Career Help!

[Callum95]

Hi people,

I am a 16 year old (17 in november) male who is aspiring to become a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, I'm returning to the UK from Australia within the next two months due to family problems.

The reason behind why i am writing on here is because I need some help from experienced people regarding my options. im fit, have 20/20 vision and have wanted to fly for as long as i can remember but there is a problem... My uncle unfortunately aqquired cancer a few years back but my family and i have had frequent "holidays" (if you could call them that) to and from the UK, at least 3 times a year to support him, with this comes educational difficulties because of the lack of attendance and the emotional trauma, i was achieving the Australian equivalent of 5 GCSE's but obviously fell behind, i now have 3 options upon my return to the UK, i would like help finding the best.

Option 1: Get an apprenticeship as an Avionics Technician and go to night school throughout the apprenticeship, once i have finished and got my GCSE's and A-levels, apply for the air force as a pilot and hopefully get in that way.

Option 2: Join the RAF Regiment as a Gunner and attempt to work my way up to becoming a pilot but I have heard that this isnt such a smart move.

Option 3: Join the British Army as a ground crewman working on the likes of the Apache and the Lynx, get my GCSE's and A-levels whilst i'm in there and once my 4 years of service are done, leave and join the air force as a pilot.

I hope anyone can give me sufficient advice to help me reach my dream.

Thanks, Callum

[gashman]

A-levels are harder than GCSEs. Give yourself the best chance you can and try to study full time for them if you can.

As for moving from trade to branch (ie other rank to officer), there were several lads and lasses on my IOT doing the same thing (one of them was a Chief Tech who had seen it all and was a legend) and one of them was an ex-liney who went on to fly the Jaguar. That is certainly an option.

Joining the RAF Regiment- a dedicated bunch of individuals; if you are doing that as a way of getting in the door, choose again. Same goes for the Army. If you don't need to work for cash, then don't and focus 100% on your studies whilst broadening your CV which extra-curricular activities which will help you get past OASC first time around. Try DofE, a cadet organisation, part time weekend job, charity work, sports teams etc.

Finally, read the OASC sticky at the top of the threads page. It is a trawl to get the info you need/want but that is not even close to the chaffe you will experience to get into a fast jet cockpit. This forum tends to be harsh to those who have not done their own research.

Good luck back in the UK.:ok:

[Callum95]

Thanks gashman, I've done quite a bit of research but none of it really gives me a stand out choice, I know A-levels are harder but I need the money to survive aswell so I thought I could "kill two birds with one stone" hence the choices :) I'll give the AFCO a look when I get back aswell.

[Abu Bebo]

Have you looked into this?

[Callum95]

Nah I haven't, would it be on the RAF website?

[Dockers]

Altitude - Sixth Form Scholarship (http://www.raf.mod.uk/altitude/educationandcareers/sixth_form_scholarship.cfm)

[Callum95]

Thanks dockers

[ShyTorque]

Check out the age limit for entering pilot training, make sure you don't miss out that way.

[OneFifty]

I'm afraid you won't get sponsorship for pilot any more. So many people want to be pilots, there is no need to offer financial incentives to attract them. Pilot sponsorships were withdrawn about 2 years ago.