As a pretty long serving CI, this wouldn’t change things me for. I have had various officers try and coerce me into (commissioned) uniform, and one of the reasons given is because I do more hours than the average uniformed CFAV in the Sector.
FWIW, my reasons for not wanting to go uniformed:
- loss of annual leave prepping for, and attending, OASC
- potential stress of OASC. Having seen the patronisingly-written reports of some very good candidates who had some pratt of an interviewer / assessor doesn’t fill me with confidence that the system is massively fair. I have enough stress in my day job, why would I want to put myself through it for a hobby?
- loss of annual leave for needing to attend OIC, plus other courses at appropriate times
- my time is already precious to me. I don’t want to spend time prepping uniform etc, when I already normally go straight from work to Sqn. The nights I’m not at Sqn I often spend at work - because that’s the kind of job I have. The time I get home whether I go to Sqn first or spend longer at work is often the same. Weekends are no better (albeit out of choice). Before lockdown, I had been away all but 1 weekend this year. i.e. doing the stuff required of you if you’re uniformed would mean I would actually do less for RAFAC
- Under current rules, I don’t want to do anything that requires uniform (some shooting stuff / some fieldcraft stuff / being an OC)