The Truth about RAF Flying
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Gareth,
From your recent posts, it appears that you are making a real effort. Believe me, this will help you greatly in any walk of life. However, please tell me that the following:
...is not so. Please.
From your recent posts, it appears that you are making a real effort. Believe me, this will help you greatly in any walk of life. However, please tell me that the following:
Originally Posted by Gareth123
i do infact get A*'s in English language and litrature and thats not a lie
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Gareth, the blokes here have, in their own way, offered you priceless advice. They have also given you an insight to the benign humour of Service life. Read, absorb and prosper.
Something very important you need to ask yourself: how much do you want to fly? how much do you want to be part of a close knit team made up of hard hitting jokers like these? how much do you want responsibility for life or death decisions for you and people who depend on you, how much do you want hard work and how much do you want to be buggered about for seemingly no good reasons and contrary to what you personally want to do. This list is not exhaustive.
If you still feel totally committed after that self test, go to the recruiting office and fill the forms in. The school qualifications are the easy bit. The first hard bit is OASC. They will asses your potential to complete Officer and flying training. They will tell you the truth about what you are probably capable and incapable of.
So that’s it? No, it’s the beginning. Re-read para 2. For what it’s worth, good luck
Something very important you need to ask yourself: how much do you want to fly? how much do you want to be part of a close knit team made up of hard hitting jokers like these? how much do you want responsibility for life or death decisions for you and people who depend on you, how much do you want hard work and how much do you want to be buggered about for seemingly no good reasons and contrary to what you personally want to do. This list is not exhaustive.
If you still feel totally committed after that self test, go to the recruiting office and fill the forms in. The school qualifications are the easy bit. The first hard bit is OASC. They will asses your potential to complete Officer and flying training. They will tell you the truth about what you are probably capable and incapable of.
So that’s it? No, it’s the beginning. Re-read para 2. For what it’s worth, good luck
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Originally Posted by Gareth123
Thanks roush. I agree with you, basically first impressions are important and I managed to make a bad one. I wish I had just proof read what I wrote before I posted it ! Because have my other posts been grammatically bad? Hopefully not.
I realize that and that’s why I am here! I have a great amount of respect anyone who has got which I am striving to get in the future. I only came here for advice. But (even if you wanted me too) I’m not going to take it personally cause if you knew me you'd know I'm not a stupid guy, even if I did manage to come across as one.
I realize that and that’s why I am here! I have a great amount of respect anyone who has got which I am striving to get in the future. I only came here for advice. But (even if you wanted me too) I’m not going to take it personally cause if you knew me you'd know I'm not a stupid guy, even if I did manage to come across as one.
[Note the comma before the conjuctive 'and'. Also the repetition of 'impression'. This reinforces the fact that you have learnt the lesson]
I wish I had proofread what I wrote before I posted in.
[just is superfluous].
Because have my other posts been grammatically bad?
[Oh dear!. 'have my other posts been grammatically bad?' Yup. 'Hopefully not' Misplaced optimisim I am afraid.]
'I have a great amount of respect anyone who has got which I am striving to get in the future. '
[I have a great amount of respect for anyone who has got to where I am striving to get.]
'But (even if you wanted me too) I’m not going to take it personally cause if you knew me you'd know I'm not a stupid guy, even if I did manage to come across as one.'
[But (even if you wanted me too) I’m not going to take it personally because if you knew me you'd know I'm not a stupid guy, even if I did manage to come across as one.]
You could have said - 'cause - to show the shortening.
These are just very simple rules that should, for an A-level English scholar be second nature. For a bit of light reading get hold of a copy of Eats, Shoots and Leaves.
You will eventually learn the tenets of Defence Writing - ABC - (if it is still taught) Accuracy, Brevity, Clarity. If you practise now it will become second nature and, I promise, help in your A-levels too.
PS, I am an undergraduate.
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Gareth, you need to contact Douglas Watts in the thread about becoming an Astronaut. I am sure you would make the grade......
If not then the Regiment or supply Branch will have you I am sure.
If not then the Regiment or supply Branch will have you I am sure.
Originally Posted by Mr-AEO
Nice to see the Crabs are putting their anal education course (sorry Staff Course) to good use.
Join the RN Gareth m8. You'll find that we pose slightly less than the crabfats and we can handle our beer
Join the RN Gareth m8. You'll find that we pose slightly less than the crabfats and we can handle our beer
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i do infact get A*'s in English language and litrature and thats not a lie, so shh !
As an aside, I hear there are plans afoot to introduce an "A**" grade - how trite!
Here's a suggestion for a new grading system:
A** = A
A* = B
A = C
B = FAIL!!
In other words, just the way it used to be when I was educated, when employers could actually rely on exam grades to determine an applicants probable potential.
Alternatively, we could just give everybody an "A", with the number of stars determining exactly how "A" you were! Although I suspect some pinko would take issue with even this ridiculous proposal, since it is 'elitist'. God help the future, is all I can say...
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These are just very simple rules that should, for an A-level English scholar
Im not claiming to be some mastermind of the english language. But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure I havnt made any mistakes.
And yes they are very good rules but things like : 'cause and cause. Do they really matter on an internet forum ?
Last edited by Gareth123; 19th Jul 2006 at 07:12.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Originally Posted by Gareth123
Sorry if you mis-understood, I begin my A-levels next year. When I spoke of A*'s I am talking about my GCSE's.
Im not claiming to be some mastermind of the english language. But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure havnt made any mistakes.
Im not claiming to be some mastermind of the english language. But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure havnt made any mistakes.
If you know you are capable, at this time you should take every opportunity to practise. At your age I never had a chance, like you have, to practise and get free advice.
'Im not claiming to be some mastermind of the english language. But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure havnt made any mistakes'
This is a perfect example of sloppy work and colours our prceptions, as you have found out.
Care to resubmit that sentence with it properly drafted?
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This is a perfect example of sloppy work and colours our prceptions
Its sloppy work? But this isn't work, I'm not trying to sabotage the English language but I also won't pay much attention to such little things when I’m posting on an informal chat room or forum.
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
This is a perfect example of sloppy work and colours our prceptions, as you have found out.
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Gareth, I certainly did not misunderstand, hence my advice.
If you know you are capable, at this time you should take every opportunity to practise. At your age I never had a chance, like you have, to practise and get free advice.
'Im not claiming to be some mastermind of the english language. But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure havnt made any mistakes'
This is a perfect example of sloppy work and colours our prceptions, as you have found out.
Care to resubmit that sentence with it properly drafted?
If you know you are capable, at this time you should take every opportunity to practise. At your age I never had a chance, like you have, to practise and get free advice.
'Im not claiming to be some mastermind of the english language. But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure havnt made any mistakes'
This is a perfect example of sloppy work and colours our prceptions, as you have found out.
Care to resubmit that sentence with it properly drafted?
Bwahahaha !
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ok you all have a point, reading over what i wrote, im not sure how i managed to write such bad grammer but i do infact get A*'s in English language and litrature and thats not a lie, so shh !
But i know im perfectly capable of writing something formally and taking the time to make sure havnt made any mistakes.
The military fraternity runs on fairly harsh banter to put a message across. The message here, from people who know, is that you need to put a bit more study time into your English if you hope to achieve your dream. Your 'A' grade alone clearly does not make you a master of the English language.
I'm not trying to sabotage the English language but I also won't pay much attention to such little things when I’m posting on an informal chat room or forum.
Last edited by Fg Off Max Stout; 19th Jul 2006 at 08:04.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
prceptions - fair cop guv.
I see in today's Torygraph that a large number of students at Harrow, with A* English, failed an internal English exam.
Gareth, give up lad, right proper like what we does.
I see in today's Torygraph that a large number of students at Harrow, with A* English, failed an internal English exam.
Gareth, give up lad, right proper like what we does.
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Originally Posted by Fg Off Max Stout
Bare in mind...
Bear I think you will find, dear chap.
Edited to save on heartbeats and eyesight usage. There really is no need to quote an entire post to make a point about a single phrase - however good the point is!
Scroggs
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Gareth
there is indeed a lot of good advice here; advice that you should heed. (Bl
dy hellfire - a semicolon on the web )
You seem to be focussing a lot on the academic requirements, which are not critical for the RAF (or RN or AAC). The academic bar may be set apparently low, but that is because there are other bars set much higher.
As Pontius Nav pointed out in a earlier post, the percentage who makes it from application to the front line is vanishingly small. One can get most jobs from a half-an-hour interview, senior management posts may have a whole day of tests and assessments. The RAF (and the others!) have 3-4 days of assessments, medicals, fitness tests and so on.
More questions will be asked of you about what you have done (community work, Air Cadets, team sports) than what bits of paper you hold or confidently expect to obtain. A maths pass is less important than knowing instantly how long 47 miles will take at 180 knots (and that's an easy one - most aircrew on this forum will have worked it out quicker than I wrote it - and I'm not that slow a typist).
Many of us here have done it successfully - and we aren't demi-gods (apart from the Harrier pilots - and that's more banter )
What about your fitness, (do you know what a "bleep test" is?), what about your health (specs, colour vision, asthma?). More people fall by the wayside for those than for insufficient exams!
But go for it! If successful it's the best job in the world (whatever the capbadge). And if you don't go for it, you may just spend the rest of your life wondering "what if".
And by the way - the answer is 15 minutes and 40 seconds. 180 knots is 3 miles a minute or a mile in 20 seconds. So 48 miles would be 16 minutes, and 47 miles will be 20 seconds less. That's the kind of maths we're interested in, rather than A* at GCSE!
there is indeed a lot of good advice here; advice that you should heed. (Bl
dy hellfire - a semicolon on the web )You seem to be focussing a lot on the academic requirements, which are not critical for the RAF (or RN or AAC). The academic bar may be set apparently low, but that is because there are other bars set much higher.
As Pontius Nav pointed out in a earlier post, the percentage who makes it from application to the front line is vanishingly small. One can get most jobs from a half-an-hour interview, senior management posts may have a whole day of tests and assessments. The RAF (and the others!) have 3-4 days of assessments, medicals, fitness tests and so on.
More questions will be asked of you about what you have done (community work, Air Cadets, team sports) than what bits of paper you hold or confidently expect to obtain. A maths pass is less important than knowing instantly how long 47 miles will take at 180 knots (and that's an easy one - most aircrew on this forum will have worked it out quicker than I wrote it - and I'm not that slow a typist).
Many of us here have done it successfully - and we aren't demi-gods (apart from the Harrier pilots - and that's more banter
)What about your fitness, (do you know what a "bleep test" is?), what about your health (specs, colour vision, asthma?). More people fall by the wayside for those than for insufficient exams!
But go for it! If successful it's the best job in the world (whatever the capbadge). And if you don't go for it, you may just spend the rest of your life wondering "what if".
And by the way - the answer is 15 minutes and 40 seconds. 180 knots is 3 miles a minute or a mile in 20 seconds. So 48 miles would be 16 minutes, and 47 miles will be 20 seconds less. That's the kind of maths we're interested in, rather than A* at GCSE!
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Nice one Tezzer, you got me, but as a matter of courtesy I will spare you my thoughts on quoting an entire post in order to refer to a single word....dear chap. I made a point of not saying that you have to be a black belt of academic English. We happily turn a blind eye to the occassional typo and I am sure none of us would claim to never make a mistake.
My point stands however. I, and most of the contributors to this thread, have been through RAF selection, OASC's English assessments, IOT at Cranwell, Defence Writing / Written Comms, ISS, and so on. We all know that if you routinely turn out sentences with as many errors as words, you will join the 99.9% of applicants who don't make it through selection. The banter may be harsh but the motivation is to help our man Gareth.
My point stands however. I, and most of the contributors to this thread, have been through RAF selection, OASC's English assessments, IOT at Cranwell, Defence Writing / Written Comms, ISS, and so on. We all know that if you routinely turn out sentences with as many errors as words, you will join the 99.9% of applicants who don't make it through selection. The banter may be harsh but the motivation is to help our man Gareth.