Oops, should have mentioned I'll be going FAA as I'm 21 now so will be too old for the RAF when I graduate.
I thought that applying for a bursary and Direct Entry was exactly the same process as applying to join straight away, the Navy process being Interview, FATs, AIB. As I said in my previous post, I don't feel ready, particularly for AIB if I were to get there, as I don't have enough demonstrable examples of leadership or organisation. Or if I do have those skills, I haven't the ability to sell them yet at interview, as the whole military environment is new to me so I tend to go a bit introverted. Hopefully UAS or URNU will sort that out.
My main concern was that pilot places will suddenly go to a premium after they do some kind of recruitment drive with the F-35s coming in, and so I'd cut my chances drastically.