muppetofthenorth

Yes and no. But mostly no.

It's a bit harder because there are many more applicants than recipients, and because the MoD is loathe to handover money.

But you don't have to prove you'll be the same kind of person. Far from it. You have to demonstrate that you have the potential to be a military officer. Noone turns up at the AIB or OASC fully formed, you go there to prove to the boarding officers that you could be.

airborne_artist

There's some good AIB info on the newbies forum on navy-net.

stuart955

Yep. I've read a lot of that, ho-ho. Like I said, I need to build on certain aspects of my character before I feel prepared for the full application process. I'm certain I could be taught the qualities of an officer, but for now it is proving I have that potential. I don't have enough previous examples of proper team work, organisation, leadership etc, so that's what I'll work on over time.

airborne_artist

Don't get hung up on that, though. People can attend AIB from 16 onwards, so they are, as said, looking for the potential in all cases, not a rounded leader. Clearly they expect someone to make use of their time, so the school captain of rugby can't sit back at university, knowing he's got a leadership tick - he needs to go on to bigger things that reflect his opportunities and environment.

I, like many on here, passed officer selection, (AIB in my case) at eighteen - and I hadn't been captain of anything. I'd played a fair bit of sport at school, got a flying scholarship from the RAF, and apart from six months work in minimum wage-type jobs, done the square root of not very much. The fact that my old man was about to be a Captain RN may have helped, but more in terms of my preparation than getting nepotism points at AIB.

anony_mouse

Don't hold your breath though, they've been talking about this for a long while. I was at OASC with a UAS guy who had apparently got an email telling him the age limit had already gone up to 25 (don't know why not 26 like FAA) but it turned out not to be true went for WSO instead. I was fairly keenly interested in this since I've cut the whole age limit thing a bit fine.

Ah. I totally never understood this, even after OASC

Best of luck stuart955

muppetofthenorth

Well, this is true.

There's been more talk about it over on thestudentroom by people more heavily involved in that part of recruitment/application than I so if anyone's interested they're better off looking over there.

stuart955

One thing I forgot to say is that it's not so much lack of demonstrable experience, it's more that I lack confidence in the military environment, as it's so new to me. You probably found AIB a lot easier, even though only aged 18, because of your flying scholarship and dad being a Captain of the Navy, which made you much more aware of the goings on and lifestyle and people, culture etc, so were able to remain at ease in situations I currently find daunting.

Joining a UAS or URNU will help me integrate into the sort of environment I can expect to be in throughout the selection process, as I have no friends or family to speak of who can give me a level of guidance or a better understanding of what is expected of me.

Still, my goal is in site, so I'm working on it

Pontius Navigator

Interesting and true for many.

For many direct entrants OASC may be the first time away from home. As a graduate entrant you will already have better life skills.

Really life skills away from a cosy home environment. Again a graduate has an advantage here although discipline may be novel.

Indeed.

One can guess that you are a late convert who has not been in a cadet organisation. While it is true that a very significant number of cadets join the Services, a significant number have not been in any cadet organisation.

stuart955

One has guessed correctly! I think I took a bit longer than the average person to really figure out what I'd like to achieve while the chance is still there - I already know how much more I could have done with my childhood/youth. But hey each to his own, and at least I have concrete goals now.

I understand that it's quite possible to be a successful applicant without any previous experience, but for me personally I need it, because I find I excel at things once I have begun to learn the ropes, but end up between a rock and a hard place when I lose my confidence. And also, I'm definitely getting a degree under my belt before applying, as a fall back option, so it simply makes sense to join an URNU or UAS.

Pontius Navigator

Good, can't beat a plan.

ElSupremo

I'm making an appointment with the doc tomorrow! I would go to the AFCO tomorrow instead but I want to be armed with something from my doc first.

I was thinking about my situation last night and common sense would suggest that after showing no symptoms for 10+ years there might be an entry on my record saying that asthma is now unlikely. Indeed, I'm hoping that words of caution were used when I was initally diagnosed with very mild sporting asthma. I guess I'll find out soon enough!

stuart955

On the note of URNU and UAS's as in my previous posts, does anyone know how fierce the competition is to get into one of these, and how I would go about doing it?? Is there an application process or is it a case of first come first served at the beginning of the academic year?

richie143

Are the medical requirements regarding asthma the same for the FAA as they are for the RAF?

I was prescribed with an inhalor when I was much younger but I am not sure wether I actually had asthma or not as my doctor has not had a very good track record in diagnosing my family correctly.

I played football for a Sunday League team ever since until last year when my team folded. I have also attended Kickboxing and MMA classes since early last year.

Both of these I have done without needing my inhalor or feeling the effects of asthma. Is there any way I can get this re-checked now to find out wether I had asthma?

I would love to be a pilot but this is the one thing that I fear may hold me back.

airborne_artist

Four years without symptoms/treatment for asthma should be enough. Go to your doctor and ask to see the notes.

Tough to get into I believe - most URNUs take 16 new cadets each academic year, and they often take from more than one university. UAS are also hard to get into. That's why you need to think about OTC/RNR/TA as well.

muppetofthenorth

They don't just give the places away.

It varies from squadron to squadron [unit to unit] but broadly speaking the process is the same.

The recruitment phase lasts for the duration of Freshers Week, you find the students/the stand and register your interest, have a chat with either a senior member of the squadron or a member of staff about the basics. A kind of initial/filter interview. Knowledge is not expected, but useful, as its more about working out if you're an arse or not.
After that you'd get invited to a proper interview which has more in common with the interview that one would undergo at OASC.

If successful, you get on the squadron, if not, thats it, try again next year.


In terms of numbers, we'd often have about 400 people for the initial chat, around 100 for formal interviews and we'd take on about 25. This will vary per squadron, ones covering more/larger universities took double/triple those numbers.


*NB: the above was all applicable to the UAS I was on, but may no longer be 100% accurate.



Visit thestudentroom.co.uk and it's Armed Forces forum and you'll see a huge [stickied] thread all about UAS's.

stuart955

Hmm, just had a look on the Student Room sticky on UAS's. I can't join one because my chosen branch is Pilot and they won't accept you if your interest is a role you won't be eligible for once you graduate. I will be 24 when I graduate.

Would it be possible to explain that I understand I will be too old to be a pilot with the RAF, but am looking into the FAA and want some flying experience, so would prefer UAS to URNU?

Or is it probably best to go to an URNU, where I will be totally immersed in all things Navy, which will much better prepare me for AIB if I ever get there? Also, I was told by a young trainee pilot on 727 NAS, "Ask enough and you get." Do you reckon I'd still be able to pursue the chance of getting some military flying experience if I go to a URNU, then just keep pestering for it?

I should also mention I'm looking into the Royal Navy Special Flying Award - can anyone shed any light on that? What's it like, e.g. the application process, what the happens on the course etc. This 727 NAS lad also said it was the best two weeks of his life - flying and getting pissed!

muppetofthenorth

Ignore that, it's rubbish. [Might've been true once, but isn't anymore]

The UAS is not about recruiting people for service, it's about giving people who are interested in the life an insight.

Of the 27 who joined in my year, only 7 have gone on to serve.

stuart955

Ace. But what about the different ethos between UAS and URNU? Is the whole RAF way of things a lot different to RN? One thing I really want to pick up on is a level of confidence and understanding that I can bring forward with my application. I don't want to fail the FAA because I end up indoctrinated by RAF ways.

To be honest, my prefferred route, if successful, would be the RN Special Flying Award, and a RN University Unit, then apply for a bursary when ready.

So for now my main aim is to look into the Flying Award. Does anyone know much about that? - Application Process, what the course is about etc? (as I mentioned in my previous post)

muppetofthenorth

I think you're looking into it much too deeply. At the end of the day, you're a student, studying for a degree, not an active member of the military.

Join the UAS, get some hours, figure out whether or not you actually can fly a plane [lots of people want it, not too many are capable] and learn about the RN from whatever recruitment literature you can find.

Any UAS staff [or URNU, for that matter] worth listening to will be all too happy to help you, regardless of what you want to go and do after your degree.

stuart955

Great, thanks for the advice.

Now onto the next bit. Special Flying Award?????????