OFFICER and AIRCREW 'CANDIDATES' PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!

[OASC]

OASC Bulletin 19

John had now completed all aspects of the OASC selection process but was still awaiting his final medical and security clearances. The next event was attendance at the Initial Officer Training (IOT) Familiarization Visit. While he was waited for the date of the visit to arrive, he continued to work hard on his fitness and kept abreast of what was going on in the world. Finally, the date arrived for him to return to RAF Cranwell to attend the Visit. This week we follow John through the Familiarization Visit.

John arrived at the Candidates’ Mess by car around mid-morning. He unloaded his bags into his room and then walked over to the Mess to meet the other people who were on the Visit. After they had finished lunch, they received a welcome briefing by Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit (OACTU) staff and filled in some paperwork. The group was then split into 2. John’s group walked a short way to Clothing Stores where they were measured up for their uniforms and sized for boots and shoes. They would get to keep their boots and working shoes so that they could break them in before they started training. They remained at the Stores for nearly 2 hours, before walking back to the Candidates’ Mess to be shown around the facilities properly and also to be shown a bedroom and how a cadet would be expected to maintain it to inspection standard. Once this presentation was complete, there was a short break before the candidates were driven to College Hall Officers’ Mess (CHOM) so that they could have dinner and discuss IOT with Term 3 cadets. This gave John the opportunity to get a real understanding of what to expect – so he asked lots of questions. Finally, they were driven back to the Candidates’ Mess at 2100hrs. Living in CHOM seemed a long way off to the candidates as they discussed their experiences over a drink in the bar.

The following morning, immediately after breakfast, John’s group was driven to Whittle Hall, which was, in essence, the training centre for IOT cadets. For the next 2 hours, the candidates were asked to write a ‘My Life’ essay outlining everything that they had done, experienced and achieved in life so far. As soon as that was complete, it was over to the gym to get changed into sports kit to take part in the OACTU Fitness Assessment (OFA). This was similar to the Selection Fitness Test at OASC, although the 1.5 mile run was to be completed outside rather than on a treadmill in the gym. John had been working hard on his fitness and performed well in the assessment as he knew that failure in any element of the OFA would result in his allocation to IOT being reviewed and possibly cancelled. The Physical Training Instructors then gave the candidates a briefing on what to expect during IOT from a physical viewpoint before discussing the results of the OFA. John achieved a Green standard but there was one individual who only achieved a Red and was told he would have to repeat the Visit. Everybody had to achieve at least an Amber in order to be accepted onto IOT. That concluded the morning’s activities. After lunch, the candidates were shepherded to the Main Guard Room so that they could have their photographs taken for their access passes. Then it was back to Whittle Hall again to receive a briefing from the RAF Regiment staffs about how to look after their feet during training, followed by a briefing from the OACTU staff covering all elements of the IOT course. After a short question and answer period, the Visit was complete and the candidates were free to leave. John was very focussed on the task ahead and knew that, pending his medical and security clearances, his next event would be to commence IOT in less than 2 months’ time.

A week or so after the Familiarization Visit, John received his final letter of acceptance from OASC, stating that his arrangements to start IOT had been finalised and gave details of when he would need to arrive at RAF Cranwell to commence training. The letter went on to state his conditions of service and gave some other useful pieces of information, including a list of documents that he would require to bring with him in order to provide a means of identification.

We have now completed John’s journey from selection through to him commencing IOT. It has been a long journey and one that has required a great deal of effort and determination on his part. For some people, the journey can take much longer if they are found to be temporarily unfit at the medical stage of the process or if they do not maintain their fitness to an adequate level. But, for John, he is about to embark on a thoroughly challenging but rewarding career in the RAF as a pilot. However, his work has only just begun….

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