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Post by dpdouglas on Dec 19, 2005 12:23:50 GMT 12
i just want to find out who is joining and when.
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Post by dpdouglas on Dec 19, 2005 12:25:31 GMT 12
I just basically want to know who will be joining in 2007 because i will be. that way then i have a person who i know that will be going there then.
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on Dec 19, 2005 13:45:59 GMT 12
il probably join 2010, once all my schoolings done, but if i go to kristen il probably join in 2008
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Post by dpdouglas on Dec 22, 2005 21:22:41 GMT 12
2008?  Cassidy how can you join the airforce at an early age sheesh you have to be 17 years old before you join which i think you wont be at 5th form |
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Post by dpdouglas on Dec 22, 2005 21:34:13 GMT 12
Anywho i will be definitely be joining at 17 or at least try to get in.
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Post by phil on Jan 26, 2006 17:27:45 GMT 12
Here's something to consider.
Think about doing something else for a bit first, either study (get a degree, or at least start one that you can complete once you join) or work in the civvy world first.
This will give you a much better outlook on the service, a few more life skills and a better sense of perspective. If you have a degree you will have better career options once you get in, ie you may be eligible for a commission if it is something relevant.
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Post by dpdouglas on Mar 15, 2006 17:00:54 GMT 12
ok Phil that is definitely something to think about.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 15, 2006 17:14:17 GMT 12
On the other hand Phil, seriously getting a real job and learning a bit about life is a huge bonus before going to university to get a degree too. Kids straight from school into university almost never appreciate the opportunity or put ion the same amount of hard work as someone a bit more mature does. I am glad I did it the other way, learned maturity and discipline in the RNZAF, and then went to university. Had I gone to uni first I probably would have not joined the Air Force at all.
And also the way the RNZAF is being restructured, you are effectively going to be doing continuous study and learning on the job, and you'll get the same sort of diplomas or whatever as you do at polytech now I believe, only you'll be earning money and liing the dream at the same time. It's not like my days when you simply did a course and then went and worked on a squadron or section, you'll now do your course and then go to a unit where you're given further learning the whole time, for the rest of your career. That's what i was told recently by an Auckland Warrant Officer in charge of such things.
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Post by dpdouglas on Mar 17, 2006 14:04:07 GMT 12
Yes see I completely agree with Dave on this one. The RNZAF has schemes for such things and when you do a degree of some sort outside of the RNZAF you don't get the working learning as you do in the RNZAF they have such schemes as the RUS scheme.
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Post by yaya on Mar 18, 2006 5:30:26 GMT 12
before i join the airforce, im going to do a course in either Hospitality or Food, spend a yr traveling then join
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Post by phil on Mar 18, 2006 8:19:34 GMT 12
People who join at 17 tend to lack life skills and have have no concept of the real world, going into the RNZAF from school really leads to institutionalised individuals who even in their mid 20s cant imagine anything else.
Dave - if you can go to university without having to hold down a job to pay for it go for it.
The schemes are all well and good, such as RUS, but that only takes a very small number of people per year. You can study once your in, sure but it is better to have had a life outside the service a bit first. The RNZAF is not starting to issue diplomas to everyone finishing techs course, you can qualify for certain unit standards through your training, but we are not a training provider aimed at equiping people with qualifications to enable them to get jobs in the outside world. Our training is geared at teaching people to do our, jobs our way. This is great experience, probably some of the best experience available, but it does not equal a formal qualification.
Good on you yaya, go and do some travel first, the RNZAF is not going anywhere and you will be in a better position once you've seen the world a bit on your own.
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Post by phil82 on Mar 18, 2006 12:52:37 GMT 12
I didn't find that Phil.[being institutionalized], in fact I can recall looking up all my school mates the first time home in almost three years, [after two and a half years in Kenya], and found them without exception to be a dreary and boring lot who were still sitting on the same bar stools as when I left them! I was light years ahead socially and intellectually due to my experience.
I know a number of people still serving, and I doubt they would consider themselves institutionalized either.
On the other hand.... I was in long enough to see the Direct Entry type officer waving an MBA or whatever come in and be totally lost! Most of them were as much use as three men on leave for the first year or so, and even then they didn't understand the air force ethos; probably still don't, but they have "a job".
I've been in management meetings with some of these people, and they had huge difficulties thinking 'outside' of the square, but didn't want to discuss the fact that there were lots of people around, like SNCOs, who knew a lot more than they did!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 18, 2006 13:32:25 GMT 12
Phil said "People who join at 17 tend to lack life skills and have have no concept of the real world"
That's the same as people going into uni at that age straight from school. they think they're grown up but really they're not at all. Often they come out the other end with a massive debt and still little chance of a job.
Phil also said, "Dave - if you can go to university without having to hold down a job to pay for it go for it."
I have worked part time to get through my studies.
I do agree that a real job for a short while before joining the RNZAF (or before going to uni) can't be a bad thing. And yes travel will indeed broaden the mind too but usually this has to be preceded by lots of hard work too. So yes I agree working in a real job for a year or two would be good, it'll mature your outlook a little and help develop some good skills. But I don't think it's altogether necessary before joining the RNZAF.
Regarding the institutionalisation, though I do kind of see where Phil is coming from, I'm with Colin (Phil82) on this one. I think the Air Force is great for developing people in their knowledge, personal skills and social etiquet, etc. They turn kids into responsible men and women in a much better way than ani other further education provider could do.
There is still room for individualality and living a relatively normal life. It's not like the nutty hard core services like the US Marines who turn people into robots. As a society in which to live, apart from my current social group of friends, I could not find finer company than RNZAF people (whether in their 20's or their 80's). I guess the fact that we all had something in common, a collective purpose and interest, helped, and also the fact that all who enter the service have been selected from the upper levels of the cross-section of society for their common sense and higher achievement levels and IQ.
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Post by phil82 on Mar 18, 2006 17:43:44 GMT 12
Actually, hospitality and food are well-known in air force circles; we all ate and drank, and so were experts!
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Post by phil82 on Mar 18, 2006 17:45:59 GMT 12
The one single feature that has been current in all air forces since 1918 and earlier, is the single most important asset: the people who are in it.
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on May 15, 2006 18:04:22 GMT 12
*giggles* looks like I'll be joining the USAF instead or perhaps the USN (I know I know) but don't worry it's as a naval aviator.
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Post by atcassidy_30hobby on May 15, 2006 18:05:12 GMT 12
hay have you noticed that the polls stats add up to 99.9?
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Post by dpdouglas on Sept 3, 2006 0:00:44 GMT 12
Now that i have had some time to think about it I can't decide between Army, Airforce or NZ Police. They all basically offer the same things in a job.
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Post by phil82 on Sept 3, 2006 10:32:09 GMT 12
"Now that i have had some time to think about it I can't decide between Army, Airforce or NZ Police. They all basically offer the same things in a job".
They do?
In what way, exactly? I think you'll find that they are all "service" structured organisations, but otherwise dissimilar!
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Post by tibor on Sept 3, 2006 17:38:11 GMT 12
Now that i have had some time to think about it I can't decide between Army, Airforce or NZ Police. They all basically offer the same things in a job. If you actually believe that, I strongly suggest you do your homework before you sign on the dotted line for any of these jobs, or you may end up very disillusioned and/or disappointed... From my experience, each of these organisations have very different cultures, resulting in vastly different jobs and lifestyles. |
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Cassidy how can you join the airforce at an early age sheesh you have to be 17 years old before you join which i think you wont be at 5th form
