RNR Joining Problems

[ChineseGordon]

So, I fancied joining the RNR. I was pushing 40 when I started this process nearly two years ago, but I have twelve years of service under my belt as a comms rating, left with a perfectly good record and honourable discharge. I left back in 2015 and since then I've spent four years working for NATO with three of those years being in Afghanistan, where I met my wife, and another few months working for a French NGO in Mali. I reached out to my local unit which is literally just around the corner from my gaff, spun them a few dits of what I've done in the last few years. Their training officer is a old mess mate of mine, and they/he told me to go through the website and AFCO as that's the way it's done these days, and that's where it all started going wrong.

First my application was lost not once, but two times, meaning I had to start again each time. Eventually I called in to the AFCO and spoke to one of the chiefs, and that's when it really went to shit. The guy practically bollocked me for having the brass neck to apply as an ex-regular despite that being what the RNR unit told me to do. I was told I would have to start all over as a new entry, go to HMS Raleigh, no chance of joining my branch of choice despite the qualifications I'd gained since I left the mob, which was apparently due to the missus being originally from Afghanistan, although NATO themselves didn't have problem with this.

Is it worth giving it one last go? I'd like to, but with Covid delays and my advancing age, I don't fancy the idea of being a nozzer all over again even if it is for just two weeks.

 

[huwshpis]

@Branch-Hopper - one for you, I think. I’m too far out of the circuit.

 

[Branch-Hopper]

AFCO - Closing the RNR, one candidate at a time.......

General response:
If I had a tenner for each every dit I hear of this type I'd. I'd, dunno, probably own the RNR. What this is indicative of is the advice I give all regulars. Always, always take the Firefly offer. It gives you time to settle into civve life, and still decide weather you want to engage with the RNR or not. Three years exemption from mobilisation, and retention of whatever you had whilst in the RN. F'flies also avoid exactly this mess.

The issue, as I understand it, is that once out of the regular service (all colours of uniform), your paperwork is buried in some basement in Glasgow and the recovery of these creates more struggle than the liberation of Monte Casino.

@ChineseGordon
I feel your pain. Firstly be aware that the CIS branch in the RNR is shortly to close in its entirety. Might this impact on your decision? I would ask you to give it one more tap, if you are still keen to join. I'd also ask you to write to our Commodore, who really needs to have things of this brought directly to her attention.

As for a repeat of Raleigh, I think that each candidate is seen on his/her merit, previous duration of service, time since leaving and some other inputs worthy of Mystic Meg decide who does what.

Anymore advice than that I am either unable, or unwilling to give on open forum. I hope that this has helped in some form.

 

[ChineseGordon]

@Branch-Hopper Many thanks. I probably will give it one more go, and I like the idea of writing to the commodore.

I could be wrong, but I think I just missed out on FireFly. My TX date was mid-January 2015 and with leave I effectively left in November 2014, so it may have come along soon after. Otherwise I would of certainly taken them up on it.

 

[Branch-Hopper]

I could be wrong, but I think I just missed out on FireFly. My TX date was mid-January 2015 and with leave I effectively left in November 2014, so it may have come along soon after. Otherwise I would of certainly taken them up on it.

Oh, please don't think I was being critical, in anyway - It is still a relatively new thing, and I just push the benefits of it where I can, as former regular RN types really have nothing to loose.