A quick question for those at the academy (and apologies if this has been answered) - what is the scheduling like for the course? Is it similar to, say, a school term with ten weeks on, one off etc?

I think that's actually a new question for a change :ok:

I'm in my 10th week now (I think, I've lost count). The enroute guys (and girl) have started their sim stuff, we tower guys have another week of theory at the academy, then almost a week at the BoM training school. After that, I know not what, but it won't be a break. It'll most likely be in the sim.

Pretty much the only breaks you will get will be public holidays and the week between Christmas and new year while you're training. Once you start, don't plan on going on holidays until after you rate.

Yep, that's how it works, only real break you get is the week between Christmas and New Years, and the public holidays of course.

And ideally not for at least several months after that to allow consolidation. Assuming you can even get leave. After rating you get checked again at 3 months and at 6 months, with no allowance really possible for any time away. It's a long hard slog that's for sure, particularly if things don't go smoothly.

....and this is why I have 2 holidays booked prior to my start date in January...you can never be too careful!

Melb Enroute
 

Hi guys and girls ;)

I'm starting on the 17th September on the Melbourne Enroute course (72), JaeJae looks like we might be course mates.

Re the timing of everything, Skyflyz pretty much told my story!

I did the Assessment Centre in Sydney on the 6th March, and I was told I was successful on the 29th May (I remember the phone call very vividly!).

I too had been told on the assessment day that I should hear within three weeks, so it was a little disconcerting but I remained positive and figured "no news is good news".

I received my memory stick in yesterday's mail and I'm slightly panicked by the sheer volume of stuff. But, hey... one page at a time right?

Would like to hear from anyone else on my course, and JaeJae... were you by chance at my assessment day? Cos I think I know who you are :ok:

Kiwichick, dont stress too much about the sheer volume of stuff. Just concentrate on the areas it lists in the study guide which is on your usb as well. If you can get a handle on that stuff you will be fine. You will do a test at the end of your first week on the content, but its pretty easy, all multiple choice and doesnt actually count for anything anyway, its just designed to see where your at! To put it in perspective on the course I am on one guy didnt start studying until the week we actually started because he was too busy trying to move house and he still did really well with the exam at the end of the first week :)

Thanks Cadetkid! I must admit it's a little less daunting when I break it down chapter-by-chapter, rather than look at the 2,168 pages as a whole, lol.

How many people are generally on each course, is there a rough average?

Cheers,
KC :)

Enroute, there are usually 8-10, anymore than that the sims start to get a bit full. One of the current courses got split into two for that reason. Tower is usually four people. You'll probably start off with a combined enroute and tower group, then split after about 10 weeks.

Thanks Steve :)

That sounds like a good number. Plenty of people to bounce ideas/get help off; not to many to make it a distraction in class.

Just trolling my way through the ARM now, but dammit Kath & Kim keep making me watch them.... :E

There's lots of kiwis at the academy, you'll be in good company :)

Whaaaaat? I moved over here to get away from them all

:E

Dare I say it, if your profile is correct, you'll be the oldest ab initio "chick" at the academy :ok:

Haha, I thought I might be! :}

I was the oldest chick on my Air Force recruit course too (actually oldest person full stop...) so I got lots of practice talking "young people".

I feel hip and cool, but my daughters continue to tell me otherwise. :eek:

Is your age correct Steve, and are you on course at the moment?

It is and I am. All the guys on my course are young enough to be my sons :\

LMAO!! (See, I know what that < means...)

I totally understand! I actually feel so old... :eek:

Age is nothing but a number
 

Hi kiwi chick and stevep64,
good to hear its not impossible to make it now that Supa Oldies tournaments are my remaining age group for sports...:ok:

I did my assessment day in Brisbane earlier this year and was offered a place in MEL in Aug-Sept. However, I had to decline that offer and wait for the next course in Brisbane - supposed to start in May next year. Hope it does, I'm too old to wait much longer !

Is anyone else waiting for the Brisbane course yet? Someone wrote recently having been told over the phone there are no courses planned for Brisbane....?? Hope that's a misunderstanding:ooh:

Hey Guys

How long did your medical take to process?

Hey Sls :)

Firstly, do you know how lucky you are?!! If you did your assessment in mid-July and you've found out already that you're in, BOY oh BOY have you been spared some suffering an anxiety, lol! :D

Those of us that applied around the March-mark were unfortunately caught up in staffing/training/management problems (apparently) and had to wait two agonising months, haha! :{

My medical came back really quickly, in less than two weeks - but I was trying my hardest to get on the July Brisbane course so I was hounding and HOUNDING them about it every second day :)

Sadly... I was still to late for July! :eek:

It took me about a month to get my medical SLS. I called them every second day to get an update as I have read the horror stories from other people.

The longest part (for me anyways) was scheduling in the appointment with the DAME. I called mid June and was able to get an appointment in early July but, I was told the next available appointment was September!

Which course are you meant to be on SLS?