Thread: getting out - advice needed

Hiya,

Unfortunately as my husband is a cpl in the signals he wasn't eligible to apply for the redundancy this time

However, he is thinking about getting out the army anyway, eeekk.

I was wondering how he can find out how much the lump sum is that he would get when he comes out and also, does anyone know which companies are after ex-army guys to do work abroad (afghan/Iraq etc) and what sort of wages they are paying for this type of role?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Ellie xx

To the best of my knowledge there isn't a lump sum. Mr tree got out just as we met (signed back on though) and there was no lump sum. It's only a pension he'll leave with and that doesn't come into play until retirement age.

I think there's a calculator on Armynet for working out pensions etc.

Hiya,

Does your OH have a confirmed offer of employment, or is he just starting to look for work? How confident is he that he can find work in the current climate? The only reason I ask is that, personally, I think the job situation is getting worse. In addition, I can see salaries falling as well.

Don't mean to be on a downer, as at the end of the day, I do not even know what your OH current role is, or what his career aspirations are! How sure is he that he wants to sign off, or is it just a case of New Year Blues?

TLC

Ps, sorry for sounding a bit negative.

Introduction to the pension calculator

This is the pension calculator.

You only get a full pension and lump sum if you complete 22 years, or in some cases when being made redundant.

He *may* get some financial help with the costs of courses but he would need to speak with his Career Management Officer or Clerk to get that info (I am sure former but somebody may be able to correct me on that front).

Civvy Street is fairly rubbish at the moment job wise too, so he is best putting the feelers out prior to actually terminating.

Originally Posted by Gonzo

He *may* get some financial help with the costs of courses but he would need to speak with his Career Management Officer or Clerk to get that info (I am sure former but somebody may be able to correct me on that front).

Civvy Street is fairly rubbish at the moment job wise too, so he is best putting the feelers out prior to actually terminating.

Depends on how long served and a load of other bits and bobs. Princess if you want to PM me I will ask about his credits etc with the OH he normally knows this lind of thing.

I would also say look at getting jobs before signing off. Remember there are LOADS of ex forces heading into the job market at the moment so he will be up against people with similar quals and experience. It is really tough at there at the moment and I promise it is not just media hype.

Take some time and look into the options. If he wants out then go for it BUT do your homework first!

I knew D_C would be able to help

Yup thats me Army Admin 101

When my lad did his last sandpit tour, he had his usual wobble and said he was coming out, seeing the private security lads with all their mod cons, being able to drink etc and have the luxury of sending the army in for all the crap stuff certainly looks enticing. However the down side is, no back up, you get yourself shot they don't have the nice helicopter/next flight home/ insurance and support ( however much it fails at times) the army has. Sometimes to get to these jobs you even have to pay your own transport- and no work, no pay. So I'd say have a really good think, what does he fancy doing, does he need to retrain, what are the career opportunities, will you need accommodation? and how much will he miss the lads. Most of my lads mates who made the plunge wish they hadn't. My lad came out at one point and went straight back in. Hope everything works out hun, whatever he decides

you're so right auntylol - my hubby was considering doing that, and I put my foot down. I can cope with 6 months in Afghanistan but him doing contract work out there without the military back up would send me over the edge, I'd be worried sick 24 hours a day.

If he hasn't served 22 years you get bugger all. Thats the long and the short of it. He'll not even get his pension until he reaches a pensionable age. I served 7 years - my pension is a measly £2400 a year from the age of 65. I'm planning on retiring in style!!!

My hubby has applied for voluntary redundancy - and if he doesn't get it he's going to leave anyway. However, he's now served 25 years so will get a lump sum, an immediate pension and with all that management experience behind him is likely to find a fairly decent job long-term. We've really thought about the current job climate and to us, him leaving now would mean him getting the pick of the jobs he can do, rather than in a couple of years time when there are thousands more ex-military looking for the same jobs and the companies can be a bit more picky.

You have to think about whether you would be financially stable if he left and couldn't find work for 6 months? Do you have a job? Would you settle where he is currently posted? Do you own your own house already? If not, could you afford to go and get one if you're unsure about him being able to get a job as soon as he leaves? Or even be able to afford one without a payout (if he's entitled to it) I only ask because these are all the things we've seriously considered before my husband volunteered.

Bear in mind (mortgage advisor head on) that you or your husband will not get a mortgage if you are not in employment, or have resigned. That will be one of the questions you are asked in the application too. I don't suppose it would be much different froma rental point of view either.

Thanks for all the replies.

My husband is in the signals (telecommunications engineer) so finding a job shouldn't be a problem as bt and sky are desperate for people like him, a lad in his unit just came out and walked into a job with bt at the same wage as in the army.

He isn't looking for a private security job, but is looking for a telecoms or engineer job who go out to afghan or Iraq. I def wouldn't be happy him going over there to do a private security job.

Housing wise, we would rent or stay with family for a few years before getting a Mortgage and wouldn't apply for one till were both working which wouldn't be for a couple of years till our daughter is at school (she's. Only a year old ATM)

Hubby is going to ask at work about the lump sum as he's been told by other lads that as he's been in over 12 years he is entitled to a small sum (he's been in 17years)

Ellie xx

Mr K says he may well get a bit of a lump sum so definitely worth checking.

Yeah those private security jobs come with a major downfall....................death................t hey are easily replaced, so they get sent into all the sh*t storms, high insurance/pay etc comes with a life pricetag, unfortunately.

I wouldn't look at getting out for the next 18-22 months. I'd let the storm of the redunancies pass, no offence but your OH may well end up jobless for a fair old while, unless he can get a gaurantee from a company. I say this because of the amount of people that are due to leave enmass

Being on a resettlement course currently the speel we're getting is that even though the employment market is a bit crap at the mo, the majority of forces leavers aren't really having any problems and out of the guys that are on the course 4 already have jobs before they've even left so it can all work out nicely, depends on what you want to do, where you want to do it and how much effort you put in to getting what you want

I don't think he would get a lump sum. He would get a resettlement package but that is not a lump sum cash in hand, it is to pay for courses and as I understand it you book it through the Army and they pay it direct to the provider.

Over on the dark side they will definately be able to tell you in the RHQ section, and they are pretty ok there too.

Originally Posted by tattooedlady

Being on a resettlement course currently the speel we're getting is that even though the employment market is a bit crap at the mo, the majority of forces leavers aren't really having any problems and out of the guys that are on the course 4 already have jobs before they've even left so it can all work out nicely, depends on what you want to do, where you want to do it and how much effort you put in to getting what you want

they've been using that line for a very long time lol

I have lost two friends who were on the "circuit". One in 2004 and one in 2007. Yes, it is good money (although not even that is as good as it once was) but it is a very strange existance and the people I know who do it probably wouldn't manage in a normal life. It is very easy to be seduced by the cash but the reality is quite different.

Didn't you used to get something if you made it to your 12 year point?

Originally Posted by dizzybird

I have lost two friends who were on the "circuit". One in 2004 and one in 2007. Yes, it is good money (although not even that is as good as it once was) but it is a very strange existance and the people I know who do it probably wouldn't manage in a normal life. It is very easy to be seduced by the cash but the reality is quite different.

Didn't you used to get something if you made it to your 12 year point?

Wasn't that a re-sign bonus, or if getting out a half pension at 60?

When Mr K signed off at his 12 year point he was definitely going to get a lump sum. Not sure what it was though as he signed back on.