Royal Navy officer training

[jimmyj]

I have just had my initial interview with a RN career officer and am at the stage of filling in my application form. I am applying to join as a pilot and have already completed aptitude tests as I have been through the process with the RAF but got rejected due to eyesight. I was thrilled to learn in the interview that my eyes are good enough for the Navy and that I will not have to do the aptitude tests again as they can just access my files at Cranwell.

I have to pass selection at the AIB yet and I would appreciate any information that any of you Navy officers have regarding the interviews, gym tasks etc and any advice you might have for me. I also have the medical to pass yet but I have also put 'observer' on my form. Is the criterea the same for both pilot and observer?

Thanks. Any spelling mistakes simply add Karisma!!

[SHAR wannabe]

Top tip shipmate. Don't tick the box for observer as well as pilot, because you guessed it. All the observers on my entry at Dartmouth bar one had ticked the boxes for both as they thought they would stand a better chance of getting in. They were told they could transfer to pilot whilst at Dartmouth. Wrong! If you want to be a pilot, tick pilot only. As for AIB the only preparation I can recommend is be yourself (cliche I know) but they will see straight through you otherwise.

[Sven Sixtoo]

Go for it.

However, about 27 years ago I turned completely off the Navy because I visited Dartmouth and could not believe that people could get so worked up over such pettiness.

I suspect that Cranwell was not actually much different when I got there 3 or 4 yrs later - I'd just grown up a bit.

There used to be a large amount of rubbish to get through - I doubt it has changed - I also doubt if the real RN is like that. The SHAR boys may be the world's best, and the Navy aircrew generally are pretty good. Enjoy the challenge.

[KayGridley]

Yorkshire Lad, I sat my AIB in September and wierdly really enjoyed it <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

First advice is don't be afraid of them, they are actually really friendly just sometimes they have to put pressure on to see what your personality is like (especially in the discussion exercise).

There isn't that much I can tell you about the first day of tests other than when you finish one, try to forget about it and just concentrate on the next one. It sounds obvious I know but one of the lads on my board really worked himself up about it.

If you can, spend as much time with the guys/girls on your board as you can in the evening (playing pool is always good coz its about the only thing there) so you get to know each other. If someone is being wierd with you though dont worry it will only reflect badly on them. I was the only girl on my board and one of the guys really had a problem with women joining but it didn't come back on me because I just got on with it.

The only advice I have for the gym tasks is don't be afraid to ask for help in the planning from the NCO and if you really don't have any idea how to do your task don't panic <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> I could only see how to do half of mine, so I asked my team for ideas. I got told that you can ask them for ideas but to get good marks, then you give the idea back out as your orders. Just remember that you are in charge on your task, and they are on their tasks and it should be ok. On the leaderless task though its teamwork, not someone being a natural leader that counts which is hard after the first exercises to remember.

Probably the worst bit is the discussion exercise. Just keep calm and listen to what is being said around you. Don't be afraid to say what you think but make it constructive because you are being listened to really carefully. I found adding Ma'am or Sir to the end of answers slows the conversation a little, as well as sounding more polite. It just gives you a couple of seconds more to think. Also listen to others questions because if they get them wrong, you are likely to be asked. Believe me the Officer questioning you isn't going to be nice, but they aren't doing it malliciously, its to test your character, and they are really nice in the informal interview.

The formal interview is just an interview. Be confident but if you don't know admit that you don't, preferable whilst offering something though. It shows you might not know that specific thing, but you know other related information.

Hope that lot helps. Its hard to condense into a post. Good luck anyway, just enjoy it. If nothing else, if you're smiling you'll have them wondering why <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[shipwreck]

agree with miss wu, make sure you go to the cocked hat, pub down the road from sultan have a few jars with your boys/girls and break the ice properly. difficult to do when your on board. the team work will come on leaps and bounds. of our four we all passed. one sea harrier pipeline guy at valley, one front line lynx obs, one frontline ping obs, one aew obs also FL. youve got to be a good lad/lass to get on in the fleet air arm. start early.