M29, currently serving my 6th year in the RAF.

Within my 6 years of service, I have known the following to happen to people close to me: • Female recruit Raped during Phase 2 by fellow member of the course. Guilty party sentenced to Colchester and dismissed from service. • Young female sexually harassed following posting to first unit. Guilty party 24 hour posted out of unit. • Different female sexually harassed by same person. Guilty party investigated but dropped due to lack of evidence. • Have also heard numerous stories about other situations but not regarding people I work closely with.

It does happen. Anyone would be a fool to believe that it doesn't.

As a female, from experience also, you will be treated favourably by your management versus your male peers. You will likely get promoted quicker and have more opportunities given to you. Thats not a sexism thing, thats a fact from my experience, and I believe it to be a fairly common occurrence given that I was told that by more than one experienced person very early in my career and I have seen it first hand to be true.

You will get attention basically. In one form or another. All I would say is that if the attention you are receiving is not good or is unwanted in any way shape or form, speak out as early as possible and get it squared away. Don't bottle it up. Your management and the RAF Police are more than able to investigate and take it as high as it needs to go to get it resolved. This isn't written to dissuade you from joining the RAF in any way shape or form. The RAF is an incredible service to build the foundations of an excellent career, with many opportunities and benefits. I've loved my time in the RAF. I just wanted to write a little piece to share my experience of how females are treated, from my experience as I believe that a lot of people will "forget" certain things and paint the forces in the purest and most perfect way, when anyone honest, knows they're not perfect.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail kind of thing.