Surely though, the bar is moved every year for every trade, depending on the applicants to jobs ratio?
i,e, if 1,000 people apply each year to be pilots and last year, 10 were accepted as opposed to 200 needed for this year, then clearly, those applying this year will have a better chance of success. Hypothetical figures obviously.
Likewise, if for example you wanted to be a 'gunner' and nothing else, then you may have to wait 18 months for a vacancy. However, if you wanted to be a HR Specialist (Admin Clerk) or a Hospitality Specialist (Steward), then providing you have the 15 Grade A 'O' levels basic level of state education, you can start tomorrow - because the RAF is desparately short.