Fast Track courses what's the truth? Ex Military, needs advice.

[Stephen Legge]

I have done the fast track course on my resettlement time & yes it does give you a very basic working knowledge of the industry.

I was a WAFU (M trade) with 26.5 years aircraft engineering experience under my belt but getting to grips with different terminology & heating system operation & wiring is challenging but so rewarding when you sort out a pig of a problem that others have been unable to & restoring heating or water for the less able in our society.

The main thing to get to grips with is the hrs & also the limits of your knowledge.

It is a hard graft out there and the companies promising the earth are talking bollocks.

I used Access training in wales at the time but these are no longer accredited trainers as also are quite a few who did not meet the M.O.D's criteria. (Good trainers but the office management (directors) where very elusive at times when people were disgruntled.

The main issue as everyone mentions is experience, you will be at the bottom of the pile but as long as you are open to hard work and continual learning, (everyday is a school day) then you should be ok.

Do as many manufacturers courses as you can and don't worry about feeling guilty about taking time off work in your last remaining months of service.

Above all don't do anything if you are not 100% happy and always ask questions,

Hope this helps & good luck,

Andy

WAFU mentioning hard graft? well I don't k ow where to start on that lol. I'm a chef by trade so grafting is not an issue. I appreciate the advice shipmate. Thanks for taking the time.

 

[Harvest Fields]

WAFU mentioning hard graft? well I don't k ow where to start on that lol. I'm a chef by trade so grafting is not an issue. I appreciate the advice shipmate. Thanks for taking the time.

Chef, graft and navy all in one post. I’ve had enough I going to bed.

 

[Stephen Legge]

Chef, graft and navy all in one post. I’ve had enough I going to bed.

Navy Chefs are on a different level to the boil in the bag slop jockeys you would have been used to. We do some serious hours on a ship. Even WAFU can't deny that lol

 

[Harvest Fields]

Navy Chefs are on a different level to the boil in the bag slop jockeys you would have been used to. We do some serious hours on a ship. Even WAFU can't deny that lol

To be fair I’ll give you that one. I’ve eaten in a few navy cook houses when I was in and it is decent food.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I spent some time on a boat in Freetown. That had decent food.

 

[Stephen Legge]

I spent some time on a boat in Freetown. That had decent food.

2001?

 

[Harvest Fields]

2001?

Yes mate.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Yes mate.

I was wrong. It was definitely 2001. I met the wife that year

 

[Stephen Legge]

I was wrong. It was definitely 2001. I met the wife that year

there was an RFA tanker berthed alongside in Freetown next to the army field hospital, we used to come in alongside the tanker for a few days before going out again.

 

[king of pipes]

They maybe bud but they ain't paid for and are all mortgaged to the hilt what your proposing is possible but hard graft , we earn a decent living but often it's a 60 hour week and drowning in paperwork but I wouldn't go back to being employed all the best . Kop

 

[Pickwickpick]

Yep as kop says the self employed route is a hell of a lot of work and it is things like the paperwork, quotes, tax returns... That eat up half or your life. Then there's the stress of no holiday pay or sick pay and knowing that getting I'll could throw serious spanner in the works. But could never go back to working for someone.

 

[Harvest Fields]

there was an RFA tanker berthed alongside in Freetown next to the army field hospital, we used to come in alongside the tanker for a few days before going out again.

Was that the one that was therelong term? If so that was the one we were based on.

 

[Stephen Legge]

Yep as kop says the self employed route is a hell of a lot of work and it is things like the paperwork, quotes, tax returns... That eat up half or your life. Then there's the stress of no holiday pay or sick pay and knowing that getting I'll could throw serious spanner in the works. But could never go back to working for someone.

luckily for me I have spent the last 4 years running funds and accounts, asset management and auditing. My wife is also AAT trained and works in finance. The book keeping side and invoicing etc will actually be the easiest part of it for me.

Not bothered about the long days, I've done my fair share of 80+ hour weeks over the years. As long as I get to sleep in my own bed at home I am not bothered. I just don't think I could work 9-5 in a office watching what I say and being bored

 

[Stephen Legge]

Was that the one that was therelong term? If so that was the one we were based on.

yes it was based there during the civil war, they did swap round but another ship of the same class. That was my first deployment. Loved it.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Not bothered about the long days, I've done my fair share of 80+ hour weeks over the years. As long as I get to sleep in my own bed at home I am not bothered. I just don't think I could work 9-5 in a office watching what I say and being bored[/QUOTE]
I’ll second that.

 

[Harvest Fields]

yes it was based there during the civil war, they did swap round but another ship of the same class. That was my first deployment. Loved it.

My first deployment also.

 

[Scott_D]

What work do you want to do?
Just be aware a fast track course is to teach you how to pass the exams. You then need a way to gain some experience.
You will also need a few grand for tools, van stock and the deposit for that transporter.

 

[Harvest Fields]

What work do you want to do?
Just be aware a fast track course is to teach you how to pass the exams. You then need a way to gain some experience.
You will also need a few grand for tools, van stock and the deposit for that transporter.

He will have done full service mate. He could take a lump Sum out of his pension. Money probably isn’t an issue if I’m honest.

 

[WC1]

Agree with
@Chalked
However, mate of mine was trying to set up a year or two ago and IIRC most insurers will want a formal nationally recognised qualification if they are going to insure for ANY plumbing work. Might want to check that out. Good luck

 

[Harvest Fields]

Agree with
@Chalked
However, mate of mine was trying to set up a year or two ago and IIRC most insurers will want a formal nationally recognised qualification if they are going to insure for ANY plumbing work. Might want to check that out. Good luck

But for gas work. ACS & Gas Safe Registration will be enough.

 

[Stephen Legge]

What work do you want to do?
Just be aware a fast track course is to teach you how to pass the exams. You then need a way to gain some experience.
You will also need a few grand for tools, van stock and the deposit for that transporter.

As @Harvest Fields says, I get over £40k lump sum when I leave, I don't have to use it to buy a house or anything so it's basically there if I need it, I was thinking along the lines of leasing a van (Depreciating asset head on) and about £10k for everything else. I don't know., I keep second guessing myself... maybe they need locksmiths lol

 

[Harvest Fields]

As @Harvest Fields says, I get over £40k lump sum when I leave, I don't have to use it to buy a house or anything so it's basically there if I need it, I was thinking along the lines of leasing a van (Depreciating asset head on) and about £10k for everything else. I don't know., I keep second guessing myself... maybe they need locksmiths lol

Never second guess yourself mate. The military has taught you that. Go with what you feel. Anything else is just Unacceptable. If you know you can make it work, go for it. To start with, I wouldn’t lease a van. Buy something 5/7 years old incase you hate it in 4 years time. Also in my opinion, Navy/Chef joking aside. 40k is a joke and nowhere nearly enough. Should be 100k.

 

[Stephen Legge]

Never second guess yourself mate. The military has taught you that. Go with what you feel. Anything else is just Unacceptable. If you know you can make it work, go for it. To start with, I wouldn’t lease a van. Buy something 5/7 years old incase you hate it in 4 years time. Also in my opinion, Navy/Chef joking aside. 40k is a joke and nowhere nearly enough. Should be 100k.

The new pension is even worst , 15 years of my pension is reserved on AFP75 but the new one is incremented, so for example, you join the army in 1990 and do 22 and leave as a WO2, you get a WO2 pension, with the new one it works like this... if you are a Pte for 4 years, LCpl for 4 years, Cpl for 4 years, Sgt for 4 years, SSgt for 4 and finish as a WO2 then that's the pension you get 4 years pte rate, 4 years Cpl etc... I could stay in for another 6 and my pension does not improve at all.

 

[Harvest Fields]

The new pension is even worst , 15 years of my pension is reserved on AFP75 but the new one is incremented, so for example, you join the army in 1990 and do 22 and leave as a WO2, you get a WO2 pension, with the new one it works like this... if you are a Pte for 4 years, LCpl for 4 years, Cpl for 4 years, Sgt for 4 years, SSgt for 4 and finish as a WO2 then that's the pension you get 4 years pte rate, 4 years Cpl etc... I could stay in for another 6 and my pension does not improve at all.

Not worth staying the extra 6 really unless you get promoted? Are you a SSgt? I only did 6 years and left as a Lcpl. I’m on AFP75 but I will not get much by the time I’m 65. Is the new one index linked?

 

[Stephen Legge]

Not worth staying the extra 6 really unless you get promoted? Are you a SSgt? I only did 6 years and left as a Lcpl. I’m on AFP75 but I will not get much by the time I’m 65. Is the new one index linked?

I'll be equivalent to SSgt by the time I leave, the pension is around 10k per year after the 40k pay out, it's nothing special but it's a holiday every year if nothing else... not that I'll be able to afford to take time off to go on holiday (got that in before any of you lot do)