ProfessionalStudent

Fonz

You don't have to give it all up just to apply. Keep your job as a scuffer, then, should you be unsuccessful, you've lost nothing.

I know ab-initio rearcrew your age and older - they cope fine, and often bring a refreshingly mature attitude with them. Good luck.

Whiteboog

Hello there. I've decided that life in the RAF is for me and would like to start the application process. I've done some research into what RAF life entails (including real life and not just the suspiciously ideal job description given by the website.) but i am still rather ignorant as to the application process itself and even more so to the competition and requirements. I will tell you my current situation first then i would be incredibly greatful for answers to a few questions.

I'm 20 years old working in generic low paid jobs, i finished sixth form a couple of years ago with 3 A levels and then spent the bulk of the time since travelling the world on my own. I'm at the stage now where i need to make some big descisions. I would like to go to university (for the degree more than the experience) and it would be great if i could do that before joining the RAF, however if that is not possible then the RAF is my first choice, preferably as a pilot.

What are the requirements for eyesight as a pilot?, I don't need glasses to do anything in day to day life but my vision is not perfect. Are people with laser surgery accepted?

Will failed attempts to join tarnish later attempts?, i am willing to do whatever it takes to join but would it be better to find out exactly what is required first and then meet those requirements or to just try to apply anyway and wing it (excuse the pun). I would prefer the latter as it would give me a much better understanding of what i'm up against.

What is the situation regarding funding through university. I'm aware of the funding schemes but if i go to university first then join i will be at the very limit of the maximum age, does the age restriction apply to when you join after funded university or when you first apply for the funding and into the agreement of service.? As mentioned above being a Pilot is my first priority, but if i can do both it would be preferable.

I have recieved a letter inviting me to visit my local AFCO and i intend to do so, obviously i intend to be smart as presentable as possible but there is an issue in that i have dreadlocks (messy ones at that). I realise i will have to get rid of them to join but i would rather keep them for as long as possible. Is something like this going to affect my application at all even at this early stage? It may seem like a trivial question but i would prefer to have as much knowledge as possible to avoid any silly mistakes.

I do have many more questions but i think this post is already long enough. Any answers or advice from people who have already experienced this would be welcome, thank you very much in advance.
James

Roland Pulfrew

James

Welcome to PPRuNe.

You have a lot of questions that you want answering, understandably so. May I suggest that you start with one of the "stickies" above which will give you many of the answers that you require. If you have any after researching that topic then please feel free to ask.

Good luck. Oh and if you get the chance do still try to join a UAS.

JessTheDog

Best wishes for the future!

I suspect it is best to ditch the dreadlocks by the interview as you will need to convey the message that you are committed 100% from the start. If this is a problem, you may need to think about your reasons for joining at this particular time - you can always do the degree, keep the long hair and join later and this certainly would not be held against you. There are standards and conformities expected in the RAF, this isn't a value judgement as such but just the way things are. I wouldn't advise joining half-heartedly or on a try-it-and-see basis, as the responsibilities demand a full commitment.

MrFlibble

I had long blonde (bleached) hair for my first visit to the AFCO - the corporal there advised me to lose it before the interview.

Seems to have worked, since Im heading to OASC in July...

Advice- ditch the hair and go for a military cut, before your interview. Small sacrifice if it helps get you through - it works, trust me!

AlJH

Guys,
I am starting training for the Dark Blues very soon as pilot, and am desperate to get streamed onto Harrier. Does anyone have any tips so that I can maximise my chances?
Cheers

Aynayda Pizaqvick

Work hard and be 100% prepared for every flight - the rest is all left to natural ability and luck. All the best.

Pontius Navigator

Whiteboog, your age and the aspiration for university are at odds. You need to eneter training for pilot before you are 23.

So, it is one or the other, not both.

This then rather shoots the idea of university sponsorship.

So, the bad news, get a haircut, get an interview, and then grow it again if you are unsuccessful.

flyer_spotter

Hi guys and girls,

I have a question...what's the current vision standard for tanker and transport pilots in the USAF? Do they accept candidates with glasses? I wear glasses myself and I know it is not possible for me to fly a fighter, so instead I think I might aim for the heavies in the Air Force. (C-5, C130..etc.)

How about Canadian Air Force?

Sarda55

Hi there,

Im a university bursar on a UAS (obviously) and graduate this summer. Back in January Cranwell asked for our preferred IOT start dates - either September, November or February ('08). I put down for November and it was confirmed about three weeks ago.

Since then however, the admin officers at cranwell and the UASs have sent out emails asking if people can start in June. These were initially on a volunteer basis but now I have a feeling they are looking to make people whos summer final exams finished by 10th June start IOTing in June. From what I heard, somebody at Cranwell screwed up and at the moment there are not even enough people down in June for the course to go ahead.

I was just wondering if:
1/ Cranwell can tell you that you have to start earlier than the date they confirmed with you?
2/ There would be any circumstances in which, if asked, you could (politely!) refuse?

Any info would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

airborne_artist

Tell them you have booked and paid for a trip to Outer Mongolia to count penguins - and do they care to pay for it if they insist on you joining in June?

A very long time ago I cleared all the hurdles to join the RN as a Pilot. In February I put down my preferred entry date as September, as I planned to meet up with a friend and work in the S of France for the summer, polishing my French etc.

A few weeks later I got a call telling me they couldn't guarantee me a place in September, but that I could go in April. Ooh says a spotty AA, that sounds bad - I'd better go in April, so I did.

Imagine my surprise when talking to the September entry they'd all had the same pitch, and told the chap to sling his hook, and got in regardless. The truth was that there were free slots they wanted filled, and they used any tricks to achieve their aims.

Despite the fact that you have a bursary, I'd doubt if it's lawful for them to order you onto a specific course, but check your facts and the papers you've signed before making an @rse of yourself.

Edited for typos

howard_hughes

Hi guys, glad i found this forum hopefully you'll be able to answer a few of my questions if you can be bothered!

I was just wondering about age limits for certain jobs within the RAF for e.g. for pilot it states 23 but does this mean you have to apply before your 23rd birthday or can you apply when you are 23?
Also if you apply say a few months before your 23rd birthday is this acceptable?

*Edit* Also while looking on the RAF careers website a lot of the officers jobs are "urgently required" but from reading this site it seems as if there are very few places available for pilots etc, which is correct?

Thanks.

casino335

Sorry to be dull, but is it still only two attempts allowed at RAF Officer/ Aircrew aptitude tests - your best score being carried forward if you manage to pass?

For those interested, I sat the tests (aircrew) a couple of years back, so here's a glimpse of what it was like (if it's still relevant):

You are woke up at silly o'clock on test day (kinda expected continental breakfast..hehe) - this is usually on the second day of attendance to OASC, whereas the first day is settling in and meeting the other candidates (think that was the only part i passed).

You do your usual morning stuff (whatever that is) and then you have some breaky (kinda ok if your stomach can handle food at such an early time but my stomach usually receives its first load at 8.30' ish). After Breakfast, you have a briefing on what you are about to face: the aptitude tests (big gulp!). The tests last around 6 hours, from what i can remember, and (naturally) they ain't easy (IMO) - strange environment and constant countdown clock in the corner of your computer screen all add to the pressure. The first wave of tests are OK and have been mentioned before on here: hand and eye co-ordination, memory, verbal reasoning, etc, etc, etc. All seemed to be going well until i hit the orientation type part (travel ne 50 miles, sw 20 miles, etc), the maths bit (speed, distance, time) and the statistics section (seriously hated that): time is the biggest enemy in the tests, but i believe, that most of the tests are designed not to be completed in the time allocated.

My advice to anyone sitting the tests, is not to think about tests you feel you have not done so well on whilst at the computer: just forget them and concentrate on the next lot of nasties coming up (think the staff say something like this any way). Also, being nervous and tense will most probably just hinder your performance, so try to relax and enjoy. Remember they want to pass you. Unfortunately, for me, i didn't have the score required for my first choice branch, and was therefore, ask to see the on-site RAF career guy about my other branch choices - sadly, he had gone home early with a cold (awwwww, bless).

Anyway, to cut a long story short before i bore everyone to tears, i, and around half of the group, didn't make it to stage 2 of OASC - we weren't the right cogs to fit the machine, known as RAF, and had to leave. What seems to always stick in my mind is that if you are told to leave OASC the scene is reminiscent of a house-mate, or more, being evicted from the Big Brother house (well, sorta) - just there are no crowds of screaming fans and family to meet you when you leave the OASC doors. Btw, I'm not a fan of Big Brother.

Another tip that (i think) i read from a bit of booty literature: failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Pontius Navigator

Howard Hughes, your reading seem skewed.

The upper age limit for acceptance to pilot is 23. That means you must be under 23 on the day you start initial training. Can you apply a few months before you are 23? Yes, but that is cutting it fine. 17 is a good time to start

Yes, many officer branches may be in urgent need of new recruits. You say we only have a very few places available for pilots. Your very few and our very few are clearly different.

True, very few of the 12000 that walk into the AFCO will make it - say 1%, but that would need the need and is larger than in previous years.

samuraimatt

Quite right to. Officers are not allowed to watch chav TV like that. Obviously you saw the evictions being reported on a respectable current affairs programme (is there such a thing?).

casino335

Eeeerrrrrr.......maybe that explains why i didn't get in: i put watching Big Brother as a main interest.

Pontius Navigator
I was told, and read, pretty much the figures you put down -12,000 walk in: 120 'ish get in (also read on an old RAF website about 2 years ago it was around 120' ish aircrew in training for that year). Kinda figures thou, as most that walk into a RAF AFCO want to be a pilot, so i guess having 23 as an age limit acts as a filter and helps recruitment for the other RAF branches.

Btw, does anyone know if it is still just two stabs at the aptitude tests with your best score being put forward (if indeed you pass)?

Pontius Navigator

Casino, I could say that you need to enter training as pilot by age 23 as your abilities begin to fade after that but if you joined the RAF as whatever then you could be accepted up to the age of 26.

I suppose one argument is that you have already completed some training and are thus a lower risk.

Sarda55

casino335 vbmenu_register("postmenu_3232937", true);
I sat OASC last year and was luck enough to make it first time. Some of my friends tho didn't. A couple of those were guys who sat a part aptitude test (at OASC) to join University Air Squadrons as Volunteer Reserves and then a full one when they went to OASC again for DE/Bursary places.

When they failed it twice the RAF gave them the usual line of it being twice in a life time but they argued that the first test for the UASs was only part of the test (pilot component only) - they were allowed to resit it.

I have another friend who was allowed to sit the test 3 times (the full test this times) as in November '06 it changed to incorporate different exersizes and s/he was able to argue that she would not have sat the new test twice.

I don't know how useful this will be as all these I speak of are on UASs so their letters of application (and/or complaint and appeal) will be accompanied by a letter from their Squadron Leader bosses - which probably makes a difference. But it does show that 2 is not the limit (cirumstances depending).

Good Luck!

Sarda55

oh and yes, best score always goes forward.

casino335

oh...so it is still just 2 attempts at them