Wee Weasley Welshman

The experience of the selection process is most worthwhile so by all means apply.

Cheers

WWW

Bandit650

I remember asking a ex-fast jet pilot turned airline pilot the same question when I was 15. The answer I got.."just apply - they'll soon tell you mate".

I was a flight seargent in the ATC, then joined the UAS at Uni, and one thing I can tell you is that you are not 100% sure you want to join the RAF you don't stand a chance, as I think WWW has said, make no mistake - they will sus out your lack of commitment at one stage or another. It costs millions to train RAF pilots and defence budgets are shrinking rapidly.

However, I would disagree with the "best of the best of the best" comments. Its too ambiguous. The RAF are looking for certain personality types with a certain level aptitude for the many months of hard officer and flying training ahead. The current demand and supply of candidates also play a big part obviously. The decisions as to who is offered a commission are, at the end of the day, made by humans and their idea of "best" is very specific to the RAF. Someone with great grades, fantastic flying aptitude, etc etc will fail to get it in if there is only 1 place up for grabs and they feel another guy in the selection group is a better teamplayer/potential officer...for example.


Find out about what life in the RAF is like today (military forum on pprune a good start) and think hard about life in the armed forces is for you. Also consider how you feel about the possibility of serving in a conflict such as Iraq? The RAF is obviously not a flying club!

And finally, dont listen to anyone who tells you "you're not good enough", especially yourself! Just apply and don't fear rejection nor take it personally if it happens. Its a big world with endless opportunities!

All the best anyway dude.

Wee Weasley Welshman

Sorry but my best of the best of the best phrase is meant specifically.

To stand a realistic chance of selection you would most likely have to be in the best 10% of your year in school measured by grades.

You would then get to selection during which they will only accept maybe the best 20% of applicants.

Then you will start Officer training and then Pilot training and chop rate is around 40% so only the best get through.

The best of the best of the best.

Not that they are all supermen you understand - far far from it. But starting from a B and 6 C's at GCSE and a preicted A level grade E in Maths followed by two A-levels in 'computers' you have pretty much failed at the first hurdle already.

Don't feel too bad about it though. There are plenty of failed RAF pilots out there and you will be in good company.

Cheers

WWW

TACHO

There is also a large majority of thirty-somethings, who are sat in an office right now saying... "I wonder what would have happened if..." Self belief is as important in a selection process as any 'paper qualifications'. Why not bob down to the local forces careers office and let THEM tell whether you are what they want or not. Good luck in whatever you choose to do.
Tacho

Pontius Navigator

Gary, WWW has it about right. So do the others who say give it a go.

First step is to get the facts from the AFCO.

From your putative educational attainment it looks as if you want to be a direct entrant entering this year or next. This is not a negative mark as a direct entrant at your age is still developing and can reach a higher standard than a University graduate who is a WYSIWYG; basically their aptitude will not improve any further.

What will tip the balance further in your favour is performance at interview and performance in the exercises, mental reasoning, control, leadership etc. You exam results are not sparkling but they exceed the minimum. If your performance at OASC is satisfactory then you are in with a chance.

JAG3

Give it a try mate. I'm 18 now and give me a PM because we are similar in age and ambition to join as a pilot.

garywoodrow

Thanks everyone for the advice, its very much appreciated.

I have been to the AFCO... well about 20+ times actually and it was shut every time..takes 2 hours to get their as well . lol. Anyway i got there this time when it was open and talked for a little while. The guy in their told me that my GCSE's are not brilliant which i know (i did mess around a lot in school and now regret it ) but then went on to tell me that grades don't mean very much as long as you have the minimum. He also told me ICT was a great subject to have because i will have an understanding of the equipment used which will help me through training etc. Also now that i have 'got my head down' in college and im prediceted A/B's it shows that i can learn things quickly which may help me.

Another thing he told me that it is better to apply straight from A-Levels and not after a degree. Reason for this is that the RAF wants younger people for pilots because of the length of training and various other reasons. So i may still be in with a chance . I will apply anyway after my contract in the TA is up and give it my best shot.

Neeps

You didn't realise after the first time you should have phoned to check their opening hours?

garywoodrow

I did, but because im in college and it takes 1.5 - 2hours to get there for 4pm and i can only go after college, its pretty much luck lol. I work saturdays so can't go then. But then i got out of college 1.5hrs early one day, so i made it then.

Neeps

You must have forgotten the opening hours then. AFCOs aren't open on Saturdays.

muppetofthenorth

Makes me regret being amongst the 'youth of today - tut' as it seems to be known.

By the by, can anybody shed light on what it is that Flight Operations Officer's actually do? Thinking about it as a backup option. [Eng is first]

ianp

Harsh words WWW; not looked at one of these recruiting threads for a while but comment by WWW drove me to my keyboard. Anyone wanting to fly in the military needs to have the right attitude more than almost anything else. I joined twenty years ago, a Merchant Navy Officer with half a dozen GCEs, no A levels or degree. Since that fateful day I have been a pilot and instructor in the Royal Navy and am now a test pilot in the RAF, still negative degree. Not sure what the current academic minima are but rest assured if you are the right person for the job then even with the minimum qualifications and the right attitude you stand as good a chance as anyone. To everyone out there, good luck.

rusty_y2k2

Are you serious? I'm going to go out on a limb and pretend that you are, in which case:

1600 = 16:00 = 4:00 pm

As my gran used to say; "Same meat, different gravy...".

When you said 13:30 originally, I assumed you were joking along the lines of an exaggerated "15 minutes early is on time, and on time is late", but I guess not! If you were fishing however, congratulations on the catch.

rusty_y2k2

So what's the answer?

kerrwaf

Hi everybody,
I'm thinking on joining the RAF as a pilot or weapons system officer. The only problem being is that i have a perforated eardrum. Will this stop me from joining?
Thanks

Pontius Navigator

Hearing
You cannot join the RAF if you have eardrum ventilation tubes or grommets, if your eardrum is currently perforated or if you suffer from chronic ear dieases, such as cholesteatoma.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/istherafforme/health.cfm

airborne_artist

Is that Zulu or Alpha time?

kerrwaf

The perforation is small enough to have an operation to cover it up. Would this make a difference or is it the fact that i have had one? Is there actually a reason for not allowing people with a perforated eardrum into the RAF?
thanks

rusty_y2k2

You would have to ask at your Local AFCO to get a definative answer. As is the case with a million things in the RAF selection process, fail points don't always have an obvious grounding in reality - take for example the fact that for pilot branch you need nigh on perfect vision, yet once in can wear glasses if the need arises. It's simply based on the fact that they have more than enough incredibly talented people to chose from and as such can afford to be incredibly selective. In the case of eardrums I would guess the loose basis of the disqualification will be on grounds of hearing fidelity and risks of barotrauma. Once again you really need to speak to the AFCO to get the official line.


Now, as for this time navigation problem - More importantly, are you going with or against the rotation of the earth?

ProfessionalStudent

Well, obviously, it all depends on whether they're Nautical or Statute minutes.

I wonder if Robin from the Nav School posts here. I'm sure he could tell us the answer.