pr00ne

PileUp Officer,

"I would think that most employers would rather have someone with a few years of RAF Officer experience than someone with a degree...."

Seeing as that few years would be entirely in the training pipeline I don't think your statement could be more wrong, especially for some of the more high flying City jobs, good degrees from the best universities will be the ONLY thing these folk will be prepared to consider. It would be VERY hard to compete with folk like this.

I think 6Z3 makes a very good and valid point.

Now, if you had a first class degree AND a few years pilot/officer training that might be a very different proposition, but without it you would be well and truly snookered.

Raffles01

I'm not sure what most guys who get the chop do when they re-enter civvie life, but isn't this assuming that most of them go for these 'high flying city jobs' in an office? I would have thought, if we're talking aircrew, most would want a job with some sort of flying involved- thus not particularly needing a degree. Just a thought.

pr00ne

Raffles01,

True, if they want to stay in a cockpit. Those who are succesful in getting part way through the RAF FJ process are by defenition the very best of the best, and the RAF competes with the City institutions and their like to attract these folk in the first place.

bigsmelly

Pr00ne

Surely the best of the best are the ones who don't get chopped?

pr00ne

bigsmelly,

True, but just to get a few years through the process still puts one in that category, just not being quite good enough for FJ is no mean achievment in itself!

Pecs

If you were chopped from pilot training, and you had good a-levels, what would prevent you from starting uni aged 21-23ish, with the view to going on to a top job later on?

At least you would have had a go at flying in the military, had a pretty good time on the way, realised it wasn't to be, and you would then have 3/4years of fun and debauchery at uni to figure out what you want to do in civvie street.

Roguedent

I joined the RAF straight from school, and on pretty poor A-levels, I might add. The recruiters seemed more interested in taking me as a school leaver, than a graduate. More over, the current RAF Pilot network is fit to burst, but as usual, there will probably be a short fall in a couple of years.

I believe, had I failed, that I would of had better life experience than a bloke of similar age, 21 ish! Plus, university, and a basket weaving course, would of still been an option.

Graduates hold the advantage once through the system, regards Pay, but, and a BIG but, they are normally 3-4 years older plus DEBT!!

The current climate in the RAF seems to be all about us being a extraditionary force. FJ slots are getting less and less these days. The Multi lads are becoming the backbone of this air force, but the FJ boys do have cool toys to play with. As Blackadder would say ' YOU LUCKY LUCKY BARSTOOLS'

PS... will someone tell OC 10 that my crew here are great

and one day I will remember to log out of public computers as some people are not as nice as my crew and would put something really really rude!!!!!!


I am such an idiot!!!

Rodders

Tonkenna

Personally I wouldn't worry about statistics or any of that stuff. If you want to be a pilot in the RAF... and you must really want it... then just go for it. The figures are very fical (sp? and change on a daily basis. If I was joining now I would try for straight after school... with an application for Uni in as well. I did not go to uni and certainly don't regret it, and had it all gone to rat in the RAF I would have gone to uni later. I would rather have tried and failed than never tried or even worse turned down a place at the end of 6th form and then not got in after uni when the numbers changed.

The standard of the student does not always dictate the slot the get pr00ne. Some very good students of mine did not get fast jet slots because there weren't any. A lot of it is timing I am afraid.

Jimlad,

It all depends on how much you want it and after 19 years I still really enjoy my life in the RAF.

Tonks

PS Rogudent... have you done the codes yet

teeteringhead

Have to agree with Tonks on the stats issue - if you succeed then 100% of you have got in, if you don't it's 0% - if you want it then goferit.

You can keep your options open anyway. When I wanted to join (with quite good A levels ) I applied for both Direct Entry and for University, on the principle that if one didn't come up, then the other might. In fact both did! Three really, as OASC tried to persuade me to go for "real" Cranwell, which I turned down (sorry BEags!).

Opted for DE because I had no idea then that I would still be wearing uniform (albeit occasionally!) 30-odd years later, but mostly because it got me to a squadron 3 years sooner than the Uni or Cranwell options . There are indeed many ways to skin a cat, or to achieve a satisfying military flying career.

joe2812

Something else to throw into the mix...

As someone who applied for both DE and Uni (Aerospace at Hertfordshire), I opted for the degree when the decision came.

For me the decision was based mainly on the fact that I didn't feel ready to join the RAF. I'm by no means 'immature' nor anything of a 'mummy's boy' however I just felt within myself that I wasn't ready physically or mentally to leave home, finish education and join the Armed Forces. I didn't need to go to Cranwell only to be (more than likely) told 'come back in a few years wee laddie' - I already knew!

University (aswell as giving me a fall back for EngO and better opportunities later in life), also gave me 3 years to mature more, learn more, get fitter, and hence giving me a better grounding for OASC and IOT when they come. Ontop of that I get cheap beer, plenty of women, the opportunity to try for UAS/OTC, and give myself the best chance of succeeding at what I want to do.

If however i'd felt ready to join up at 18, I would have, it's just that my feelings (rightly or wrongly) were that I needed those 3 years to better myself before looking at trying for such a demanding and highly sought-after career in the RAF.

At the end of the day it's your decision, only you know what you want and how you feel, just think through what will give you personally the best chance of getting it.

jimlad4

thanks very much everyone for your unbelievably helpful advice! thanks again, jimlad

cazatou

jimlad4,

From an old codger - GO FOR IT. I did OASC in the early 60's with a few O levels (GCSE's to you) and 3 years as an ATC Cadet. I ended up flying all over the world.

If you don't get in the first time then you can try again. If you don't try then you will never forgive yourself.

BEST OF LUCK!!

OVERTALK

Bit of thread drift here - but can't help observing that justice prevailed in the end.

WM got sacked for fraud (not before time) and I got the million dollar pay-out.

So there was a God in attendance after all, even though I had to tap my forehead rather hard on the ground (once only) to find him in that God-forsaken land.

OT

u617990

Can anyone tell me if the RAF accepts candidates for flying training if they require corrective lenses?

caspertheghost

Not as far as I am aware although it has been a long time since I applied. Try searching this forum for eyesight requirements or OASC and you'll find a definite answer. Failing that try the RAF careers website or wait until someone more 'in the know' answers your question.
Good luck!

Angels 99

Absolutely not, there was a stage where a small degree of correction was permissable but with Typhoon the bar's been raised back to perfect or bust.
IIRC the uncorrected visual acutity required for WSO is slightly less than 20/20 as is the FAA's requirements if you want to smell of fish for 18 yrs.

6Z3

So if you are tall enough to reach the bar, have 20/20 vision and want to smell of crabs for the next 20 years, you know where to go.

lewtsgr4

Hi there,
Just in the process of studying for OASC in a couple of months and would like to here from anyone who has done the RAF selection in the last few months.
I have done some research on pprune but some of the info is out of date, especially about the actual aptitude tests for aircrew. It would be gr8 to here from anyone who has just done them as I know they have changed slightly over the past year.

Many Thanks

PPRuNeUser0172

It is 'great' not gr8 you pikey

God I am starting to sound like BEags............

I am sure there are plenty who can give details on the pain that is OASC.

Just out of interest how do you know all the information on here is out of date, maybe you already know too much!


Al the best with your application

JNo

Say Sir a lot, don't be a complete muppet and you'll be fine. Unless you're going for pilot.....heard a 5 slot for the year rumour from somewhere......