Here are the rules for leaving the RAF - bear in mind that these rules are complicated and can change from time to time.  Note that your 'enlistment date' is the day you enlisted (i.e the day you said your oath and signed the enlistment paper at the recruitment office) - this date is usually earlier than the day you actually started work.

I enlisted less than six months ago

You cannot leave the RAF during the first 28 days of duty.

If you have served 28 days (from your first day of paid duty and excluding any time spent Absent Without Leave) but six months have not yet passed since the day you enlisted then you can leave at 14 days' notice provided that you apply in writing to your commanding officer. This six-month window is called the 'Discharge as of Right' (DAOR) period.  If you leave in this time you will become a civilian again and won't have to serve in the Reserve. If you are over 18 years of age then the six month deadline is absolute as far as your legal right to leave is concerned (but see below).

I enlisted more than six months ago but I'm still under 18 years old

If six months have passed since the day you enlisted but you are still under 18 you can still leave if you give three months' notice in writing.  This notice period can be reduced if both you and the RAF agree to it.  If you leave in this way you will become a civilian again and won't have to serve in the Reserve.

I enlisted more than six months ago and I'm now 18 years old or over

If you are now 18 years old or over and have already served for six months from the date you enlisted, then you normally have no legal right to leave until three years have passed since you finished training. To leave then or any time after then you must have given 18 months' notice in writing. After you leave Regular Service you will have to serve in the Reserve for the rest of your engagement, which is usually six years from the date you enlisted.  Reserve service means that you may be called out to serve on active duty at any time.

Exceptions

The above rules assume that you have not agreed in writing to extend your minimum term of Regular Service in order to receive a course of training or education or another benefit.

If you go Absent Without Leave (AWOL) you may be punished with a prison sentence and your legal right to leave the RAF will be delayed.

If there is a time of 'imminent national danger', for example if the country is attacked, you may not be allowed to leave the RAF for the duration, whatever your circumstances.

I may have no legal right to leave but still want to - what can I do?

If you find that you have no legal right to leave Regular Service for a long time, then you can still try asking for permission to leave anyway.  Permission is not normally granted but some Commanding Officers have been known to look sympathetically on such requests.  Leaving in this way is called Compassionate Discharge or Administrative Discharge and will release you from Regular Service but not necessarily Reserve Service.  Serious family problems can sometimes be grounds for a Compassionate Discharge from Regular Service -- and also from Reserve Service if you are called out to serve and still have serious family responsibilites but this is not guaranteed.  It is worth getting advice before you take this step; visit the 'Want to talk to someone?' page.

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