OASC 'CANDIDATES' and WANNABES, PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!
Join Date: Jan 2006
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FSTA
Thanks.
Another q for anyone out there.......... I've got a date of around 2012 for the FSTA but rumour has it, its have problems with the private finance initiative. Will it be scrapped???????
Another q for anyone out there.......... I've got a date of around 2012 for the FSTA but rumour has it, its have problems with the private finance initiative. Will it be scrapped???????
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Hi folks, hopefully this post is in the right section but apologies if it isn't.
I've been considering a career in the armed forces for a while now but would like some input from those within the RAF and Royal Navy as to which path would be a better career. (I understand that much of this will be personal preference)
I have just finished university and hope to apply for an officer position in either of the above but not as a pilot, preferably something intelligence/admin related.
From what I can gather (perhaps wrongly!) the RAF seems to have slightly higher pay on entry but the Navy would provide more opportunity for travel. I don't have any commitments tying me down at the moment so work location doesn't bother me.
Other than that I'm not very aware of the pro's and con's of joining each so would appreciate if anyone within the forces or not can give me some advice. I've had a good read over their respective careers sites but I always like to hear the unofficial opinions too!
Many thanks for your help - William.
I've been considering a career in the armed forces for a while now but would like some input from those within the RAF and Royal Navy as to which path would be a better career. (I understand that much of this will be personal preference)
I have just finished university and hope to apply for an officer position in either of the above but not as a pilot, preferably something intelligence/admin related.
From what I can gather (perhaps wrongly!) the RAF seems to have slightly higher pay on entry but the Navy would provide more opportunity for travel. I don't have any commitments tying me down at the moment so work location doesn't bother me.
Other than that I'm not very aware of the pro's and con's of joining each so would appreciate if anyone within the forces or not can give me some advice. I've had a good read over their respective careers sites but I always like to hear the unofficial opinions too!
Many thanks for your help - William.
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
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From what I can gather (perhaps wrongly!)
Bear in mind that the age window to join the RAF as aircrew is shorter that that for the RN.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A_A, H-H wants to be an intelligence officer. Now I know little about dark blue Int except that I suspect that warfare would be a more interesting employment. For the RAF there was very few fg off/flt lt Int billets - 137 at the last count some years ago - and competition is fierce. Can't think why.
A problem with Int is you need an encyclopediac knowledge and you need to win credibility with your customers. The former takes time and the latter must be done very quickly. The two are virtually mutually exclusive.
Away from the front line you will be closetted in one of very few locations, some in deepest Middlesex and others deep in sandy places.
A problem with Int is you need an encyclopediac knowledge and you need to win credibility with your customers. The former takes time and the latter must be done very quickly. The two are virtually mutually exclusive.
Away from the front line you will be closetted in one of very few locations, some in deepest Middlesex and others deep in sandy places.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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thanks guys, it does sound quite difficult but I think out of all the jobs listed it appeals to me the most. Are there any other officer jobs you would recommend that I've overlooked?
my degree is best suited to admin officer but it doesn't seem to be an interesting career according to the few people I've spoken to.
I'm a bit disappointed to learn that theres not much traveling but I assume thats for the raf not navy.
Was wondering what you mean when you say 'win credibility with customers', who are your customers?
I suppose they'll help me decide whether I'm suitable for the job before they start training anyway. Need to contact my AFCO in the next few months but want to have have a solid decision on my chosen job before I do.
my degree is best suited to admin officer but it doesn't seem to be an interesting career according to the few people I've spoken to.
I'm a bit disappointed to learn that theres not much traveling but I assume thats for the raf not navy.
Was wondering what you mean when you say 'win credibility with customers', who are your customers?
I suppose they'll help me decide whether I'm suitable for the job before they start training anyway. Need to contact my AFCO in the next few months but want to have have a solid decision on my chosen job before I do.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Int O is Ops Support. Your customer is therefore Ops. On a front line unit it is supporting the commander and providing the intelligence the commander wants. On a sqn it is supporting the aircrew, ensuring that they have all the intel that they need. This is not just the immediate tactical intelligence but the indepth knowledge that they need to 'know their enemy'. In the Cold War this was relatively simple.
Now it could be anyone or anything. The Int O must gather and filter but the filter is where you will fall down. Too much or too little and avoid the secret squirrel syndrome.
Don't dispair of Admin. We knock 'em mercilessly but, like aircrew, they are also being downsized with JPA. The admin wallah is not necessarily desk bound but could also be the man on the ground in charge of force protection. Our 'man in East Timor' was a junior personnel admin officer. He made the national press, sitting in the door of a chopper, SA80 on his knee.
Admin is good for a later career in HR. A law degree is useful. Another good, post-service job is Supply (Logisitics). A science based degree would not come amiss.
For intell I would suggest a history, international relations or humanities degree although science is also useful especially for the tech int guys where Engineering is probably a must.
Now it could be anyone or anything. The Int O must gather and filter but the filter is where you will fall down. Too much or too little and avoid the secret squirrel syndrome.
Don't dispair of Admin. We knock 'em mercilessly but, like aircrew, they are also being downsized with JPA. The admin wallah is not necessarily desk bound but could also be the man on the ground in charge of force protection. Our 'man in East Timor' was a junior personnel admin officer. He made the national press, sitting in the door of a chopper, SA80 on his knee.
Admin is good for a later career in HR. A law degree is useful. Another good, post-service job is Supply (Logisitics). A science based degree would not come amiss.
For intell I would suggest a history, international relations or humanities degree although science is also useful especially for the tech int guys where Engineering is probably a must.
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
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HH - What's your degree in? Not that it matters unduly, though clearly some do have a strong indicator of your potential career in the Services.
As far as I can recall, the only reason people took non-Seaman roles in the RN was down to eyesight - is yours OK without glasses?
As far as I can recall, the only reason people took non-Seaman roles in the RN was down to eyesight - is yours OK without glasses?
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AA my degree is in business management, should get a 2:1 unless a catastrophe occurs, I know its not highly specialized but was hoping it would still be looked upon favorably. It covered areas such as HR, marketing, accounting, (project) management....
I'm 23 so too old to join as a pilot for the RAF and although I could still join the navy I have minimal flying experience so I'm not that unrealistic - I hear its the most popular/limited job. A lot of the officer jobs only have a-levels as requirements, I assume thats just to make sure they have a decent sized pool to select from?
Yeah my eyesight is great, never had any problems with it so far!
Ideally I'd want a job which is interesting, the chance to travel now and then, and at least as well paid as I would be in an equivalent civilian job (in that order)
thanks again for your replies, v.helpful.
I'm 23 so too old to join as a pilot for the RAF and although I could still join the navy I have minimal flying experience so I'm not that unrealistic - I hear its the most popular/limited job. A lot of the officer jobs only have a-levels as requirements, I assume thats just to make sure they have a decent sized pool to select from?
Yeah my eyesight is great, never had any problems with it so far!
Ideally I'd want a job which is interesting, the chance to travel now and then, and at least as well paid as I would be in an equivalent civilian job (in that order)
thanks again for your replies, v.helpful.
Red On, Green On
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RN aircrew entry has lots of hurdles, but previous flying experience is not required. You either pass the aptitude or not, and 1000s of hours in a Cessna won't make any difference.
RN has both pilots and observers, and many of the obs make it a long way up the RN, as they are mission commanders from an early age, while pilots in many cases are just stick monkeys. RN Warfare guys are the mainstream, so I'd aim high and go from there (Pilot and Obs are in the warfare branch, of course, but so are the guy that drive/fight the ships and submarines).
Your degree will be fine anywhere in the RN outside engineering and the medical and chaplains' depts.
The RN will work hard to show you what it has to offer. My 16 y/o daughter has three visits lined up: 4 days at sea, a potential officers' course at Yeovilton (aircrew) and a week at Dartmouth. If you ask they'll do much the same for you.
The RN guy in the Province to talk to is:
Lt Cdr Steve Carroll RN
Regional Recruiting Officer (RRO) N. Ireland
AFCO Belfast
Palace Barracks, Holywood
BFPO 806
Tel. 028 9042 7040
[email protected]
RN has both pilots and observers, and many of the obs make it a long way up the RN, as they are mission commanders from an early age, while pilots in many cases are just stick monkeys. RN Warfare guys are the mainstream, so I'd aim high and go from there (Pilot and Obs are in the warfare branch, of course, but so are the guy that drive/fight the ships and submarines).
Your degree will be fine anywhere in the RN outside engineering and the medical and chaplains' depts.
The RN will work hard to show you what it has to offer. My 16 y/o daughter has three visits lined up: 4 days at sea, a potential officers' course at Yeovilton (aircrew) and a week at Dartmouth. If you ask they'll do much the same for you.
The RN guy in the Province to talk to is:
Lt Cdr Steve Carroll RN
Regional Recruiting Officer (RRO) N. Ireland
AFCO Belfast
Palace Barracks, Holywood
BFPO 806
Tel. 028 9042 7040
[email protected]
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Sounds like I have a few more options than I thought then!
I think that I might just go to the AFCO with an area of general interest and take it from there, it'll be interesting to see what they recommend and what my aptitudes are. Hopefully they won't think less of me for not knowing exactly what job I want to do!
thanks for contact details
I think that I might just go to the AFCO with an area of general interest and take it from there, it'll be interesting to see what they recommend and what my aptitudes are. Hopefully they won't think less of me for not knowing exactly what job I want to do!
thanks for contact details
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Intel
I had a presentation on the RN human intelligence specialisation the other week. It seems like a very good branch, as human intelligence all they do is focus on yes.... human information gathering.
basically, unless you have a strong foreign language (they will train you if you want) then you go down the interrogation route. If you have a language then you will go down the interpretur route. If deployed in sandy areas (very likely) then you will be conducting meetings with local people, in both overt and covert situations. Your not 007 and therefore have a undercover protection team for covert ops. Other roles include talking to skippers on routine boarding searches.
After gathering the information you pass it on to the analysts to do their stuff on it.
If you decide to go down this route then you can do your all arms commando course and act as an int officer on patrol with the royals.
This is what was made out from the presentation. This isn't a branch in itself its only a specialisation (human), but sounds better than studying photos and documents!
basically, unless you have a strong foreign language (they will train you if you want) then you go down the interrogation route. If you have a language then you will go down the interpretur route. If deployed in sandy areas (very likely) then you will be conducting meetings with local people, in both overt and covert situations. Your not 007 and therefore have a undercover protection team for covert ops. Other roles include talking to skippers on routine boarding searches.
After gathering the information you pass it on to the analysts to do their stuff on it.
If you decide to go down this route then you can do your all arms commando course and act as an int officer on patrol with the royals.
This is what was made out from the presentation. This isn't a branch in itself its only a specialisation (human), but sounds better than studying photos and documents!
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H_H I am slightly disappointed, but not suprised that you found some RAF Admin officers who didn't rate their careers. Over my time in the RAF I've come across many people from many branches, aircrew included, who didn't particularly enjoy what they were doing or felt they were not satisfied in the RAF.
My point is don't let yourself be put off by the moans of some people. My experiences, as an Admin officer have been fantastic, and I continue to enjoy my postings. I have served in 7 countires away from mainland UK; some great beer drinking places and some a little hotter and not quite as social. I have had a good range of jobs, serving on flying stns and in HQs/MOD, and worked closely with the RN and Army. I would certainly say that I am not unique in my Admin career profile to date.
My advice would be to have a close look at all the branches that the RAF offer and see what you think you are best suited to. In my experience any air force job is what you make of it and the great people you meet along the way.
Good luck!
My point is don't let yourself be put off by the moans of some people. My experiences, as an Admin officer have been fantastic, and I continue to enjoy my postings. I have served in 7 countires away from mainland UK; some great beer drinking places and some a little hotter and not quite as social. I have had a good range of jobs, serving on flying stns and in HQs/MOD, and worked closely with the RN and Army. I would certainly say that I am not unique in my Admin career profile to date.
My advice would be to have a close look at all the branches that the RAF offer and see what you think you are best suited to. In my experience any air force job is what you make of it and the great people you meet along the way.
Good luck!
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cutbacks and refusal for pilot training.
A friend of a friend had recently completed his officer training with the RAF and was awaiting his pilot training, when he was told that due to cutbacks there was no availability for him to become a pilot.
As far as i know he has stayed on the RAF and honoured the 'officer first pilot second'. This happened quite recently, so i wondered where on earth people are hearing the rumours that the RAF is short on Pilot applicants?! Can anyone shed some light?
As far as i know he has stayed on the RAF and honoured the 'officer first pilot second'. This happened quite recently, so i wondered where on earth people are hearing the rumours that the RAF is short on Pilot applicants?! Can anyone shed some light?
Red On, Green On
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Fray - I think your story is missing something out. I don't think anyone who completed initial officer training having been accepted for pilot would then be denied a place on a basic flying training course.