AEOps include people with degrees in technical and scientific subjects
That covers most rearcrew these days, regardless of specialisation
Yes MGD - I was responding to the dig at WSOps only needing 3 O levels, suggesting that their academic quals weren't that impressive (a post I cannot now see...hmmm...)
In my day (swings lamp) OASC did last something like 5 days - you turned up Saturday, spent all day on IQ tests, next day was medicals and interviews, then a day or two running around a gym playing with oil drums and budgie bars, and a final morning spent woeking on an individual planning task that was designed to have very few (if any) correct answers. Excuse me if my timing is a little off, but that's how I remember it going in July 1977!
Jayand -
And yes your right I was never a good SNCO
Is this in reply to my post? If so I was referring to Really Annoyed, not you.
As for AEOps (WSOps) not being exposed to the greater RAF, that's true for many, however quite a number of siggies did ground tours that took them all over the place, including on exchange with the RN, so it's not a universal truth. I would query whether ANY significant proportion of servicemen gain any great degree of knowledge of areas and roles outside their area of expertise.
I wouldn't argue for siggies to take slots from those trained in a particular role, but I would argue against making people redundant who are capable of being re-roled whilst at he same time recruiting D.E.s ....the same goes for any trade currently looking at cuts, out here in civvy street any employer who bins existing staff to take on new staff at lower rates of pay tends to find themselves in hot water.
Dave