RAF WSO Crewman
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Not properly no. 
Just been checking this thread on and off, amongst other things, I'm helping to make a website at the moment so I'm quite busy.
I will check it out now.
Cheers.
Just been checking this thread on and off, amongst other things, I'm helping to make a website at the moment so I'm quite busy. I will check it out now.
Cheers.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Good attitude mate.
The best people to ask about OASC are the people who've passed it, not tried it and failed, so you'd do well to get yourself onto a Sqn visit and ask them all about it. Whilst details change through the years the whole drift of the place remains the same.
The biggest of which, IMHO, is preparation. The old cliche, first impressions etc has some validity here also, such as fitness. You only get the one shot at the fitness test so get as much prep in as possible, you'd be surprised at the amount of people who do badly in the test, even people who think they're fit. If you can get to Excellent level in the fitness test then that's one less thing to worry about.
Aptitude can't really be changed too much, but I'm sure simulator games/brain training will help you improve hand/eye co-ord and mental dexterity.
The medical is a good one, very thorough. Obviously you can't do much about your medical state - don't lie about stuff, hayfever being the big issue there, same with asthma. Some of the medical standards are job-specific, eyesight/limb length (or whatever they call it) for example. You might be a fit and healthy chap but if you don't meet the exact grade then you may well be excluded from your initial flying choice, so have a couple of back up choices. Dont' be too disappointed if this happens, after all it's not your fault.
Failing to score well in the interview process however, is all your fault. People turn up looking like a charity shop dustbin, people don't have a neat haircut, people don't shave!! Best advice from me, walk into the OASC building every day looking like you're walking into a Guards Officers' Mess. Smart as a carrot. Dont' let yourself down by slouching around in an ill-fitting suit with a half-ar$ed tie knot.
Read, read and read some more. Read about at least 5 domestic current affairs topics and 5 more foreign ones, half of them defence related. Nimrod, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, US Presidential Elections, Reaper - there's a few just off the top of my head. Watch Channel 4 news regularly, read a good paper (Torygraph is a firm favourite), simple.
Know your training process, basic - how long, where, what it covers. NCA training - how long, where etc, potential postings - squadrons, aircraft types, locations. Operations - theatres, commitments, political reasons why we're there. Not hard given Google and some sound advice from here.
Be honest with the interviewers, if you've got a sensible opinion on something then give it. Be friendly and try to relax, it's 45 minutes (half of which is talking about yourself anyway) with a couple of officers. If you're successful you'll spend alot longer with alot more officers in FAR more stressful environments than an interview room.
Leadership tests, you need to find a balance between hard-working, enthusiastic and supportive team member and firm, receptive and determined leader. OASC are looking for both, the tests are really good fun anyway so enjoy yourself, they can't fail you on that. Plus, it's only a few planks of wood and some gym mats - not life or death. Some people seem to pump themselves up on their own skills - I'm a CWO etc, forget that. The examiners are looking for leadership potential at this stage, not Rommel.
So good luck mate, feel free to PM me if you've got any questions. I've rattled on for long enough, remember PREPARATION, OASC will be far more critical than this lot on here. A few silly mistakes on a public forum is one thing, making silly mistakes at OASC is another.
All the best son.
The best people to ask about OASC are the people who've passed it, not tried it and failed, so you'd do well to get yourself onto a Sqn visit and ask them all about it. Whilst details change through the years the whole drift of the place remains the same.
The biggest of which, IMHO, is preparation. The old cliche, first impressions etc has some validity here also, such as fitness. You only get the one shot at the fitness test so get as much prep in as possible, you'd be surprised at the amount of people who do badly in the test, even people who think they're fit. If you can get to Excellent level in the fitness test then that's one less thing to worry about.
Aptitude can't really be changed too much, but I'm sure simulator games/brain training will help you improve hand/eye co-ord and mental dexterity.
The medical is a good one, very thorough. Obviously you can't do much about your medical state - don't lie about stuff, hayfever being the big issue there, same with asthma. Some of the medical standards are job-specific, eyesight/limb length (or whatever they call it) for example. You might be a fit and healthy chap but if you don't meet the exact grade then you may well be excluded from your initial flying choice, so have a couple of back up choices. Dont' be too disappointed if this happens, after all it's not your fault.
Failing to score well in the interview process however, is all your fault. People turn up looking like a charity shop dustbin, people don't have a neat haircut, people don't shave!! Best advice from me, walk into the OASC building every day looking like you're walking into a Guards Officers' Mess. Smart as a carrot. Dont' let yourself down by slouching around in an ill-fitting suit with a half-ar$ed tie knot.
Read, read and read some more. Read about at least 5 domestic current affairs topics and 5 more foreign ones, half of them defence related. Nimrod, Zimbabwe, Kosovo, US Presidential Elections, Reaper - there's a few just off the top of my head. Watch Channel 4 news regularly, read a good paper (Torygraph is a firm favourite), simple.
Know your training process, basic - how long, where, what it covers. NCA training - how long, where etc, potential postings - squadrons, aircraft types, locations. Operations - theatres, commitments, political reasons why we're there. Not hard given Google and some sound advice from here.
Be honest with the interviewers, if you've got a sensible opinion on something then give it. Be friendly and try to relax, it's 45 minutes (half of which is talking about yourself anyway) with a couple of officers. If you're successful you'll spend alot longer with alot more officers in FAR more stressful environments than an interview room.
Leadership tests, you need to find a balance between hard-working, enthusiastic and supportive team member and firm, receptive and determined leader. OASC are looking for both, the tests are really good fun anyway so enjoy yourself, they can't fail you on that. Plus, it's only a few planks of wood and some gym mats - not life or death. Some people seem to pump themselves up on their own skills - I'm a CWO etc, forget that. The examiners are looking for leadership potential at this stage, not Rommel.
So good luck mate, feel free to PM me if you've got any questions. I've rattled on for long enough, remember PREPARATION, OASC will be far more critical than this lot on here. A few silly mistakes on a public forum is one thing, making silly mistakes at OASC is another.
All the best son.
"minigundiplomat",
Thanks for the wonderful info there mate, if there was one thing that would put me off working as WSOp it wouldn't be detachments, it wouldn't be the hard work, it would be having to work with grumpy, pessimistic pedants. But don't worry, you won't sway me that easily.
Thanks for the wonderful info there mate, if there was one thing that would put me off working as WSOp it wouldn't be detachments, it wouldn't be the hard work, it would be having to work with grumpy, pessimistic pedants. But don't worry, you won't sway me that easily.
As for having to work with people like me, I don't think that will be an issue for you.
As for research, you get out what you put in.
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Some useful info' there Smugley. Cheers!
I'll make sure I stick to all that stuff on there as it sounds like prep is more key than I imagined.
I don't need to worry about presentation, I spend 2 weeks wages on a suit so I should look smart enough.
I'm going to try and arrange a Sqn visit... But I'm not too sure which to visit, or how to contact them. I'll have a word with the people at the AFCO about it on Thursday, it sounds like a worthwhile thing to do.
Thanks again.
p.s. I looked at the OASC sticky, got a good idea of what will be expected of me, especially on the physical side of it. I'm confident I can pass that... But I'm going to try and get even fitter. I like to be the best so it can't do any harm. :P
I'll make sure I stick to all that stuff on there as it sounds like prep is more key than I imagined.
I don't need to worry about presentation, I spend 2 weeks wages on a suit so I should look smart enough.
I'm going to try and arrange a Sqn visit... But I'm not too sure which to visit, or how to contact them. I'll have a word with the people at the AFCO about it on Thursday, it sounds like a worthwhile thing to do.
Thanks again.
p.s. I looked at the OASC sticky, got a good idea of what will be expected of me, especially on the physical side of it. I'm confident I can pass that... But I'm going to try and get even fitter. I like to be the best so it can't do any harm. :P
Join Date: Aug 2006
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P A U
better,
.
Despite the instruction, someone was at OASC in a shell suit. She was suitably upbraided. Also watch the unleaded Coke, you can get quite hyper on it.
There is an OASC duty officer at night so remember you are on parade all the time. Even shambling back from the Spar with a bag, you never know who is driving passed.
PS, that goes for the cadets too
better,
.Despite the instruction, someone was at OASC in a shell suit. She was suitably upbraided. Also watch the unleaded Coke, you can get quite hyper on it.
There is an OASC duty officer at night so remember you are on parade all the time. Even shambling back from the Spar with a bag, you never know who is driving passed.
PS, that goes for the cadets too
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Despite the instruction, someone was at OASC in a shell suit. She was suitably upbraided. Also watch the unleaded Coke, you can get quite hyper on it.
Unleaded Coke you say? Well it's gotta be better than this leaded stuff we have up in Yorkshire LOL.
I've just realised... My friend's doing his OASC soon, and he's done no prep at all... And he's quit college because he "knows" he'll get in. I didn't think anything of it, but it seems like a lot of prep is going to be needed. And I have a feeling he's not going to get in.
Oh well, he can always retry eh?
