Bootneck to Pilot?

[druadan]

This is quite a few years down the line yet, but as there appears to be some knowledgable people around might as well ask.

Currently I'm planning to do another 6 or 7 years in the Corps, I'm just starting an OU degree in Law which will take 6 years to complete and I don't want to go outside without it. To be honest, I enjoy the Corps and the lifestyle, but I can't see it being a lifetime career for me. I have considered a couple of other options in the Forces, and flying is one of the few things that might tempt me enough to stay in. And don't even suggest the AAC, don't think Bootneck turned Pongo would go down too well

So the RAF is an option I want to look into further. I don't suppose anyone has experience of transferring from one service to another, with the added complication of going for a commission at the same time? I figure quite a few years as a Bootneck with good reports (still gotta get that bit ) plus a degree would be quite a good footing to start from? I intend to apply for Aircrewman next year, which would (although very different, obviously, messing about in the back of helos as opposed to actual flying) presumably give me an advantage?

Do you think they'd let me keep me lid instead of those gay hats they were?

[Spooky]

This is quite a few years down the line yet, but as there appears to be some knowledgable people around might as well ask.

Currently I'm planning to do another 6 or 7 years in the Corps, I'm just starting an OU degree in Law which will take 6 years to complete and I don't want to go outside without it. To be honest, I enjoy the Corps and the lifestyle, but I can't see it being a lifetime career for me. I have considered a couple of other options in the Forces, and flying is one of the few things that might tempt me enough to stay in. And don't even suggest the AAC, don't think Bootneck turned Pongo would go down too well

So the RAF is an option I want to look into further. I don't suppose anyone has experience of transferring from one service to another, with the added complication of going for a commission at the same time? I figure quite a few years as a Bootneck with good reports (still gotta get that bit ) plus a degree would be quite a good footing to start from? I intend to apply for Aircrewman next year, which would (although very different, obviously, messing about in the back of helos as opposed to actual flying) presumably give me an advantage?

Do you think they'd let me keep me lid instead of those gay hats they were?

RM - Pongo

or RM - Crab Air


You think Pongo would go down worse?!?

Heh sorry - had to ask!

[druadan]

I can pass that one off easy...Crabs are just civvies in uniform, so technically I'm no longer in

Plus the scran's hoofing, so I'm told...as Perce's most definitely ain't

[Rotary Booty]

druadan (Chris)

Thanks for the pm. I'll answer you here.

I was a Bootneck pilot who became an RAF pilot, having taught pongo pilots how to fly, but I did a spell in Oman as a Contract Pilot with SOAF inbetween.

The transfer to the Army or the RAF isn't a problem as long as you have what they want. Experience with anything to do with flying is a bonus. Flying with the Corps is getting harder and harder as we only have 6 Helicopters, although there are some slots with the Navy flying helicopters and Harriers. Moreover, we have a Major flying Chinooks with the RAF. As you are aware though, since being 'taken over' by the Royal Navy, Bootneck pilots are now officers only!

If you can, privately, get a Private Pilots Licence, then that would be a HUGE bonus, but expensive.

I know of 3 former RM Sgt Pilots who transferred to the AAC and reached the rank of Major, so don't dismiss that option too quickly. I nearly transferred to the AAC when I was an instructor at Middle Wallop, but they would only offer me a Short Service Commission at the time.

Whichever outfit you transfer to, you will not be allowed to wear your Green Beret unless you are attached back to 3 Cdo Bde RM. You can, however, wear the dagger emblem.

I hope this is of some help.

Rotary

[druadan]

Cheers Rotors,
Definitely worth following up then. Guess I'll see what happens re the Aircrew (when you say we only have six helos, presumably that's only six that Royal fly? The rest of CHF is flown by RAF/Navy?) and go on from that. Just waiting on a B grade RORRs, got a C last month having only been out the box a year, with 'showing potential' comments, so hopefully Herrick will go well and I'll get the required B next year (yeah I know that's pretty quick, can but try, may well take a couple more years considering my seniority being well down the scale), and get me chit in for it. I'd imagine it'll be a lot easier getting the inside track if/when I start working with the flyboys.

Thanks for the advice, it's encouraging at least. Having spoken to a friend of the family who did many years in the RAF and flies privately, I want to go for helos rather than jets, as (from what he's said) far more actual flying involved, jets more or less fly themselves. Just an opinion before anyone jumps down me throat, I'm well aware that the fast jet boys are very good at a very difficult job! So AAC is an option.

The Green Lid bit was in jest by the way Although surely if I went AAC I'd be entitled to wear it with the daggers and their cap badge?

Just out of interest, how much 'basic' training would be involved? Where would someone transferring slot into the system? Would AAC require a commission or do NCOs fly?

Cheers
Chris

[mfat_man]

NOTE TO CERTAIN MFAT MEMBERS!

Good to see an online converation not littered with swear words and/or text speak....

[Rotary Booty]

Chris

As a member of the AAC Cadre you will not be allowed to wear a Green Beret! They wear powder blue berets, and it's only attached ranks who wear their own parent regiment uniform and headgear. (Unless it's all changed!)

With the AAC you would only need to complete the flying course if you were joining as an NCO, but to enter to be an officer I reckon you would have to do Sandhurst first.

Harry managed to pass so you should be OK as a Bootneck!!!

Best of luck for the future.

Rotary

[themattmeister]

I know it's a bit off topic.

Druadan, what good is a law degree in the corps? The reason I ask is that I have one and I do want to use it one day, maybe join the police one day or some sort of law enforcement activity. How come you are doing law then?

Cheers.

[druadan]

No relation to the Corps. Law was one career I looked at before I joined the Corps, the other being something in computing. With the computing market becoming over subscribed massively, and it also being a very hard subject to study whilst moving all over the place due to limited to no IT support, law was the better (tho more expensive) option. No good in the forces as such; basically my plan is to do the degree, then I have three options - 1. continue in the Corps; very unlikely for more than a few years, it's a young man's job and I can't see me doing it past 30; 2. transfer to either RAF or AAC, where a degree may come in minor usefulness if a commission is required; 3. go outside, the main use for my degree, where hopefully I can get into a law related job (I was looking at a legal secretary as a half decent start point whilst studying for Bar etc) with the eventual ambition of becoming a barrister.

Rotors, as I understand the system, any rank of any service completing the Commando course is entitled to wear the Green Beret with their parent unit's cap badge; the notable exception to this is the odd Para who cracks the course and decides to keep his pink craphat Hence Cdo trained artillery wear Green lids with their cannons, RLC at Cdo Logs are 60% Cdo trained and wear Green lids with their stars, etc. You may say that's because they're serving with Bde, I can only give one example outside that, and that was an instructor at West Moors, an entirely Pongo run camp, his parent unit was Army RLC (not Cdo attatched) and he still had his Lid. Perhaps AAC have separate rules regarding this as they could be regarded as a very specialist unit? Anyhow, not really the important point of the post

One more question if you don't mind: are NCO pilots common in the AAC then? And at what level? Seniors only? Or is it going the same way as the Corps, moving more towards only Officers flying?

[themattmeister]

Thanks for the reply.

[druadan]

Matt, just a thought, I'm sure the Army have lawyers/legal minds, Adjutant General's Corps I would guess? Might be worth a little investigation if you want to make use of your degree in the forces. In the Corps you won't have much use for it, Provy would be as close as you could go.

[themattmeister]

Cheers for that Druadan.

I made some investigations into this a while ago, but I shall delve further. I'll have to pass my PRMC first though.

[King_duck]

AAC NCOs do the most flying in the AAC! You have to reach Cpl before you can apply for pilot. AAC officers will probably only do a couple of tours (please correct me if i'm wrong) flying and their role is really more as an aircraft commander.

I believe that it's only commando attached units that will wear the green beret. Such as commando engineers, artillery etc etc. Others that have passed the commando course just wear the dagger.

[druadan]

King_Duck (odd name?! Explanation?), cheers for heads up. Sounds like it'll need to wait a few years for any certainty, but by the sounds of what you and Rotors say transferring as an NCO would be the way forward if going AAC.

Threaders re: the lid