PBY

Have you tried eye exercises? There is a guy, who was in the same situation as you and he trained his eyes to 20/20.
He wrote a book: Vision for life (his name is Sorensen)

dbee

Again - the UK military don't ACCEPT applications who do not have 'perfect' vision and this includes any sniff of colour blindness. After they have spent many thousands on you, the situation is different. I knew a former Harrier pilot who wore spectacles on the Hawk as a QFI.....................dbee

Tiger_mate

FWIW the CinC Air recently said that glasses and hayfever would not stop recruitment of the 'right' guys n galls. So apply and see how far you get rather then taking the advice here which is based on fact until very recently.

Forget recruitment to particular type; that simply does not happen.

speeddial

Can anyone tell me what is the most realistic type of commission to be offered these days for a ground branch? AFCO give me suggestions that short service (6 year) are the most common and cannot actually remember the last time someone was offered a permanent on selection.

How likely is it once on an SSC that you will be offered on request longer in the service? It seems like an awful waste to join, train, perform and be out, all in six years?


Should one apply for a PC on the basis that it shows commitment to the service but accept that they would still be happy with an SSC?

Mr C Hinecap

PCs are becoming more common again. There had been a bit of a dip for a few years with Ground Branches not getting any, but that seems to be clearing. Also, those on a SSC are getting offers for extensions and PCs far easlier than they ever did.

speeddial

Thanks Mr C Hinecap.

Melchett01

Speeddial,

I had exactly the same deliberation when I joined in the late 90s, and was trying to balance out the benefits of a PC (pension, security, possibility of a full career etc) agains the benefits of a SSC (get out early if you don't like it, take experience and quals into civi st etc). The AFCO wasn't really much use in helping me decide, but instead I received a cracking bit of advice from a serving officer at the time:

Apply for a PC. If you find it's not for you, you can always PVR which will guarantee you an early exit, but if you do enjoy RAF life, you will then have the benefits that a PC brings. However, if you apply for a SSC with the intention to extend, there are no guarantees that they will let you, so you could find yourself being forced out of a career you love.

This seems to have been borne out by a significant number of mates of mine who got SSCs either on application or re-selection. They had a nightmare getting a PC and were frequently offered one or 2 year extensions and were generally left dangling an in uncertain positions by PMA. Not a nice place to be in. Go for the PC and the ball is more in your court with how long you serve for.

speeddial

My concern was the AFCO saying that you're only likely to get offered an SSC whatever you ask for, however if PCs are more common it can't hurt to ask for one. It shows commitment in my view, even if you have to justify why you feel the service is right for you based on so little information.

If you ask for more you can always say you'll be happy with less, but if you ask for less in the first place you can't grumble when that's all you get.

Pontius Navigator

I'll give you a bit of negative advice.

Apply to OASC and see what their offer is. If you are offered a SSC then it is up to you whether you accept or not. However if you decide not to accept the offer you have not lost anything.

In fact you have several positives:

You have undergone a most stringent interview process and passed.

You have a positive item for your CV.

You will have had an unforgettable week at Cranwell.

If you never try you will always regret it.

speeddial

Understand your reply PN, however I must specify on my application the commission type along with each branch I wish to be interviewed for, regardless of the fact that they will offer me whatever they want anyway.

ElSupremo

Hey guys,

I've done some reading around and about the Royal Navy and specifically its air fleet arm (both here and on their website). I've found some information (again on here and their website) regarding asthma (i.e. if you no longer have it or were mis-diagnosed etc) and it appears as though they investigate it on a case-by-case basis.

However, I do have one or two other questions unrelated to asthma (I'm sure you're all glad to hear!). I've read numerous times about full commission and small (?) commission. What are these and what is the difference between the two? I've also read that you can complete training only to be able to leave and to be expected to serve for 3-5 years later. Is this really true? I'm not saying that it's what I'd do of course, although I'm amazed that after spending millions of pounds on your training the RN would simply allow you to leave with a handful of free qualifications (or do your qualifications dissolve the moment you leave?)!

Finally, I've also realised that there are three positions you could end up doing. Fast jet, rotary wing and helicopter (please correct me if I'm wrong!). I've read that you have no say in the matter as to which type of aircraft you're allocated to. Is this really true?

Many thanks for your continued help.

Pontius Navigator

I was under the impression that rotary wing was helicopters.

Certainly there are 3 positions, at least, FJ, RW and Observer and probably 66 others too.

airborne_artist

Return of service used to be five years after wings, for RW (P), but bear in mind that no civil qualifications are awarded, so even five years after wings you would need to spend quite a bit to get a CPL (H), and that's not worth a lot without an IR, which is not cheap.

There are Pilot, RW and Pilot, FW (Harrier for the present) and Obs, which by default are RW.

ElSupremo

Airborne artist, at what stage are the civil qualifications awarded (I read on the RN website that the qualifications are recognised by the CAA) and what more needs to be done to go into the civil sector after leaving the navy? Just wondering about career prospects are the 12 years service.

Many thanks again.

airborne_artist

The RN web site says "Royal Navy Pilot training is accredited with the Civilian (it's Civil, not Civilian) Aircraft Authority (CAA), so with the right experience and exam passes, you will be able to gain a commercial pilot's licence."

At no point does an RN pilot just "get the licence in the post". Read this thread for the scheme.

ElSupremo

Thanks Airborne Artist... your help is invaluable. May I ask, where does all of your knowledge come from? Are you a current/ex navy man?

airborne_artist

Ex RN, with a daughter now hoping to join as RN aircrew

Craigeedee

Hello all,

Unfortunately I have recently failed the Navy medical for aircrew.

The reason for this is; when I was 2 years of age I had an operation on my ankle to correct a problem I had from birth. It is perfectly fine now and I am very physically fit, but unfortunately for me it comes under the medical term of club foot, which immediately makes me ineligible to be a naval officer.

My question is about turning to the Army Air Corps, I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if they are less strict. More specifically if they also have a medical “NO-NO” for club foot.

Kind regards

Craigeedee

mattb999

Good evening,

I apologise for the unimaginative title but it's what it says on the tin!
Just a brief account of my circumstances, I am 22 and have been in the Police for 4 years, and a Sgt for 18 months. I have pretty much always wanted to be a pilot in the RAF and even got to through to Cranwell prior to going to 6th form for a scholarship - however things happened and that route ceased to be an option.

In any case, I have 11 GCSE's all A's and B's and 4 AS levels, again 2 A's and 2 B's. I know the Navy and the Army accept UCAS points as equivalents to the usual 2 A-levels but I am unsure on the RAF's stand point. The reason being is I have phoned AFCO's and the 0845 number on several occasions in the past and always been told that it's 2 A-levels that's it.

However, in a last chance attempt as the maximum age is approaching, I spoke with the recruitment line earlier in the week. After raising the point of the other Armed Forces using the UCAS system he said he would send me an information pack, start the ball rolling and that I would need to attend the local AFCO for an informal interview.

Can anyone shed any light on what I am going to expect? Will my various sporting/extra-curricular activities and leadership/management experience count for anything? I just don't want to raise any false hopes.

Thanks in advance

Mr Point

I was under the impression that the only occasion when an ankle injury would preclude service in the Royal Navy was if you were unable to touch your toes in the shower. (Sorry - couldn't resist).