Wader2

The recruiting target for the RAF has been increased to 4559 per year and 629 additional posts have been funded, 184 for RAF Regiment and 99 engineers for the C17.

Also an increase in multi-engine pilot trainings and 219 posts in the SH Force.

Oh, and 26 posts for JPA improvements.

With a manpower ceiling of 41000 and only 629 additional posts you can perhaps guess why the recruiting target has increased.

dave_perry

Hi guys,
As some of you will know I was turned down by the RAF due to my legs being 14mm too long. I am now looking into the Navy and hope to apply sometime in 2009.

But...

I have a few friends who have been to OASC having had a excellent review and told to go away and gain some life experience. One lad went, after getting 167 on aptitude and also a former sixth form scholar. His interview was good and medical excellent.

Firstly why are they asking this when they are tremendously under manned in terms of aircrew and secondly what is there to do. I would like to apply before I'm 19 and get my career well underway. Im not favourable towards university for the exact same reason and afraid that a gap year may portray me as a dosser - also the cost is immense.

Any ideas...?

Dave

Flik Roll

If they tell you to get life experience - do as they say. Go to uni. No doubt if you are a superb candidate the RN will sponsor you via a bursary. Your URNU unit will also pay you some cash. No doubt depending on the uni location they make hook you up with the UAS to get some flying in.

Uni isn't as bad as they all make out. You'll be on more money during Dartmouth as well as having that degree to fall back on should all go Pete Tong. Go to AIB and if they say get some life experience don't worry about it. It will all be down to how mature you are and what you have done in your life to date. Have you done any travelling or expeds etc? Had any positions of responsibility? If you come across as a mature 19 year old I'm sure you'll be fine.

R SCANDAL

I went through OASC as an 18 yr old and luckily passed for pilot. One of the candidates who wasn't succesful had a degree in aeronautical engineering and a CPL. When I asked one of the interviewing officers about this they said that he was "dull and humourless". Flying aircraft in the military is a hoot, but being an officer in the military needs more than aptitude. Be natural in the interview and sell yourself without being arrogant. The machines will decide if you have a sufficient degree of aptitude to succeed at BFTS but the selection officer will want to make sure you are the sort of person they would like to have a pint with.

airborne_artist

I'm not sure the training system is short of students, even if the squadrons are short of guys/gals.

Flying training is very hard work. The learning rate can get very high at times, and the pressure never lets off. You have to do all that work yourself, even if supported by good mates. Some people just fold under the effort, even if they have the ability, and become convinced that they lack something, when they don't. That's where the life experience is needed. Some perspective makes a difference, and an 18 y/o fresh out of sixth-form won't have that.

Remember that the Dark Blue is largely single pilot (except 771 and 839) - that too adds pressure, and requires that the training system sends out people who don't need a nanny in the cockpit while they develop.

The RN is not stupid - they know what works, and at £1m a go, they'd rather not waste a good place on someone who is not ready.

Pontius Navigator

Dave,

This says it all:

Despite those you who deride it, you will be officer first, aircrew second. At times in your career you will not be flying you will be in charge of men and need those life skills that OASC advise you acquire.

Photoplanet

I'm a RAF Sgt, and I had my AFCO interview on the 30 Jun, and still heard nothing from any source about when I might go to OASC....

Has anyone recently been down this route, and got a date for OASC? What is the typical waiting period for an OASC invitation at this point in time?

If it makes any difference at all, I'm applying for Supply or Int.

dave_perry

It varies rather alot. You will hear either way however if it was a No at the filter I think I'm right in saying you would have heard within 1 - 2 weeks (if not on the day). Best thing to do just sit tight, keep training and revising...something will come

Photoplanet

I'm not expecting to have failed the AFCO filter interview, although it did make me more aware of some areas I need to research more (ie: exactly what happens at IOT, term by term).

I have been told it could be between 2 and 6 months before OASC, and that, having applied in the summer, I may be up against more school leavers and graduates, so I don't know if this will affect my chances.

Pontius Navigator

I have not been there for obvious reasons but as you have rightly been told, you are trying at a peak time. I believe footfall is in the region of 12 000 per year; as it peaks in the summer the response rate will be slower. You are also hitting the peak leave period too - OASC like their summer hols too.

1-2 weeks is very fine. 4 weeks would be OK.

Supply or Int are reasonable choices but the ratio a few years ago was 3:1 so you have more chance at Supply.

Good luck.

PS Goatmanni seems to think what I have written is out of date but has not qualified that statement.

1. Peak time - yes or no? Seems like the bleedin obvious.
2. Footfall - well is that really imprtant? Given the revised recruiting targets it could be higher.
3. Summer holidays? Go figure.
4. Supply-Int ratio a few years ago - fact. Historical fact cannot be out of date.
5. so you have more chance at Supply - this seems to be the only posisble point of contention. And I would suggest I am not out of date in this area.

PPS

Supply or Int are reasonable choices but the ratio a few years ago was 3:1 so you have more chance at Supply. And today the ratio is closer but 1.2:1 in favour of Suplly. My comments stand.

1-2 weeks is very fine. 4 weeks would be OK

I was stopped in the street today and asked the same question. The lad had been waiting 4 weeks.

What's your beef Goatman?

goatmanni

Pontius

Be careful what you say - you're way out of date.

ricster

Hello,

I was wondering if any current or past university air squadron members could give me some information.

I'm due to start Newcastle University this September and I'm hoping to get into the UAS there.

So, does anyone have some advice they could give me on the interview/selection process.
It's the Northumbria University Air Squadron (NUAS).

Many thanks,
Richard

muppetofthenorth

Ricster,

During freshers week find the guys doing the recruiting, they'll be wearing their flying suits and should be pretty prominent. Make yourself known to them and they'll guide you through all you need for their individual process [each UAS will run their recruitment slightly differently].

Start learning little bits about the RAF, what it flies, where it flies them, etc... And think about why you want to join them or the RAF.

Really sell whatever sports you do, especcially if it's football, rugby or hockey and just generally seem keen and willing.

After a filter interview during the freshers week you will -hopefully- be invited back for a more formal interview akin to the first interview in an AFCO: approx. 40mins, half on you, your academics, personal history, etc and half on current affairs, the RAF and so on.

Good luck!

NUAS are a good enough bunch, always up for a drink or 20.

ricster

Cool.

I have already done a base visit to RAF Linton-On-Ouse and met one of the Squadron Leader who conducts interviews for NUAS.

I plan to enter the RAF through the UAS as a Pilot or WSO


Would there be any need to dress smartly for the first filter interview at Fresher Week?

umbrella1

PN's not way out of date. By footfall, he would mean through the AFCO- they manage to filter down to a 1/3 for OASC- not including all the other things they process through there too!! (Welbeck etc)

He is bang on the money with summer hols and how busy OASC are. Also, OASC experience 'silly season' with people who apply to the RAF when they really have no clue what they want out of life but have finished uni and are at a loss. UAS students who know what they are doing, tend to get to OASC well before their degree results.

The interview focusses on motivation a bit more, but hasn't really changed in essence and the OASC process is now what we would consider to be back to front, with the Exercise Phase before the Interview (as a trip to the Student room will tell you!) and you don't get through to Interview unless you show enough potential in the exercises, but the stuff is still the same.

Ref time to get an answer from the AFCO- in the nicest possible way, chill out. You wouldn't want to be at OASC in Aug anyway- it gets stinking hot.

muppetofthenorth

Wouldn't bother dressing up too smartly for the initial chat, to express your interest and fill out forms, but if/when you get invited back for the proper interview, definitely get the suit out of your cupboard.

muppetofthenorth

Sorry, wires crossed, I was replying to Ricster re: UAS interviews.

The first one is a meet and greet with fellow studes during freshers, nobody gets dressed up for that.

ricster

Cool. I had the idea of taking my suit to University with me.

muppetofthenorth are you in the YUAS then?

muppetofthenorth

No no no, formerly of MASUAS, finished this summer. But hopefully going back during freshers to help pick out some talent.


[Take that as you will]

Melchett01

But I thought everbody knew that all the talent ended up at UBAS?! Afterall, so did most other things that weren't tied down