I am currently in the process of joining the RAF, is it possible to be in the RAF and also be a CI?
You would become a service instructor rather than a CI. Unsure if you can choose to be a CI instead, I’d assume not.
I would imagine it’s better to be uniformed as then you get paid whereas CI’s don’t get paid apart from mileage.
It’s not really possible - you instead change to be a Service Instructor.
Talk to your recruiting team because you already have a service number as a CI, that may cause some admin issues. If they know that in advance, they can sort it out.
Finish you training, get to your posting and settle in, then have a chat with your boss.
Being an SI can be useful - depending on the attitude of your CoC you can get additional leave, restructuring of your duties etc.. to help you with your CFAV duties. There may be additional allowances (travel and subsistence) as well.
Drop it for the moment, crack on with your recruitment and training, and come back to it once you’re settled in.
A member of the regular forces can only join as a Service Instructor, a reservist can choose CI or SI.
If you went CI and then wanted to go into uniform, you would either need to change to SI, or follow the same personnel stream (eg. SNCO, Officer) as per the rank you hold in the reserves.
Paging @OC.1324 , I thought you were under a CFC, despite your reserves commission?
You are correct: @OC.1324 has both commissions running concurrently.
Similarly, enlisted reservists can be CFAV SNCOs/WOs (with certain allowances for them to join as FS or WO in recognition of previous experience).
Regulars, however, can only be SIs as far as I’m aware. There might be odd examples of regular officers with a second CFC commission, etc, but they are not civilians and so cannot be CIs (whereas reservists become civilians when off duty and have that choice).
My Son is currently on phase 2 and completed phase 1 at the beginning of the year. If you are joining as an enlisted airman/airwoman, for the 10 weeks of phase 1 you will not have any opportunity to leave Halton. Once you move into phase 2 (I can only speak for Cosford) the only time you will have to go home is on the weekends however, some courses finish mid afternoon on a Friday so there may be an opportunity for you to attend your local Sqn if they parade on a Friday.
I wouldn’t plan on doing anything RAFAC related until the end of phase 2 and once you know where your initial posting will be. You don’t say what your chosen trade is but you will need to do some studying during phase 2 so use your time wisely.
I will also caveat that depending on trade and role there is often scarce opportunity to volunteer even post phase 2.
SIs are not paid ![]()
And they can’t claim mileage either, unless their own unit allows them to claim it against their UIN (mine did once).