RAF WSO Crewman

[PerAdUK]

Hi there,
Just looking for some more info on the roles of an RAF Weapons Systems Operator (Crewman) before my formal interview.
Any info' would be greatly appreciated as I want to know everything I can before the interview.
I've looked on the RAF site and in their info' Packs and the details given are very limited.
Let me know what you know. :D Cheers, PAUK.

[Melchett01]

It's been 5 minutes, and I'm still waiting for ....

Who's going to say it?:}

[PerAdUK]

I think you're going to say it.
I've had a look at related posts, but my thirst for info is not quite quenched, I just want to know what they're had you doing in your job as a WSOp, be honest too, you won't put me off. :)

[AngryDave]

PerAdUK

Firstly, there is no such thing as 'WSO Crewman'. A WSO is an Officer. A crewman, which is what I believe you want to be, is a WSOp and non-commissioned. Wouldn't look good if you turned up to your interview saying WSO all the time when that's not what you're after.

Secondly, have you done a search for 'WSOp' or 'Crewman'? I just did and there's plenty of threads, even in the last 2 months that should help you before going further back in time.

Finally, try asking some more direct questions - just asking for people's stories and claiming that they 'won't put you off' isn't going to work. I have heard many stories from a former SAR Winchman that would indeed put you off. But like I say, if you have any specific queries then ask them as at the moment you're asking for a tirade of sarcasm or the wall of silence you currently have...

[minigundiplomat]

Try a little initiative, and some more directed questioning. Better still, try phoning or emailing one of the squadrons you wish to eventually work within, they may surprise you.
Finally, as has been mentioned already, try searching the threads to save yourself repeating an earlier similar question, which was in fact probably a repetition of an earlier similar question, which was in fact.......................

Apart from that, good luck.

[Roger the cabin boy]

PerAd,

Go through whichever AFCO you are working with - ask them to arrange for you to visit the Stations that operate the aircraft you are interested in. Most sqns are quite happy to host prospective aircrew. The AFCO should, if they are any good, be able to hook you up with someone relevant - Suggest that they go through the respective Force HQ to coordinate your trip.

Probably worth looking at all the options while you are at it - for example, you may have your heart set on being a Puma Crewman, but you may find yourself in the back of a Nimrod.... (or vice versa).

Good luck and all the best.

[PerAdUK]

Ok thanks. Sorry, I was just abbreviating Weapons Systems Operator to its bare initials.
I'll have a chat with they guys at the AFCO when I go down next week, thanks.
And sorry for re-posting, I joined about 3 minutes before I posted, I guess I should have done a search as it is common etiquette on most forums.

I've got my options open, if there was one aircraft I'd want to work on it would be a Chinook simply because they're big and loud. :cool: But I don't believe I get a choice...

Cheers for the info anyway, and I'll have a look at some older threads. Though the ones I've seen so far have said exactly what you guys have said, I don't think I've gone back far enough to find a thread where someone bothered to post the answer to the question.

As for directed questions... I really just wanted toknow general info, like where you've been based, what you've done etc. But to avoid more pedantic grumpy "tirades of sarcasm", would anyone like to take a moment to answer these?

1: How long have you been in the RAF as a WSOp?
2: What detachments have you been on?
3: How often (roughly of course) are you moved to a different place?
4: What's the best thing you've got to do during your time in the RAF?
5: What's the toughest, most challenging thing you've had to do?
6: Do you enjoy it?
7: What aircraft do you work on?
8: What is the main role of this aircraft and what do you have to do on an average day?

I'm sure I can think of more if you're that bored. :)
Right, off to search some old threads and read up.

[Wader2]

Good second (I know) post.

I don't think I've gone back far enough to find a thread where someone bothered to post the answer to the question.

Now doesn't that tell you something! Like how many have made the same post as yours.

[PerAdUK]

It does.
Maybe there should be one pinned wannabe thread?
That would make the whole thing so much easier for us newbies, and for you grumpy lot. (no offense) :P

[airborne_artist]

Maybe there should be one pinned wannabe thread?Have you looked? :ok:

[PerAdUK]

Yeah good point. Didn't notice that. Though I did mean a more specific one.
:ugh:

[covec]

1: How long have you been in the RAF as a WSOp?

25 years.

2: What detachments have you been on?

World over.

3: How often (roughly of course) are you moved to a different place?

Never.

4: What's the best thing you've got to do during your time in the RAF?

Adventure Training. Florida. Friday afternoon stack and down to the pub with the Sqn or crew. Very, very very rare now.[/I]

5: What's the toughest, most challenging thing you've had to do?

Staying in!

6: Do you enjoy it?

Not anymore. The Service (like our sister Services) is over-stretched; too many committments, not enough people and not enough Execs saying "no" to yet more tasking.

I stay only for the cash & pension now: wasn't always that way I acknowledge.

My advice? Join for the minimum time that they will let you. Be prepared to leave when it is no longer fun. Have a Plan B. Have an alternative career in mind.

[PerAdUK]

Cheers guys, interesting to read what you guys have got to do, and it's good to hear that you enjoyed it for the most part.

Yeah "big and loud" isn't my only reason to want to work with a Chinook, don't get me wrong.
I basically think they're the backbone and workhorse of the Armed forces. (not just the RAF) I think they would be nice to work on and in because I'd never be without a job, they seem to get used plenty and I don't like sitting around (I probably will do when I get a bit older though).
I just think they're really striking aircraft as a pose to the Lynx etc.

As for joining the RAF in general, basically I've known I wanted to join the forces since I started making structured thoughts about my future.
I then fell in love (excuse the cliché) with aircraft when I went to my first open day at BAe, where my dad worked at the time.
3 or 4 years ago, I went to stay with some family friends in Akrotiri, Cyprus... Now that, that really made me start working towards joining the forces. The whole lifestyle and attitude of the people I met was awesome, and Civvy life didn't really seem comparable.
I could go on but I'm sure you don't want too big a wall of text to deal with. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I was told preference doesn't matter too much, because you get streamed and put with the aircraft and roles you are most capable of.

Other questions I should have put in:

7: What aircraft do you work on?
8: What is the main role of this aircraft and what do you have to do on an average day?
(I'll just edit 'em into the ones I've put up aswell.)

[minigundiplomat]

In answer to your final two questions, I am on the Chinook, and day to day, as well as flying, I try and manage the expectations of an incresing number of guys that have been streamed Chinook in line with their wishes, and now want to go SAR.

I have a feeling that you will only add to my work. I also think you need to improve your written communications.

...as opposed to.... vs ....as a pose to....

You also don't seem to have given much thought to what you would do if not streamed rotary, and your posts show a fairly shallow knowledge and and some flimsy reasoning.

Throughout this thread, your posts have prompted a great deal of results regarding the sticky thread, thread searches etc. You appear to attack things head on and with little thought, though your enthusiasm is a strength.

If I could offer some advice, it would be to go away and think very, very carefully about what you want to do with your life. When you have decided, research it very carefully and weigh up the ifs, buts and maybes.

Unless you put in a lot of effort, any visit you make to OASC will be very short. You will not find all the answers here. By all means come back in 6 months with specific questions, and I am sure everyone here will give you 100% support.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

MGD

[Pontius Navigator]

Welcome back AIDU. Good sun tan?

[minigundiplomat]

Welcome back AIDU, it's been a bit quiet round here.

[shandyman]

Check your private messages.

[PingDit]

AIDU,

'Good on you. At least you are looking ahead for when you become Master Aircrew.'

Wash your mouth out! ;)

[PerAdUK]

"minigundiplomat",
Thanks for the wonderful info there mate, if there was one thing that would put me off working as WSOp it wouldn't be detachments, it wouldn't be the hard work, it would be having to work with grumpy, pessimistic pedants. But don't worry, you won't sway me that easily.

My written communications serve me quite well as it is, ok there's the odd flaw here and there, but I'm pretty sure you and and others have made them too at some point.

I have given plenty of thought to working on fixed wing thanks. All I did was state my current preference. I would be delighted to work on a nimrod. Or a Globemaster or any other aeroplane for that matter.

I will be putting in plenty of effort for my OASC thanks. I've been physically fit for a long time anyway so that's no problem, I'll cope with any mathematical or logical problems, I've just spent a year at college doing physics and programming so my mathematics is well oiled.
Teamwork and leadeship I should be okay at too, it's never been a problem in any of the competitions I've entered with the expedition team I'm on.
If anyone has any tips for what I'll likely encouner on OASC would be greatly appreciated too, thanks. :)

Thanks for the advice, and yes I will be putting plenty of thought into what I am doing, and I already have done. I understand I don't know as much as I need to, which is why I came here. I think it would be pretty unreasonable to complain that I have shallow knowledge, when my soul purpose in coming here was to seek more knowledge.

I appreciate what you're trying to tell me, constructive (maybe?) ctiricism and all that... And I am trying my hardest to get all the info I need, but I'm struggling. :8
I also appreciate the fact that people like me must get quite annoying after about the twenty-millionth one... So cheers for putting up with me anyway. :P

P.S. If anyone knows any websites where I can read up on more info I'd be really grateful! The RAF site is pretty limited. (yes, I did a google search, that's how I got here kind of.)

[Wader2]

PerAd,

Do keep trying. You are trying at the moment. Have you read that sticky yet? It is ABOUT OASC and it DOES mention the other websites.

[PerAdUK]

Not properly no. :( Just been checking this thread on and off, amongst other things, I'm helping to make a website at the moment so I'm quite busy.
I will check it out now.

Cheers.

[smugley]

Good attitude mate.

The best people to ask about OASC are the people who've passed it, not tried it and failed, so you'd do well to get yourself onto a Sqn visit and ask them all about it. Whilst details change through the years the whole drift of the place remains the same.

The biggest of which, IMHO, is preparation. The old cliche, first impressions etc has some validity here also, such as fitness. You only get the one shot at the fitness test so get as much prep in as possible, you'd be surprised at the amount of people who do badly in the test, even people who think they're fit. If you can get to Excellent level in the fitness test then that's one less thing to worry about.

Aptitude can't really be changed too much, but I'm sure simulator games/brain training will help you improve hand/eye co-ord and mental dexterity.

The medical is a good one, very thorough. Obviously you can't do much about your medical state - don't lie about stuff, hayfever being the big issue there, same with asthma. Some of the medical standards are job-specific, eyesight/limb length (or whatever they call it) for example. You might be a fit and healthy chap but if you don't meet the exact grade then you may well be excluded from your initial flying choice, so have a couple of back up choices. Dont' be too disappointed if this happens, after all it's not your fault.

Failing to score well in the interview process however, is all your fault. People turn up looking like a charity shop dustbin, people don't have a neat haircut, people don't shave!! Best advice from me, walk into the OASC building every day looking like you're walking into a Guards Officers' Mess. Smart as a carrot. Dont' let yourself down by slouching around in an ill-fitting suit with a half-ar$ed tie knot.

Read, read and read some more. Read about at least 5 domestic current affairs topics and 5 more foreign ones, half of them defence related. Nimrod, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, US Presidential Elections, Reaper - there's a few just off the top of my head. Watch Channel 4 news regularly, read a good paper (Torygraph is a firm favourite), simple.

Know your training process, basic - how long, where, what it covers. NCA training - how long, where etc, potential postings - squadrons, aircraft types, locations. Operations - theatres, commitments, political reasons why we're there. Not hard given Google and some sound advice from here.

Be honest with the interviewers, if you've got a sensible opinion on something then give it. Be friendly and try to relax, it's 45 minutes (half of which is talking about yourself anyway) with a couple of officers. If you're successful you'll spend alot longer with alot more officers in FAR more stressful environments than an interview room.

Leadership tests, you need to find a balance between hard-working, enthusiastic and supportive team member and firm, receptive and determined leader. OASC are looking for both, the tests are really good fun anyway so enjoy yourself, they can't fail you on that. Plus, it's only a few planks of wood and some gym mats - not life or death. Some people seem to pump themselves up on their own skills - I'm a CWO etc, forget that. The examiners are looking for leadership potential at this stage, not Rommel.

So good luck mate, feel free to PM me if you've got any questions. I've rattled on for long enough, remember PREPARATION, OASC will be far more critical than this lot on here. A few silly mistakes on a public forum is one thing, making silly mistakes at OASC is another.

All the best son.:ok:

[minigundiplomat]

"minigundiplomat",
Thanks for the wonderful info there mate, if there was one thing that would put me off working as WSOp it wouldn't be detachments, it wouldn't be the hard work, it would be having to work with grumpy, pessimistic pedants. But don't worry, you won't sway me that easily.



I wasn't attempting to sway you, I was offering a realistic and critical assessment of what I had seen so far.

As for having to work with people like me, I don't think that will be an issue for you.

As for research, you get out what you put in.

[PerAdUK]

Some useful info' there Smugley. Cheers!
I'll make sure I stick to all that stuff on there as it sounds like prep is more key than I imagined.
I don't need to worry about presentation, I spend 2 weeks wages on a suit so I should look smart enough. :D
I'm going to try and arrange a Sqn visit... But I'm not too sure which to visit, or how to contact them. I'll have a word with the people at the AFCO about it on Thursday, it sounds like a worthwhile thing to do.
Thanks again. :D

p.s. I looked at the OASC sticky, got a good idea of what will be expected of me, especially on the physical side of it. I'm confident I can pass that... But I'm going to try and get even fitter. I like to be the best so it can't do any harm. :P

[Wader2]

P A U

better, :).

Despite the instruction, someone was at OASC in a shell suit. She was suitably upbraided. Also watch the unleaded Coke, you can get quite hyper on it.

There is an OASC duty officer at night so remember you are on parade all the time. Even shambling back from the Spar with a bag, you never know who is driving passed.

PS, that goes for the cadets too :}

[PerAdUK]

Despite the instruction, someone was at OASC in a shell suit. She was suitably upbraided. Also watch the unleaded Coke, you can get quite hyper on it.


Nice. Well fortunately I have better taste than to wear a shell suit for no reason anyway. :rolleyes:
Unleaded Coke you say? Well it's gotta be better than this leaded stuff we have up in Yorkshire LOL.
I've just realised... My friend's doing his OASC soon, and he's done no prep at all... And he's quit college because he "knows" he'll get in. I didn't think anything of it, but it seems like a lot of prep is going to be needed. And I have a feeling he's not going to get in. :uhoh:
Oh well, he can always retry eh?