Apptitude Tests, Weight Limits & the Like

[Charlieboy]

I am 23, When I went to my local RAF Careers Office at the end of Nov I weighed 17 Stone and 11Lbs. Since then I have come down to 16 stone and I am considerably fitter. I regularly go to the gym and excercise. However when I submit my application in March I am going to be hard pressed to make the weight limit. Does anyone have any experience or advice of similar.

I need to be 90Kgs, I think that is around 13.5 - 14 stone. That is on the large framed persons weight scale. If I can get through the weight barrier I am confident that when I go for selection I will have as much of a chance as the next man. Am I just deluding myself? Some advice or just some tales of similar (good or bad) would br greatfully received.

[grundog]

Chap I went to OASC with was in the same position and the only way he made the weight was to de-hydrate himself throughout OASC.
Not recommended and others will surely say its a stupid thing to do but guess what? He made the weight, made the cut and was selected. (He got chopped on JPs but thats a different story!)

Its a tough one - If you don't make the figure on some quacks clip board then chances are you are in trouble!

Pray for a female doc and be nice! (Can I say that?)

[whowhenwhy]

Okay, you're not putting in your application until March? Keep going down the gym, and if you can stand a suggestion only do aerobic exercise. 40-50 minutes at about 70% heart rate, between 3-6 times a week. 6 times is best with one days rest. At the same time do some abdominal and lumber exercises and some press-ups for strength training. If you do that, and combine it with a decent diet, and I'm afraid an almost total lack of alcohol, you'll see the weight falling off fairly quickly. If you put in the application in March, you won't go to OASC until about May. If you've lost a reasonable amount, as documented by your doctor to show you've been making an effort, and if you pass the aptitude tests they'll let you in on one condition, like they did with me. If you can get down to the weight limit before you start IOT(NB This will require verification by your doctor), then you can come in coz your name will be on the list! Good luck, and if you need anything else contact me through prunemail!
<img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Edited for some really incompetent spelling!

Things are always worse than they seem!

[ 13 January 2002: Message edited by: whowhenwhy ]</p>

[Flatus Veteranus]

Back problems during a staff job in my mid-forties resulted in a visit to CME to talk to the top RAF orthopaedic consultant (Harley St chap). He diagnosed my problem, which he shared, as due to an excess of rowing when undergrad. He said I was overweight (I said I was too short ha! ha!). He gave me a month to shed a stone or he would remove my flying category - not ha! ha!
Forget about the fad diets, and exercise is largely irrelevant unless you can adopt a totally - ie, more physical - lifestyle. Try a max intake of 1,000 calories a day for a bit. Mox Nix in what form you take the calories - could be all beer or scotch. You should lose weight at a steady 3 lbs/week. <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

[pushover]

About 6 years ago I was told to lose a few pounds to meet the entry requirement so I ate less and did more phys and got in. about 6 weeks ago the Doc told me I was getting a bit on the lardy side so I am now eating less and doing more phys. There is a moral to this story!!

Good luck with the application

[Charlieboy]

Cheers for the responses chaps, weights coming off a bit more now (15st 5lbs). I caught myself thinking yesterday. I had come to the conlusion that if I didn't get pilot I could go fighter controller, cause I could still fly if I got E3D. I nearly slapped myself. Not the attitude I know, but If my weight and lack of flight experience (eg none) is gonna be a major stumbling block (which I think it is). Then I need to look at other options.

I want to be an RAF Officer, I just don't think I'll get pilot, and I'm too old to be told to wait a year I'm 23 now. It's chips for flying for me if I fail at the first hurdle.

[whowhenwhy]

Charlie, well done lad, caught yourself in the nick of time! At least you've got the right idea and wanted to administer yourself a sound slapping for even thinking of being a scope-dope! The 'lucky' (?) few who have made it to E3s have only done so after an eternity of training (which doesn't seem to have done some of them much good-I'm talking about the ground based FCs here), sitting underground, getting no sun and just generally being pasty! Just keep going with the training, you will get there and you sound as if you're doing well. If you're that worried about it buy Thermobol from Maximuscle-it speeds up your metabolism. Anyway, if you really want to do the officer bit, can't do pilot/aircrew and don't want to get slapped, you can always do ATC. If the weather's nice the guys don't tend to want to know you, but if the weathers absolutely sh**e, and you do a good safe job, the guys will gain a lot of respect for you. And you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you ordered them about! :)

Things are always worse than they seem