RAF Interview!
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Don't mean to hijack this thread but it seems it's purpose has been fulfilled
One Question!
Are you respected more for aircrew than you are for FC(1st preference) or Intel officer?
The reason I ask this is because if the asthma thing doesn't work out I've always thought that I will be joining something which I will got fed up of or joining a role which isn't fully respected within the armed forces. Don't mean to sound to naive.
One Question!
Are you respected more for aircrew than you are for FC(1st preference) or Intel officer?
The reason I ask this is because if the asthma thing doesn't work out I've always thought that I will be joining something which I will got fed up of or joining a role which isn't fully respected within the armed forces. Don't mean to sound to naive.
Mint with a Hole
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Some answers :)
1 - "Explain your rights of discharge"
2 - "What is reserve service"
3 - "How long is it for"
4 - "At what point do you formally join the RAF"
5 - "After assestation can you change your trade" (the AFCO say you cant change trade... but people already serving have told me you can... so in the interview is it best to say you cant change trade or?)
2 - "What is reserve service"
3 - "How long is it for"
4 - "At what point do you formally join the RAF"
5 - "After assestation can you change your trade" (the AFCO say you cant change trade... but people already serving have told me you can... so in the interview is it best to say you cant change trade or?)
Qs 1 and 2 kinda roll into one here. If you are joining as a ranker you will sign up initially for 9 + 18. This means you will do 9 years service and 18 reserve (should you need to be recalled after leaving - a war for example or sever trade shortage). You extend this service with good conduct and promotion in most circumstances.
You formally join the RAF from the moment you read your oath, however, you can be removed from Basic training at no notice at RAF Halton, your feet are far more firmly in once you pass basic training and move on to trade training.
You CAN re-trade once you have joined..you may be forced to should the awful situation arise that you cannot complete Trade training....If you decide be re-trade off your own back, you WONT have many trades open to you..you would be offered the most undermanned trades if anything at all.
I would DEFINATELY lead on from previous advice posted and ask your AFCO to arrange a visit for you to see the job in action and (hopefully) get some honest views of the job.
To both of you lads good luck! Feel free to ask more if needed
Also..do either of you have start dates for basic training at Halton yet?
Polo
Oh and JAG different people get different respect..all depends what trade you are and what trade they are...do what YOU want to do..not anyone else
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''Also..do either of you have start dates for basic training at Halton yet?''
Sorry to get nitty and gritty but I'm not going to Halton or joining the RAF as soon.
Sorry to get nitty and gritty but I'm not going to Halton or joining the RAF as soon.
Mint with a Hole
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Nitty and gritty :P
Oooohhh I see,
Well nice to be asking Qs nice and early! Don't see too many people asking much before they join and then regret that they didn't ask this and that etc
Polo
Well nice to be asking Qs nice and early! Don't see too many people asking much before they join and then regret that they didn't ask this and that etc
Polo
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Originally Posted by polomint
Qs 1 and 2 kinda roll into one here. If you are joining as a ranker you will sign up initially for 9 + 18.
Mint with a Hole
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hmm
LOL Im not sure...not recent if they have - I joined in 2000...At that time as a Ranker it was 9 + 18....
Hmm I'll check that out, unless anyone has good gen on current enlistments.
Polo
Hmm I'll check that out, unless anyone has good gen on current enlistments.
Polo
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Hello guys,
Just wanted to thank you for all the advice an PM's. The interview went well yesterday, really well actualy.
One thing i thought was strange, i wasnt asked much about where the RAF are and doing what which i thought would of been more into the interview, the only thing that poped up was where about are raf bases but nothing about whats actualy going on there.
Thanks
Martin
Just wanted to thank you for all the advice an PM's. The interview went well yesterday, really well actualy.
One thing i thought was strange, i wasnt asked much about where the RAF are and doing what which i thought would of been more into the interview, the only thing that poped up was where about are raf bases but nothing about whats actualy going on there.
Thanks
Martin
Mint with a Hole
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One thing i thought was strange, i wasnt asked much about where the RAF are and doing what which i thought would of been more into the interview,
Thats because the RAF doesn't know where it's going lol. At least, we aren't told anyway...and if we are told it changes 6 months later....
Good Luck and Well Done.
Polo
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Speaking as an FOA, firstly are you applying as an FOA or FOA(ATC)
Having done the JATCC Course (and failed it twice - it really is the hardest RAF course in existence, and quite rightly so) you should be aware then failing the course nowadays can result in you being kicked out.
Currently working at APOE, we are deployed in:
Malvinas, C130, VC10 & F3
Iraq, VC10, C130, GR4, Helos
Afghanistan. VC10, C130, GR7/9, Helos
Balkans, Helos
with VC10, C130, Tri*, C17, and charters supporting all theatres as well as exercises in Europe, USA/Canada and Latin America
As an FOA, you can expect to work in Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC & Flt Planning as a 1st tourist, and Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC, Flt Pln, Area Radar, Range, ALFENS Ops as a 2nd+ tourist (my own experience, ATC, Area, Stn Ops, ATC, JATCC, Stn Ops with Sqn Ops thown in on various dets over a 13yr period) although FOA(ATC) are herderd toward ATC for the 1st tour
Having done the JATCC Course (and failed it twice - it really is the hardest RAF course in existence, and quite rightly so) you should be aware then failing the course nowadays can result in you being kicked out.
Currently working at APOE, we are deployed in:
Malvinas, C130, VC10 & F3
Iraq, VC10, C130, GR4, Helos
Afghanistan. VC10, C130, GR7/9, Helos
Balkans, Helos
with VC10, C130, Tri*, C17, and charters supporting all theatres as well as exercises in Europe, USA/Canada and Latin America
As an FOA, you can expect to work in Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC & Flt Planning as a 1st tourist, and Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC, Flt Pln, Area Radar, Range, ALFENS Ops as a 2nd+ tourist (my own experience, ATC, Area, Stn Ops, ATC, JATCC, Stn Ops with Sqn Ops thown in on various dets over a 13yr period) although FOA(ATC) are herderd toward ATC for the 1st tour
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
May I point out too that IMNSHO Flight Planning clerk can be the most responsible job on a station.
All the other jobs are important as people rely on your taking messages accurately and actioning them without error. But Flight Planning is special.
On many stations there is usually only one person, sometimes two. The one is usually as very experienced cpl; the other an SAC. For one reason or another the SAC may work alone for extended periods, maybe weeks.
An SAC is a rank that is capable of working without supervision. Usually that means without close supervision, but in flight planning that is litterally true.
Responsible for having current maps for the task available often before the crews know what they want. Maintaining all the aeronautical documents and ensuring out of date ones are binned. In short a very speciallised librarian.
Then you handle Notams. You are your very own message clerk and communications centre. True sqns have their own messages but their clerks are under pressure too. You are the oracle.
Then there are flight plans. Most aircrew don't file flight plans. When they do file them they get them wrong - fast-jets overseas. Get them wrong could lead to a mission abort once airborne or a divert because of an unplanned hold at an international boundary.
Oddly all my SACs got promoted to Cpl after flight planning and most of my Cpls retired!
PS, if anyone should be an A/Cpl (paid or unpaid) it is a flight planning clerk. Maybe after a few months in the job wneh they are up to speed and can act with knowledge, authority, and tact.
All the other jobs are important as people rely on your taking messages accurately and actioning them without error. But Flight Planning is special.
On many stations there is usually only one person, sometimes two. The one is usually as very experienced cpl; the other an SAC. For one reason or another the SAC may work alone for extended periods, maybe weeks.
An SAC is a rank that is capable of working without supervision. Usually that means without close supervision, but in flight planning that is litterally true.
Responsible for having current maps for the task available often before the crews know what they want. Maintaining all the aeronautical documents and ensuring out of date ones are binned. In short a very speciallised librarian.
Then you handle Notams. You are your very own message clerk and communications centre. True sqns have their own messages but their clerks are under pressure too. You are the oracle.
Then there are flight plans. Most aircrew don't file flight plans. When they do file them they get them wrong - fast-jets overseas. Get them wrong could lead to a mission abort once airborne or a divert because of an unplanned hold at an international boundary.
Oddly all my SACs got promoted to Cpl after flight planning and most of my Cpls retired!
PS, if anyone should be an A/Cpl (paid or unpaid) it is a flight planning clerk. Maybe after a few months in the job wneh they are up to speed and can act with knowledge, authority, and tact.
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Going slightly off the current topic here. If you apply for a certain trade and go through OASC but you fail for that particular trade, is it common for them to offer you something else or do you have to go through the whole application process again?
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Originally Posted by unclenelli
Speaking as an FOA, firstly are you applying as an FOA or FOA(ATC)
Having done the JATCC Course (and failed it twice - it really is the hardest RAF course in existence, and quite rightly so) you should be aware then failing the course nowadays can result in you being kicked out.
Currently working at APOE, we are deployed in:
Malvinas, C130, VC10 & F3
Iraq, VC10, C130, GR4, Helos
Afghanistan. VC10, C130, GR7/9, Helos
Balkans, Helos
with VC10, C130, Tri*, C17, and charters supporting all theatres as well as exercises in Europe, USA/Canada and Latin America
As an FOA, you can expect to work in Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC & Flt Planning as a 1st tourist, and Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC, Flt Pln, Area Radar, Range, ALFENS Ops as a 2nd+ tourist (my own experience, ATC, Area, Stn Ops, ATC, JATCC, Stn Ops with Sqn Ops thown in on various dets over a 13yr period) although FOA(ATC) are herderd toward ATC for the 1st tour
Having done the JATCC Course (and failed it twice - it really is the hardest RAF course in existence, and quite rightly so) you should be aware then failing the course nowadays can result in you being kicked out.
Currently working at APOE, we are deployed in:
Malvinas, C130, VC10 & F3
Iraq, VC10, C130, GR4, Helos
Afghanistan. VC10, C130, GR7/9, Helos
Balkans, Helos
with VC10, C130, Tri*, C17, and charters supporting all theatres as well as exercises in Europe, USA/Canada and Latin America
As an FOA, you can expect to work in Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC & Flt Planning as a 1st tourist, and Stn Ops, Sqn Ops, ATC, Flt Pln, Area Radar, Range, ALFENS Ops as a 2nd+ tourist (my own experience, ATC, Area, Stn Ops, ATC, JATCC, Stn Ops with Sqn Ops thown in on various dets over a 13yr period) although FOA(ATC) are herderd toward ATC for the 1st tour
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Subject, they only assess you for what you applied for. Apply for pilot and that is it. Apply for Pilot, Supplier, Provost and they would offer you the best that fits.
Look at it from their POV. No point in trying to assess you for any job only to have you turn it down.
So, apply for one, fail, expect to do th ewhole 9 yards again.
Look at it from their POV. No point in trying to assess you for any job only to have you turn it down.
So, apply for one, fail, expect to do th ewhole 9 yards again.
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Subject, they only assess you for what you applied for. Apply for pilot and that is it. Apply for Pilot, Supplier, Provost and they would offer you the best that fits.
This distinction is important as it means you don't have to worry about putting a less popular branch down as a backup choice prejudicing your chances of getting your first choice of branch.
Look at it from their POV. No point in trying to assess you for any job only to have you turn it down.
So, apply for one, fail, expect to do th ewhole 9 yards again.
So, apply for one, fail, expect to do th ewhole 9 yards again.
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Currently working at APOE, we are deployed in:
Malvinas, C130, VC10 & F3
Iraq, VC10, C130, GR4, Helos
Afghanistan. VC10, C130, GR7/9, Helos
Balkans, Helos
with VC10, C130, Tri*, C17, and charters supporting all theatres as well as exercises in Europe, USA/Canada and Latin America
The places mentioned here sound amazing and very interesting, do the officer roles such as FC or Int O share these excellent oppurtunities?
Thanks
Malvinas, C130, VC10 & F3
Iraq, VC10, C130, GR4, Helos
Afghanistan. VC10, C130, GR7/9, Helos
Balkans, Helos
with VC10, C130, Tri*, C17, and charters supporting all theatres as well as exercises in Europe, USA/Canada and Latin America
The places mentioned here sound amazing and very interesting, do the officer roles such as FC or Int O share these excellent oppurtunities?
Thanks
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You are thinking about joining the RAF as an FC or Int Officer and you dont even know where they could be employed? You do dissapoint JAG3. We all thought you know everything there is to know about joining the RAF. As you told one prospective ATCO, goto the RAF careers website and look these jobs up. There you will be told what the job is all about and where you can be deployed to. Thanks.
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Seems like you've got it in for me Ratty but to be honest I don't care,
when I asked where they are deployed I was simply asking regarding FC if they have been deployed places such as the 1ACC in Op Telic(haven't found anywhere else they have been deployed). Regarding IO I more or less thought that where ever aircraft go IO's follow them but I obviously haven't heard of any sources which has proved that.
By the way no website tells you where they have been deployed and that is why I have asked including RAF careers and google.
How about Ratty we be mature and be ''friends'' instead of bickering over the internet like two dipsticks.
when I asked where they are deployed I was simply asking regarding FC if they have been deployed places such as the 1ACC in Op Telic(haven't found anywhere else they have been deployed). Regarding IO I more or less thought that where ever aircraft go IO's follow them but I obviously haven't heard of any sources which has proved that.By the way no website tells you where they have been deployed and that is why I have asked including RAF careers and google.
How about Ratty we be mature and be ''friends'' instead of bickering over the internet like two dipsticks.