RAAF Flight Screening Programme

[Dashy13]

This may be very off topic, but I have a few questions if anyone can answer them.

I am currently 18 and would like to join the RAAF in mid 2024 to pursue my goal of becoming a fighter pilot. I have put between 15 and 20 hours towards my RPL just over a year ago but stopped due to my final year of school.

I have recently finished school, and am thinking towards the future. I have other goals I would like to pursue other than flying, and would want to start achieving those sooner rather than later, as they will take time.

My main question is regarding the fast jet role, and the minimum service time for such.
As far as I can find on the ADF website, it states that there is a 11.5 year commitment for Direct Entry Officers or a 1-6 year commitment through general entry. What would be my best option to become a fast jet pilot, but also serve for the least amount of time so I can pursue my other goals?

Cheers

[VHOEG]

Hey Dashy,

I'll try and clear up the commitments for you. I'm just a bloke online so none of this is guaranteed to be correct.
As all Officer Aviation (OA) (i.e. Pilot) roles are officer roles, general entry isn't an option.
OA candidates can enter the ADF via either:

• Direct Entry Officer (DEO) or
• The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

Regardless of your entry method, if you successfully pass pilot training for the RAAF, you will incur a 9 year Return Of Service Obligation (ROSO). This kicks in the day you graduate from your operational conversion (OPCON) (i.e. the day which you become fully qualified to fly a front-line plane like the Hornet or Hercules). It's backdated to the day you started your OPCON though.

To clarify, let's say you begin your Hornet OPCON in January of 2027, and you graduate (complete) it in July of 2027. When eligible to graduate, your ROSO kicks in, but it's treated like it started in January of 2027 instead. This means you have to commit for a 'slightly shorter' period of time to the RAAF.

Keep in mind that your ROSO only begins well-into your training, so you will have likely spent several years at different flying training courses and Officer training as well before this even kicks in. So in reality, your time served may substantially longer than your 'commitment'.

Currently, the above system for ROSO means that if you have no other commitments and are unsuccessful in the pilot training pipeline before being eligible to graduate from your OPCON, you could theoretically leave the RAAF with no further commitments. I have been told that this doesn't happen however, as people choose to stay and pursue other roles instead due to the great deal of satisfaction within the RAAF.

If you go to ADFA, you will also incur an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS). OA candidates can only do three-year degrees at ADFA. The IMPS begins immediately upon joining the RAAF and immediately begins counting down. Currently, this is seven years long (calculated as the length of your degree plus another year. I.e. a three year degree means you return three years plus one (i.e. four years) of service). Currently, there is a two-year grace-period for RAAF Officer Cadets, meaning you can leave RAAF up until the second year of ADFA and have your IMPS and any other commitments waived if you find it's not for you.

To clarify, let's say you join the RAAF via ADFA in January 2025. When you sign the paper, your 7-year IMPS begins counting down. You finish your degree in December 2027 and begin flying training (in a perfect world) in January 2028.
At that point, you'd have four years of your IMPS left, and zero ROSO because you haven't completed an OPCON yet.

If you have an IMPS and a ROSO simultaneously, they will both count down at the same time, independently of each other.


Hope this clears it up.

Keep an open mind about ADFA as well. Younger applicants tend to be pointed towards ADFA to help them mature personally and as leaders given the different environment at OTS compared to ADFA. You also get a degree of your choosing fully funded and earn a salary while studying. It's an extra commitment but long term, it may be good to have that degree and extra experience.

Also, as someone who's been through the process, the recruiters don't want to see someone who's itching to leave as soon as possible and solely focused on fast jets. Fast jets are extremely hard to be selected for, and you cannot choose to go to them, it's based on your performance throughout flying training and a range of other factors. Keep up the research and keep all of this in mind and consider whether RAAF is the right pathway for you given your interests.

All the best.

[Dashy13]

Cheers legend, will do.

[virtuallaik]

Anyone else here a lateral transfer? Trying to get some information on the psych assessment, does it include the aptitude testing? Mine are all out of date and I haven't done one thus far in the process.

[Watson7]

Asp prep

Hey iv got my asp in the next few weeks. Iv been smashing CBAT and a few brain games on lumosity as well as maths and bearings. Is there any other recommendations on what I should look at or go over to help.

cheers

[Foz97]

Hi Team,

I've just passed my Assessment Day and have been told I'll be on my way to ASP soon for OA - Pilot. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations on study tools/additional information.

So far my study consists of:
- CBAT App
- Mental Math, Luminosity & Elevate App workouts
- Math exercises on DST, Angles, Bearings etc. through Maths Books

Any further recommendations are greatly appreciated! (within fairness to other candidates)

Cheers,
Foz

[finestkind]

Originally Posted by virtuallaik

Anyone else here a lateral transfer? Trying to get some information on the psych assessment, does it include the aptitude testing? Mine are all out of date and I haven't done one thus far in the process.

Unable to PM. Inbox full?

[virtuallaik]

Reply

Yeah Sorry,

It seems I have a 1 item limit on mail. So if I forget to delete the email I send in reply I can't receive any. I have cleaned out my sent emails. Should be able to rx now.

[Zacertsy2005]

Asp 10-13 april

Hi Guys,

I'm panelled for my ASP testing which is occurring on the 11 and 12 of April, feel free to reach out if anyone else is also heading down at the same time.

[alexei1]

Hey Zacertsty,

I shot a message over to you. Check your inbox (:

[Zacertsy2005]

Originally Posted by alexei1

Hey Zacertsty,

I shot a message over to you. Check your inbox (:

I think your inbox is full when I tried to reply, if you want to have a chat about the asp or something send me a message on my Instagram zacertsy.

[alexei1]

ASP

Originally Posted by Zacertsy2005

I think your inbox is full when I tried to reply, if you want to have a chat about the asp or something send me a message on my Instagram zacertsy.

Hey mate, tried finding your instagram but couldn’t. Feel free to add me on instagram. 06.alexei

[crash868]

Hey there I am currently trying to lateral transfer to OA-Pilot and was wondering if anyone has any info on the Psych test which I'm booked in next week but I keep getting mixed responses about what is involved especially on whether there is aptitude testing within the psych. Also if anyone has advice on studying tips for ASP I have been going through the MACTS preparation guide as well as using the CBAT app but any further advice would be greatly appreciated

[virtuallaik]

Psych Test

Probably a bit late Crash, I'm going through the same process as yourself. I've just completed the psych eval, mostly just a background check. A few questions on leadership, dealing stress, motivations, family life etc. A look at your education and a general evaluation of your suitability. Send me a DM if you wanna discuss study for ASP, we might even be on the same one!

[Mothy.]

Gday Everyone,

Anyone thats attended ASP recently able to spill to gouge regarding large number multiplication and division, questions like 16x17= & 272/16= etc.. or is it mostly 12times and under?

Cheers and good luck to everyone in the pipeline

[dmitree00]

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I’ve been invited to ASP early in May.

I’ve been practicing with the CBAT app, Lumosity to work on other cognitive things and refining my speed, distance, time and fuel calculations. I’ve also been practicing MACTS questions.

Is there anything else I can add on top of these to prep better for the ASP?

[SebTurner05]

Revision work

In the same boat as dmitree00,

have been using CBAT but need other resources. Also want to ask about the SDT fuel/parcel calculations where I’m left dividing 360 by 450 for example any tips?

[SebTurner05]

Originally Posted by Zacertsy2005

Hi Guys,

I'm panelled for my ASP testing which is occurring on the 11 and 12 of April, feel free to reach out if anyone else is also heading down at the same time.

yeah that’s me. What are you doing for prep?

[dmitree00]

Originally Posted by SebTurner05

In the same boat as dmitree00,

have been using CBAT but need other resources. Also want to ask about the SDT fuel/parcel calculations where I’m left dividing 360 by 450 for example any tips?

divide both numbers by 10 and go back to your times tables

36 = 9 x 4
45 = 9 x 5

discount the 9 and you get

4/5 which is equal to 0.8

[SebTurner05]

Originally Posted by SebTurner05

yeah that’s me. What are you doing for prep?

thanks mate, found that converting km/h to km/minute works too.