IOT 211 Cancelled
Join Date: Dec 1997
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Jeez, Time Bandit, you've been offered the opportunity to qualify for a position as an RAF Officer; you are not one yet. You do not have any rights to pay or anything else because your course has been put back. The situation would be exactly the same had you been offered a training course with any other employer - except thet, with many, the course would have been cancelled (not postponed) and you would have had to reapply.
Would this have happened 20 or 30 years ago? Yes it would, and it did. And there were no golden parachutes then, either.
Stop moaning and go and get a job - show the world that you actually possess the resourcefulness, self discipline, initiative, and independence that the RAF believed you had when they selected you.
Would this have happened 20 or 30 years ago? Yes it would, and it did. And there were no golden parachutes then, either.
Stop moaning and go and get a job - show the world that you actually possess the resourcefulness, self discipline, initiative, and independence that the RAF believed you had when they selected you.
Join Date: May 2004
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Scroggs,
While i totally empathise with what you're saying about those of us not yet enlightened by the wonders of Cranditz, i don't think it's fair to compare the RAF to a civvy company and suggest that we just crack on behind a supermarket till.
The UAS isn't what it used to be, though the top brass orders continue to insist that the degree comes first, it is the opinion of many i've spoken to from OC up to Air rank that this isn't really true. People on bursaries for aircrew have no choice other than to battle through EFT to a high standard whilst trying to get a degree. These days, a mediocre EFT pass puts you in re-branch territory whilst a sh*t degree won't do you too much harm in the RAF.
Therefore, pilot bursars (pilot cadetships don't exist anymore) have to work their tits off, just the same as the DE boys, only their degree will inevitably suffer.
So having, invested all the blood, sweat and tears, to now be told that i might, one day, be given the chance to "qualify" as an officer and dissappear in the meantime seems a bit tough.
I completely agree that back in the day when UASs were a drinking and flying club with no repercussions for combining the two and not performing, a graduating stude could only blame himself if he screwed his degree up in the process, but now we're sitting amongst the DE guys, equally fearing the streaming board and rebranch.
I, and many others, believe that since the RAF has asked so much of us whilst "serving" on the UAS, surely it is only fair to honour our expectations of some sort of employment on graduation.
I apologise for the rant, and indeed if my views do not bode well with you!!
GF
While i totally empathise with what you're saying about those of us not yet enlightened by the wonders of Cranditz, i don't think it's fair to compare the RAF to a civvy company and suggest that we just crack on behind a supermarket till.
The UAS isn't what it used to be, though the top brass orders continue to insist that the degree comes first, it is the opinion of many i've spoken to from OC up to Air rank that this isn't really true. People on bursaries for aircrew have no choice other than to battle through EFT to a high standard whilst trying to get a degree. These days, a mediocre EFT pass puts you in re-branch territory whilst a sh*t degree won't do you too much harm in the RAF.
Therefore, pilot bursars (pilot cadetships don't exist anymore) have to work their tits off, just the same as the DE boys, only their degree will inevitably suffer.
So having, invested all the blood, sweat and tears, to now be told that i might, one day, be given the chance to "qualify" as an officer and dissappear in the meantime seems a bit tough.
I completely agree that back in the day when UASs were a drinking and flying club with no repercussions for combining the two and not performing, a graduating stude could only blame himself if he screwed his degree up in the process, but now we're sitting amongst the DE guys, equally fearing the streaming board and rebranch.
I, and many others, believe that since the RAF has asked so much of us whilst "serving" on the UAS, surely it is only fair to honour our expectations of some sort of employment on graduation.
I apologise for the rant, and indeed if my views do not bode well with you!!
GF
Join Date: Nov 2003
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GF
I'm in the same position as you but you have to remember to look at the bright side of things. It might be difficult to get onto an IOT course at the moment but we are all in the same boat.
I'm just glad am not unfortunate enough to be going through OASC at the moment. I've seen some people that I thought would do very well get turned down.
Grin and bear it there's not alot else you can do!
I'm in the same position as you but you have to remember to look at the bright side of things. It might be difficult to get onto an IOT course at the moment but we are all in the same boat.
I'm just glad am not unfortunate enough to be going through OASC at the moment. I've seen some people that I thought would do very well get turned down.
Grin and bear it there's not alot else you can do!
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Grand Fromage, a suggestion would be to take on board what Slow-Rider has to say.
I don't want to get personal but judging by some of your comments, you hold yourself in high esteem and obviously see you and your 'most prominent UAS studes' above having to look after yourself for a couple of months before joining the RAF!
Get back down from your pillar and accept the fact that you 'll have to work for a living like the rest of us!
If you can't get off your 'sorry a**' and do something in the mean time, then I'm sorry to say you are going to find life very difficult in the forces.
I don't want to get personal but judging by some of your comments, you hold yourself in high esteem and obviously see you and your 'most prominent UAS studes' above having to look after yourself for a couple of months before joining the RAF!
Get back down from your pillar and accept the fact that you 'll have to work for a living like the rest of us!
If you can't get off your 'sorry a**' and do something in the mean time, then I'm sorry to say you are going to find life very difficult in the forces.
Join Date: May 2004
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Err.. Sorry!!
Consider neck wound back in!
It's easy to get worked up about these things when you've been planning your life around it for the past few months.
Of course we have no choice other than to sort lives out over next x months but i was originally trying to get some gen on what oppurtunities may be available in the RAF.
Consider neck wound back in!
It's easy to get worked up about these things when you've been planning your life around it for the past few months.
Of course we have no choice other than to sort lives out over next x months but i was originally trying to get some gen on what oppurtunities may be available in the RAF.
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Join Date: Mar 2001
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GF, don't worry, many feel the same and I can understand your attitude.
For those who don't necessarily agree, I think the key thing to remember here is that sponsored studes have been dropped into an awkward position rather rapidly just 3 months before they were due to start IOT. Okay, so it's not the end of the world, but bear in mind the last year or so has been geared around that date - no one enjoys the prospect of IOT so it's a very psychological thing and rather miffing when it gets pulled.
More importantly though is the prospect of future IOT dates - the 211 bods have had no details of when they can expect to get placed on a course yet. This is frankly poor management. As uni graduates they are now prevented from taking professional jobs while being held to ransom by the RAF for an unspecified time. Surely anyone can appreciate the irritation there. Don't forget that those who applied for 211 wanted to get straight into the RAF and ironically may now join later than their peers who fancied a few months of dossing in the costas.
For those who don't necessarily agree, I think the key thing to remember here is that sponsored studes have been dropped into an awkward position rather rapidly just 3 months before they were due to start IOT. Okay, so it's not the end of the world, but bear in mind the last year or so has been geared around that date - no one enjoys the prospect of IOT so it's a very psychological thing and rather miffing when it gets pulled.
More importantly though is the prospect of future IOT dates - the 211 bods have had no details of when they can expect to get placed on a course yet. This is frankly poor management. As uni graduates they are now prevented from taking professional jobs while being held to ransom by the RAF for an unspecified time. Surely anyone can appreciate the irritation there. Don't forget that those who applied for 211 wanted to get straight into the RAF and ironically may now join later than their peers who fancied a few months of dossing in the costas.
Join Date: May 2004
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Heard from a reliable source that the new IOT syllabus will be introduced early 2005. The change will firstly "reduce the amount of pine pole carrying that is currently done" but mainly include a third phase where cadets will be directly involved with the four-week induction of a new course (perhaps a chance to play Flt Sgt. and give the new cadets some hassle??!!).
Worryingly I have also heard that new Bursars will not get the luxury of a "promise" of a career. Current Bursars will get a place purely for moral reasons although their date of IOT is anyone’s guess.
In terms of recruitment, they are currently selecting only about 1.5 pilots a week from OASC with the aptitude pass set at a staggering 160!
Worryingly I have also heard that new Bursars will not get the luxury of a "promise" of a career. Current Bursars will get a place purely for moral reasons although their date of IOT is anyone’s guess.
In terms of recruitment, they are currently selecting only about 1.5 pilots a week from OASC with the aptitude pass set at a staggering 160!
Last edited by OC G-LOC; 7th May 2004 at 07:16.
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OC G-LOCK
Are you suggesting that the RAF are going to pay OFF CDTs to hold somewhere before they are actually part of the RAF as opposed to the RAF VR?
If that is the case then that really is confusing because my understanding of the current situation is that there are too many pilots holding. Thus MOD wants to save money by reducing numbers of holding officers and have reduced intake etc. (seems fair)
Seen as when I complete EFT and clear from the UAS this July I have no duty to the RAF other than to turn up on IOT in a reasonable state of fittness I can't see why they would want to add us to a paid holding pool and undermine one of the reasons that my IOT dates are likely to be delayed anyway.
From a briefing given by my Boss the other day only a small number of people were on 211 when it was cancelled and they have been bumped onto 212/the next course.
SR
Are you suggesting that the RAF are going to pay OFF CDTs to hold somewhere before they are actually part of the RAF as opposed to the RAF VR?
If that is the case then that really is confusing because my understanding of the current situation is that there are too many pilots holding. Thus MOD wants to save money by reducing numbers of holding officers and have reduced intake etc. (seems fair)
Seen as when I complete EFT and clear from the UAS this July I have no duty to the RAF other than to turn up on IOT in a reasonable state of fittness I can't see why they would want to add us to a paid holding pool and undermine one of the reasons that my IOT dates are likely to be delayed anyway.
From a briefing given by my Boss the other day only a small number of people were on 211 when it was cancelled and they have been bumped onto 212/the next course.
SR
