OASC Bulletin 7
During this bulletin, we would like to make a brief statement about substance misuse and the criminal conviction policy in the RAF.
Some of the subjects posted so far are fairly dry but nonetheless form essential reading and base knowledge to aid progression through the selection process. During the next few bulletins, we will start to look at the selection process from start to finish from the view point of an imaginary individual applying for pilot.
Substance Misuse
Substance misuse is a general term that covers the misuse of drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. The short, medium and long-term effects of substance misuse can have a damaging impact on an individual’s mental and physical fitness and health, even when the misuse has ceased. Consequently, it constitutes a direct threat both to the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces and to the security and safety of Service personnel and, potentially, the civilians they protect. Misuse of drugs by Service personnel also damages the reputation and standing of the Armed Forces. For these reasons the misuse of drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids is not tolerated within the Armed Forces and personnel caught misusing these substances whilst in the RAF will be discharged. The Armed Forces recognize, however, that drug, solvent and steroid misuse is increasingly common in civilian life, particularly among the young, and that individuals may have misused drugs in the past. Criminal convictions for trafficking or supply of any class of drug will remain a bar to entry to the Services. However, disclosure of drug misuse will not necessarily debar a candidate from entry to the Service; acceptance or rejection will depend on the circumstances of the substance misuse and the candidate’s attitude towards the RAF’s policy. Evidence of the attitude will be obtained, in part, by the frequency of the use and the class and type of drug, solvent or steroid that has been misused.
Convictions
All applicants for service in the RAF will be required to declare previous convictions, in line with the guidance contained within the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This Act limits the declaration at the application stage to ‘unspent’ convictions except for those applicants for service in the ‘conviction-free’ Branches/Trades who must declare all previous convictions, spent or unspent. In addition, all candidates must declare unspent Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and those in the 'conviction free’ Branches/Trades must also declare Formal Police Cautions and Fixed Penalties. The following branches and trades fall into the conviction-free category: OSB (Prov), Legal, Chaplain, Medical, Dental, Nursing, MSO, PEdO, RAFP.
For more information regarding any of these areas highlighted, please contact your AFCO and they will be able to give you more detailed information regarding specific cases.
Please note that, although OASC will endeavour to answer generic questions that arise, we will not be engaging or commenting on individual cases. In those cases, the individual is advised to contact their nearest AFCO who will be able to deal with any queries. All information published is for information only. Information regarding a career in the RAF can be found at http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers
Last edited by OASC; 8th Jun 2011 at 08:45.