Life after royal navy in Thailand

[Matty64]

Hey everyone, I've recently come to the decision that I want to leave the Royal Navy. In in two minds in whether to get a job back home in Manchester or make the move to Thailand. I'm half Thai with a passport and can speak the language conversationally. This means I have the right to work in Thailand, I just don't know if I can find a decent job. I've served 6 years as an aircraft engineer and I'm currently 24. Any help would be great with how easy it would be to get a job over there in any field.

[timendres]

I cannot speak specifically to your industry (aircraft/mechanical engineering), but I can say that with the employees that I hire - software engineers - they are in a solid job market. Lots of demand that cannot be satisfied. They make very good salaries for Thailand (but quite the opposite compared to some place like Silicon Valley). I would expect the same to be true for aircraft engineering. You should have a solid edge in that you speak English as well, and you have experience outside of Thailand. Personally, I would think the opportunities for you here are good and should only improve over time.

 

That said, it is very likely that your earning potential in the UK is far higher than here in Thailand. Of course, you would need to consider the cost of living against that income.

 

I was lucky in that I spent my prime earning years in the US and was able to do nicely, then moved here to Thailand to enjoy my life. Were I looking at it from being 24 years old, and in today's world, it would be a difficult choice. The "west" is no longer quite as obvious a choice as it was say 40 years ago. For someone like me, being 60 years old, the benefits of social security are obvious. In today's reality, I would be more inclined to think that social security was a dead end, and I would prefer to invest those taxes into my own retirement plan, which I think would produce better results.

 

In the end, I think the most important part of your decision is about where you believe you will be most happy. It is pointless to have a lot of money and be miserable.

[Thailand]

FAA tiffy?

 

24, you can do whatever you like. I waited 20 years too long, but few regrets finally making the move.

[clivebaxter]

Anywhere in Thailand would be better than Manchester, job or no job ????

[steve187]

i had a friend of mine leave the navy after 6 years he was an engineer as well, a few years later he regretted leaving and thought about re-enlisting, along came a baby so he didn't take it any further, he is in a management job now which he puts up with, but still to this day regrets leaving,

just my thoughts on leaving its not a good time world wide for jobs, so would it be worth waiting a bit until you have a clear choice of what's ahead. your young don't move from a known future to an unknown one, 

Edited May 9, 2021 by steve187

[Bredbury Blue]

You are young enough to give Thailand a go and go home to Mcr if it doesn't work out. 

I'd look on LinkedIn and jobsdb, apply and get a job, then resign. If you can't find a job in BKK or England then continue in the RN until you get one.

[DougSunee]

Come by all means but firstly spend some time improving your spoken and written Thai, particularly the written Thai for work. Also while a WAFU will be welcomed us crabs are already here. 

[Matty64]

11 hours ago, Thailand said:

FAA tiffy?

 

24, you can do whatever you like. I waited 20 years too long, but few regrets finally making the move.

They got rid of tiffs maybe 10 years ago mate. Did you do the full 22?

[Matty64]

9 hours ago, steve187 said:

i had a friend of mine leave the navy after 6 years he was an engineer as well, a few years later he regretted leaving and thought about re-enlisting, along came a baby so he didn't take it any further, he is in a management job now which he puts up with, but still to this day regrets leaving,

just my thoughts on leaving its not a good time world wide for jobs, so would it be worth waiting a bit until you have a clear choice of what's ahead. your young don't move from a known future to an unknown one, 

For me personally, the work life balance atm isn’t great. I’m currently based in Yeovil and it looks likely I would be there for my entire career if I were to stay in. The place is depressing and I want to leave while I’m still young.

[tifino]

maybe consider a side step, to RAF or Army?   

 - a change is as good as a holiday

[pagallim]

If you are rotary certified (as opposed to fixed wing), an option would be to look at some of the helicopter service companies with the aim of overseas (out of UK) working.   These posts would be on rotation and would allow you to live anywhere and usually tax free.  The Middle East and Africa are still busy with oil and gas developments, as is the Caspian. 

[Bundooman]

Hi Matty64.

 

I can understand why you might want to live in Thailand. Particularly if you had visited here with the Royal Navy. I first came here in 1964 on HMS Falmouth, we steamed up the Chao Praya river overnight and spent 10 days in Bangkok, anchored at great wooden stansions, (huge tree trunks located in the river, lashed together), oppsite the Royal Palace. I was 20 years old. I fell in love with Thailand at that time. I returned in HMS Naiad in 1968 and again on HMS Chichester over a 2 year period as Hong Kong Guardship. By then, Thailand had become a regular visit for HM Ships.

 

I didn't return for many years, but then, my English wife wanted to see my old haunts. We backpacked out here in 1994. we loved it and returned year after year for 10 years visiting many of the surrounding countries until we decided that we wanted to live in Thailand, but specifically, in Chiang Mai. We stayed together here for 5 years, working as English teachers, before we decided to split up as she missed the UK life, didn't like the heat, the food, couldn't get to grips with the language - yet I just just revelled in it all. We remain the best of friends, all these years later.

 

I have now been living here for 16 years. I still teach. I have a Thai wife and a 14 year old daughter, who studies at the same school where I teach. I have no plans to return to UK where I still have members of my family.

 

For you, the situation is different. I would suggest you backpack - why not. Get the 'feel' of Thailand - and Asia, if you are not familiar with the area.  In all the years I have visited Asia, all the years I have lived here, I have never had an argument or a problem with Thai people, or any Asian people for that matter. And I feel safer here than back in UK, Europe or other places I have lived or visited, except in the Sultanate of Oman, where I lived for 2 years and felt equally safe.

 

Visit here often, get through the 'honeymoon period',  where everything is just perfect; go through the doubts of being away from UK family, the growing recognition of how Thailand works, and then, only then, you might decide this is the place you wish to live. I have never regretted it, despite the myriad of anti-Thai sentiment, the regulations and dislike that I see so often,  on this site.

 

Having said that, there are thousands of us who probably think the same as me, but for many different, or similar reasons.

 

Good luck with your decisions. 

[Matty64]

23 minutes ago, tifino said:

maybe consider a side step, to RAF or Army?   

 - a change is as good as a holiday

I want out of the forces entirely in all honesty mate. I’ve enjoyed my time in but I think I’ve got to the stage of my career that if I don’t leave now I’ll never leave.

[Mansell]

I first came here in the RN 1963 HMS Alert, also tied up in BKK on the river. Horrible mosquitoes in those days and we had no a/c so slept on the upper deck.....nasty. As for staying in the Andrew, I bought myself out after nine years, boy seaman at 15. Best thing for me at that time. I totally understand your wanting to leave. Just do it. Back then everybody had their horror stories of life after the Andrew. Within a year I was surfing in Morocco and living la vida loca. Never looked back, but sometimes had dreams/nightmares I was back in.....would wake up sweating, but then relieved. Hold a vision of what you want to accomplish in five years, and just move towards it. Good luck.

[Adiudon]

My Lad left the Royal Navy after 6-7 years a few years ago, he was also in engineering, a WE, once he made his mind up and told them he had to do another year before he finally left.

In this time he did all the re-training he could and got on a course repairing wind turbines, with assistance from the Navy, he got qualifications etc but the work was sporadic so he ended up going down another path (the Navy background helped him get a foot in the door for sure)

What I am saying is, if you are dead set on a life & career here in Thailand I'd advise you to decide what trade you would enjoy here, whether it is a financially good choice and if you would be a sought after employee, but do all your re-training & gain the qualifications in the UK.

[Bredbury Blue]

On 5/9/2021 at 5:26 PM, Matty64 said:

They got rid of tiffs maybe 10 years ago mate. Did you do the full 22?

Tiffs?

[Bredbury Blue]

On 5/9/2021 at 7:12 PM, Mansell said:

As for staying in the Andrew

Andrew?

[BKKBike09]

On 5/9/2021 at 12:10 PM, Matty64 said:

I want out of the forces entirely in all honesty mate. I’ve enjoyed my time in but I think I’ve got to the stage of my career that if I don’t leave now I’ll never leave.

 

At 24 I reckon you can afford (time-wise, if not financially) to take a break to consider options. In your OP you say a job in any field: if you want to stay in engineering and, let's face it, that's what you're qualified in, then you could consider the auto industry and especially companies like RMAsia, ie non-Thai owned businesses. International orgs like the UN also hire engineering roles locally. If you want to use your aircraft engineering then options are much more limited although the O&G helo support mentioned by a previous poster could be an option; if non-aero then O&G generally in Thailand could be an option.

 

Your big advantage is the Thai nationality. Makes you so much easier to hire, although hiring as a Thai can also be a way for companies to offer less.

 

I'd say do some more research online to see what might be available etc. Are you eligible for a Career Intermission? That might be an option for a year - come to Thailand and see what pans out etc.  

[Mansell]

13 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Tiffs?

Artificers.

[Mansell]

13 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Andrew?

A name for the Royal Navy that nobody really knows it’s origin.

[Thailand]

On 5/9/2021 at 5:26 PM, Matty64 said:

They got rid of tiffs maybe 10 years ago mate. Did you do the full 22?

9 years, redundant in '69. 

[Bredbury Blue]

29 minutes ago, Mansell said:

Artificers.

 

Thanks, another term i wasn't familiar with so i googled it:

 

An Artificer is an appointment held by a member of an armed forces service who is skilled at working on electronic, electrical, electro-mechanical and/or mechanical devices.[1] The specific term "artificer" for this function is typical of the armed forces of countries that are or have been in the British Commonwealth and refers to a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Artificer is a job title and not a rank.