Airmen Aircrew Upper A Limit

[Jaap]

Phew! What an active site...Good!!!. .. .I'm a 32 year old civvy (ex-forces)and have been told that the upper age limit for entry as rearcrew is now 35. Can someone confirm this please? I plan to go the ALM route, due to the active nature of the specialism.. .. .Here comes the tricky bit:. .. .Because of my qualifications and what I do at present, it seems that I can also apply to become an Admin(Training)Officer. . .Perhaps I can apply for a comission as a ALM a few years down the line?. .. .I would appreciate any encouragement. . .(Or discouragement.). .. .Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?. . . . <small>[ 08 March 2002, 22:17: Message edited by: Jaap ]</small>

[covec]

"They" are desperate for AA. Esp. AEOps (WSOps).

Contact a CIO, or OASC Cranwell or Innsworth (Glos).

AEOps are invariably bound for a lengthy sentence at Kinloss - tho' some do like it. You might get ASTOR, AWACS or SAR one day. Or commissioned. In maritime a backender can become captain.

All the best - you must be mad wanting back in!

Why?

[Jaap]

Thanks for your response Covec.

I’m ex-army engineer, got out in ’95.

It’s hard to find a valid reason why I want to get back in, but I think I miss being active and playing with expensive toys, or perhaps it is the camaraderie that I miss. It is quite a safe world in there, but I am also aware that the grass is always greener on the other side. . .As a Wsop, would I be spending most of my time staring at a screen?

************************. .A boy, frustrated with all the rules he had to follow, asked his father:. ."Dad, how soon will I be old enough to do as I please?". .The father answered immediately:. ."I don't know. Nobody has lived that long yet."

[Shouting Rad-Alt]

Spend some time in visiting the various units you are interested in. Get an upto date view on what is going on. Things have changed a great deal over the past 7 years. If you have problems speak to the units direct, they should be quite helpfull.

[Up Very Gently]

Hello Jaap,

To answer your questions, yes you can now apply even at the grand old age of 32, although if you decide, the sooner the better, 'cos it can take about 2 years to hit the streets. And yes, you can go for a Commission thereafter too, although there are only 5 or so per year for Loadie.

WSop has its merits I'm sure, and when I think of some I'll get back to you. Admin(Trg)? Not a bad job, with my limited knowledge. It depends whether you want to:

a. Fly.. .b. Have a brilliant (most of the) time.. .c. Go operational.. .d. Take the risk of going onto VC-10's as chief dolly.

Etc...

It is a great job in my opinion, but you won't be CinC, and if your heart is set on being a Zero, think deep. As has been said, do contact the Boys on the Sqns - ask for the Deputy Loadmaster/Crewman Leader. All the very best.

Gabe

[PushTo Shock]

I actually visited the CIO today to ask a few questions about ALM. The Corporal at the front desk sucked his teeth at my 29 yrs and went off to check the paperwork.

The leaflet he came back with stated 31 as the upper age limit, correct as end Nov 2001.

I have to go back tomorrow for a P2 presentation so I'll ask if this has changed.

[ROTAR EE]

Hello

I'm former heli crewman (now comissioned) and would never regret it. Fantastic job for most of the time. I think we all live for 10% of the job anyway.

I am pretty sure the age limit is 32 but they will take you up to 35 "in exceptional circumstances". Depending on the climate, this could mean that you have a pulse! Currently, they are desperare for AA and have just launched a massive ad campaign, and so perhaps still being warm could be good enough.

You should stand a reasonable chance due to your former time in. They WILL try to push you WSOp so don't give them a sniff if you don't want to be flyng around in a beige tube.

As for Admin (Trg) then it's up to you. If you have the quals, you would probably be better off in the big wide world. Again, they will probably attempt to push yu in to a comissioned gnd job if you have the quals. Stick by your guns. Don't believe anyone, I repeat, ANYONE, who says you can change once you are in. They lie.

As for comissioning as rearcrew, age is already against you old chum, unless you are bloody brilliant. Even then, you may be seen as a threat by the more senior ones...

Good luck whatever happens <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[PushTo Shock]

Jaap,

OK...Just got back from the P2. The CIO boss stated that the current age limit for AA is 30 but that they would be flexible due to my past heli experience. He wouldn't be drawn into specifics.

Shut up and drive is dead right. They really pushed hard to sway me towards WSOp or, in my case, a ground medical branch.

I'd imagine it's well worth pushing hard and seeing how flexible they are on the max age, especially if you have previous service.

Good luck. May see you @ AAITC!

[Jaap]

Covec . .Shouting Rad – Alt . .Gabe . .Push To Shock . .ShutUp and Drive,. .. .Thanks a 1 000 000 for your responses! . .No disrespect to the WSop’S, but I can’t see myself flying around in a grey chube playing . .Puc-Man with the “Axes of Evil.” . .Chief Dolly sound fine…. .. .Push To Shock mate, keep in touch and let me know how things are going. I’ve got my P2 on the 17th March and will need to dig out some patience from under the bed somewhere. With a bit of luck I’ll be in before the winter.. .. .Jaap.. .. .“Would a fly without wings be called a walk?”. . . . <small>[ 08 March 2002, 22:19: Message edited by: Jaap ]</small>

[6nandneutral]

I would strongly recommend ALM, as it has a great future, it's definitely the way ahead. Also as said before do not believe or trust the CIOs their job is to fill slots, and there have been instances of people well overqualified for the job alloted to them. I.E. there was a guy who enlisted as a FLM (Flight line mechanic), many moons ago who had a degree. FLMs (now no more) could only get promoted to SAC and only required a technical education of sorts, no GCEs required. I'm sure that other Ppruners could give lots of other examples. Any way good luck with your application.. .Edited due to the effects of red wine.. . . . <small>[ 03 March 2002, 21:04: Message edited by: 6nandneutral ]</small>

[alunross]

Hi, i start as wsop in july at cranwell, have just turned 18, looking forward to the start, but still unsure whether i should have reapplied to gain alm, my first choice, have been told i'll get good tours, enjoyable, rewarding. Will just have to see what i think and visit the gym in my evenings, can't see typing or looking at a screen keeping me as fit as alm!!!

[covec]

almwsop. .. .Word of advice - go with your heart!. .. .I have nearly done 22 years now as an AEOp - even though I never applied for the job.. .. .I have always regretted not "banging-out" before becoming married/mortgage/kids.. .. .Youth is on your side. You should always aim to reach age 90+ and NEVER say "I wish I had tried that..or I wonder if I had....". . .. .All the best - these decisions are never easy, but that is why we are all selected as aircrew - cos we can make decisions.

[alunross]

Cheers covec, will see what i can do when i'm in, with wsop introduction i can discover only a limited amount of info, i daresay not even the head honchos know what the job will finally entail at the moment, so i'll have to discover for myself. cheers again, ar

[Judge Rembrandt]

Jaap, PtS, almwsop,. .Jaap - do make clear your previous army experience v age, they like a well reasoned argument as to why the age ceiling should be breached. Who knows, you might just get by. If you go the Admin route, please stay clear of b*ll sh*tters calling themselves Gurus!!. .. .PtS - Again, a good case of age v specific experience that the RAF may consider to be a good "training risk". . .. .almwsop - STOP. Do not start training as a WSOp if you really want to be an ALM. It is extremely difficult to change once you are in the training environment, and almost impossible once you have graduated. The posting options have been well documented in other threads, suffice to remind you, Kinloss is still 180 miles (by road) NORTH of Edinburgh. I have had a wonderful time at "ice station kilo" - but it can be a tortuous time for many. One final observation for you - your occupation, SNCO........ not yet!!. .. .Advice to all of you.... check the "AA Visit" thread for contact numbers. Do speak to Sqn AEOps/ALM for more info. Get as fit as you can before OASC and the AAITC, and good luck to you all.

[TimC]

They stopped taking civvies for AirEng over a year ago, as I was told I couldn't apply for AirEng coz I am a civvy.

[The Gorilla]

DD and Tim C.. .. .It was about 2 years ago now that the decision was taken to stop recruiting Direct Entrants into the Air Eng world. Around about the same time that it was decided to allow the Air Eng branch to "Wither on the vine". That's why we aren't part of the rearcrew re-shuffle.. .. .Only serving airmen are now eligible to apply. We often get would be applicants coming to us for a visit. So far none of them have gone on to apply!! Our advice is quite sound, do NOT consider the Air Eng role, even for a moment.. .. .Whilst it may have short term manning problems which may/will stretch into the medium term, there is no doubt that long term (2010??) there WILL be a considerable draw down in the numbers of Flight Engineers. Leaving, ultimately, a core of a couple of dozen commisioned Air Eng's.. .. .Our advice here, is to priority one apply for ALM. A growth industry, and if you really have to, then apply for Aeop or what ever warm PC term it is now.(Wsop). .. .Bottom line, the urge to fly and earn lots of dosh by becoming a plastic sergeant soon wears off when you are faced with having to spend 12 years + at Ice Station Kilo!! An awful lot of Aeop students withdraw from training after about 6 or 7 months. This usually coincides with the 2 week famil visit to Ice Station Kilo!!. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> But remember, Airmen Aircrew don't have a recruitment or retention problem <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[TimC]

Having been warned against going north by many people and considering my desire to join as an AEOp, I thought it would be prudent to have a visit up there. I'll be going in about a month.. .. .After looking at auto route and maps in the last couple of days, ISK's remoteness has become fully apparent! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> . .. .I wasn't aware of many problems with aeops withdrawing from training. As has been mentioned before, maybe moving the maritime fleet to St Mawgan again would help retention! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Admin Guru]

I've been to Lossie, and whilst it has GR4s and the occasional Nimrod, it does have some good points. Great location and excellent outdoor activities. However some of the jocks although initially friendly can be prone to being argumentative and unsympathetic to differing points of view. I found this in some of the local hostelries. Elgin does a great chilli kebab - may I recommend Joannas.

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

AG,. . Possibly one or two to many sherbets at happy hour young man. If you were paying any attention to the thread you would have picked up on the advice being offered as to the general feel for life at Kilo, not Lossie. These are two very differant kettles of fish in that the pointy people have an escape path from Lossie whilst the kipper fleet are pretty much stuck at kilo for life, which was the advice being offered to Jaap as he tries to make a momentous decision about his future. So you can probably imagine how impressed he is to know that despite all the drawbacks he has had related him as regards Kilo at least he can fall back on the promise of a good kebab to see him through!!. .. .Jaap fella,. . Although already serving as a aircraft techie I went ALM at the age of 31 without a single O/A level to my name. I spent 10 years on the Puma and am now at Lyneham on the "J". I was offered, as are most AA because of numbers etc, AEOP but it really was'nt for me but that is not to say the job is not a good one. I have enjoyed my time as an ALM and with 10 years to go my 55 point can see no reason not to see my time out. Make sure you have a good look at all your options and go with what ever floats your boat and I am sure you will enjoy the life style. Just pray that along the way you never have to meet AG or his ilk.. .. .Best of luck.. .. .AG are you really surprised that the locals became argumentative in your company?. .. .all spelling mistakes are alcohol induced

[The Gorilla]

ADMIN Grupu.. .. .Do you know I have had enough of your purile admin rubbish? Elgin has nothing to offer apart from access to the A9 south. Chili Kebabs? No battered mars bars and snickers are the main items on offer. I think you just post here to get responses like mine, in which case I propose an Admin Grupu ban. Any one in favour??. .. .You miss my point entirely which for some one like you isn't surprising. A YOUNG person, with a life, normally single and from England, isn't going to be attracted to the Moray Firth for long!!! Even if Joanna's is a decent night out... .. .And if your reasoning in real life is anything like Pprune, I am surprised you got away from Lossie in one piece. . .. .You are a complete Delbert <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

[robspottydog]

I hate to be negative, but have you considered, crocodile wrestling or bear baiting or anaconda fighting? The RAF is a dying, writhing behemoth, it ain't pretty to watch from this side. If I had to do it all again, ....Where is that crocodile?. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[Jaap]

Hello All and thanks for keeping this thread going.. .. .Thanks again to those people, famous and infamous, who have contributed. . .. .I don't know if you chaps (a-sexual term) realise just how important it is for us wannabe's to be given advice from you all and . .it certainly makes someone like me even more eager to WANT to be working with you guys.. .. .Those out there in my shoes, I've been in contact with someone regarding a visit to one of the stations in the South East. I'll check with them to see whether it is o.k for me to give you their contact number. I'll get right back and post it then.. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .Jaap. .. ."A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking."

[Judge Rembrandt]

Jaap,. .Glad to see that things are moving for you. Hope that this will help you, and any others, that may want to find out more about AA before making any decisions:. .If you are a serving airmen and wish to arrange a visit to RAFC Cranwell, telephone 95751 x6699 and speak to either "V" or Sandra - both very helpful ladies - and they will fix it for you! If you are a direct entrant, go to your AFCO and they will arrange it for you. If for some reason the AFCO are not aware that this facility exists, you may want to "help" them with the following number: 01400 261201 x 6699, where once again "V" or Sandra will assist them. . .Good luck with your application. My advice to you would be to get as fit as you possibly can before visiting the OASC, and if selected for any aircrew training, get fitter still!!. .. .As an aside, Admin Noclue:. .Quote" However some of the jocks although initially friendly can be prone to being argumentative and unsympathetic to differing points of view.". .With an attitude like yours, is it any wonder that the Scots gave you a good chinning! (Well, we can but hope!) Seriously though, AG, how is the X-over application progressing? I'm sure that I am not alone in hoping that should you be successful at OASC, this time, I am really looking forward to meeting you! Special sauce, Sir?. .JR