in an engineering trade, I never tried for pilot. And this is not recruiter speak. You will note that this forum is made up of a lot of people who served in the RNZAF in different generations, some are still serving, some left decades ago. But we are all friends because we are of that type of person who the RNZAF selected, that elite personality, and we enjoy remaining in company with those sorts of people because the RNZAF in many ways were the best years of out lives.
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Post by oj on Nov 17, 2021 18:18:23 GMT 12
Well Jack, the most important thing is to realise that after a few years, if you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined. Dave says we were all professionally chosen, above society's rabble. Others used to say we were home-town-failures. i.e. Couldn't get a job in our home town so we joined the Air Force. Stick with cricket; the career path is probably quicker and you will get flown all over the world.
Oh, sorry, I forgot about my reason for joining! I joined because my elder brother had joined seven years earlier and was still enjoying it. My younger brother joined three years later than me because he had two elder brothers still enjoying it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2021 19:25:40 GMT 12
Ha, I think things must have changed between your joining and mine OJ.
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 17, 2021 19:30:37 GMT 12
Okay, good stuff to think about. I won’t lie, the cricket epitomises dysfunctional.
I guess that’s been my impression of the NZ military especially the army. All the kids I know who are joining the army are the ones whom I’m not sure how they propose passing basic training or what every the army calls it.
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 18, 2021 16:55:35 GMT 12
I guess the biggest thing is though that signing up to be a pilot means signing up for about 12 years. Which is a problem if you realise you don’t like it.
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Post by phil on Nov 18, 2021 18:18:24 GMT 12
Firstly, if you don't like it, you aren't likely to pass pilot training, so 12 years becomes irrelevant at that point.
Secondly, if you pass then that's 12 years you are guaranteed a job.
Thirdly, to a 16 year old, 12 years probably seems like forever. It it isn't.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Nov 18, 2021 19:33:05 GMT 12
Just do it. Best advice from me is give everything that comes your way in life 100%. It is still a great choice for young people (get paid to train, make great friends, hopefully travel the world). You will soon decide if it is for you or not. The ATC is still a good way to introduce yourself to Air Force life but there are plenty who join who didn't go through ATC.
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 18, 2021 21:56:42 GMT 12
Makes sense Don. They do say fear kills more dreams than failure. Actually Don, some of the best advice I’ve heard in this field, period. And I can sort (barely but I’m trying) understand the point about 12 years not seeming like a long time latter. You guys might have just convinced me that it’s time to give the recruiters a bell-or at least in three weeks after all my exams.
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Nov 21, 2021 16:23:32 GMT 12
Any suggestions on how to broach the idea with parents?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 21, 2021 16:59:44 GMT 12
Any suggestions on how to broach the idea with parents?
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Post by Chelsea57986 on Jan 25, 2022 16:57:50 GMT 12
Slightly different line of approach. Would any of you say there is much inherent danger. Obviously it’s not joining the local church choir, and you have to do things most wouldn’t. But is there actually any real danger most of the time or there being negative lasting affects? Am aware would be different on deployment, etc.
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