After completing a 4 year engineering apprenticeship and spending the last 18 months working front line in a factory I am finding myself in the wrong job. Yes I have weekends off and yes I get paid a very decent amount of money for a 26 year old (allowing me to race of course). But its not enough. I have no commitments and still live at home so a career change is very possible. I am not sure I even want to move into another engineering role, I don't mind it, but it doesn't excite me going to work. I have looked at the RAF (most of my family are ex forces) but due to a history of asthma I can't apply for air crew. Been looking at some more exciting roles in the police, does anyone have experience in armed response? Sorry for the essay just thought I would ask my mates on here as your all very helpful. cheers
Bit of a difficult one as what motivates people varies so much from person to person. Some people are very much live-to-work people and some are very much work-to-live. I mostly fall into the latter category and in fact I recently went through a selection process for a job that I thought I wanted because of the extra money and prestige involved but then realised that my heart wasn't in it. Extended periods away from my home and loved ones every month. I just knew I'd get to the point where it'd be a lovely sunny evening and I'd want to be at home with the missus having a BBQ or out riding the moors on my other missus First thing would be to figure out what matters to you most and then go from there. Whatever you choose, remember that very few people leap out of bed and look forward to going to work. Most people just tolerate it, I think. That having been said, you spend an awful lot of your life at work and if you truly don't like what you're doing then you're wise to change.
Thanks for the advice rich and trust me, I won't be making any rash decisions! But like you say with so much of your time being spent at work I would love to have a job doing something I really love preferably with some adrenaline included. I know we can't have everything but at the minute I'm spending all this time in a place I don't want to be just so I can race once a month.
My buddy is ex armed response and now senior fire arms instructor for Avon and Somerset. PM me you mobile and I'll pass it on to him.
Just a heads up, You would have to join as a student officer. A lot of forces are taking on internally now instead via the pcso/special constable route. You would have to do 2 yrs as a student officer before being able to apply for firearms or any specialist role. In reality you'd probably have to have more service in than that even. The fitness test for firearms is the highest level so you'd need to be quite fit rather than the normal donut muncher So....in a nutshell you'd have to spend a few years swinging your truncheon & whistling Dixon of dock green before they'll let you get a sniff of specialist post
Thats what my mate says lozzy hes on the force minimum 2 years response. My fitness atm is fine but would without a problem be very good if I had something to aim for. Do you have personal experience?
Married to a copper by any chance ? You seem to know an awful loot for a mear minion like the rest of us lol
My best mate was in firearms I'm not married I've more blooming sense thank you very much ........oh....and of course I know a lot....I'm a woman aren't I
My mate was in firearms and I know they have to pass physiological assessments as well. I'd have a chat to that firearms instructor that's been mentioned. I know its not as exciting as they make out on telly etc
Cheers lozzy its not the only thing I'm looking at just weighing up a few ideas before I make a decision
that's Tyke done for then Dude, Bruce is fire arms and diplomatic protection... pretty sure he wouldn't mind me saying, he hates it!! adrenalin isn't something he would use to describe it either.... standing around trying to look interested closer to reality ha.... through Bruce (and a couple of cousins) I know a fair few coppers in the met, most used to love it, very few can say they still do as it's changed a fair bit.... but you wouldn't know what your missing of the good old days if you never served time there.... horses for courses I guess.... the guys that seem to love police work the most are dog handlers and TSG (think it's called that) where they do the raids etc. personally knowing you, i'd say you would be better suited at armed forces where you are a bit more active / variety or fire service.... fire service is great as you can use your down time to do engineering stuff to boost your money... in fact, my pal Kev done exactly that and now lives happily loaded on his pension in spain!
I'm just waiting for him to get back to me re the bleep test grade for firearms, if you familier with that? you can download a free bleeptest online & have a go. I understand UK police going towards Northern Ireland fitness tests in a few years
Tyke will pass the bleep test no probs, it's about level 8 I think which he would be no struggle.... if the man mountain that is Bruce can pass, then the racing snake Tyke will breeze it ha ha
Yeah I've done plenty back in the schooldays but keep on top of my fitness always worth a check though
Don't join the plod. It will turn you into a bitter and twisted individual, and besides guns aren't all that when you use them for a living, more a lot of paperwork, training and BS. Can't believe I'm going to say this but take your other option and join the Crabs aka RAF <spit>, you'll get more variety and if you don't wear blue then people will mistake you for a vastly superior Soldier
No.....I think you should be a Fireman, even men love firemen.....you can save cats....stride about purposefully saying 'Stand back little ladies' in a deep voice and get to wave one of those massive hoses about! Hell...you can even moonlight in your uniform for a bit of pin money on hen nights its a no brainer really!
Join the RAF, it's the better paid branch of the armed forces. I'm ex Army myself, and I worked alongside the RAF techs and RAF Regiment boys. As you have a trade already then once you have done the basic training, you should get fast-tracked through the trade training in whatever engineering role you are qualified for. There is a saying in the forces...when on deployment or exercise..the Army dig in, the RAF book in
