Even before joining the RAF, I firmly believed that God had a plan for my life, and I was praying that God would lead and guide me in discovering His plans for me. The removal of the requirement for two GCEs at the time I applied (I didn’t have any), together with the vacancy miraculously becoming available to enable me to join the next PTI initial course, were all clear signs to me of God preparing the way.
I eventually achieved five GCEs through the RAF Education scheme, and after 19 years as a PTI I was encouraged to apply for a commission. At my age I could only apply for a commission in the Admin/Secretarial Branch, as there were no commissions available in the Admin/Physical Education Branch. Having attended the Officer Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) at RAF Biggin Hill, in the autumn of 1977, it was quite a few months before my boss called me in to inform me that I was being offered a commission in the Admin/Physical Education Branch. He told me that the Station Headquarters had to ring the OASC to check that the offer was indeed correct. I served a further 17 years as a branch officer and my final appointment was as the Chief Instructor at the RAF School of Physical Training.
There is another amazing set of circumstances of how towards the end of my RAF service, that I came to successfully apply for the post of Head of Physical Education at the HQ Air Cadets, where I served for 9 years.
For all that the Lord has done for me: leading, guiding and answering prayer, I never will cease to praise Him.
*Photo credit: https://www.pexels.com/@gera-cejas-3616330