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OASC 'CANDIDATES' and WANNABES, PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!

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OASC 'CANDIDATES' and WANNABES, PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!

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Old 11th Aug 2007, 12:51
  #1461 (permalink)  
 
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QM - The contrition you express in posts 38 and 42 appears to contradict your stance in the second sentence of post 11.

I made the point earlier that you will be expected to get it right, under pressure. During OASC or AIB or RCB, you will be placed under pressure, and the board members will grill you, attempting to manipulate you into saying something that contradicts an earlier stance, and will then expect you to explain the contradiction. They will be looking for words along the lines of "earlier, I had the mistaken belief that ABC was the correct course of action, but now that I am aware of factor HJK, I believe course XYZ is the correct choice". If you cannot justify the change of stance, you may suffer in terms of grading.

Your initial post (remember your very first on PPRuNe) was so riddled with errors, that the presentation stuck out, not the content. Again, when you appear at selection boards, you do not want to walk in with an outlandish haircut, scuffed shoes and white socks. Metaphorically, this is what you had done here, and you have made some efforts to mend fences since then. My lengthy reply here is in the same vein.

Your apologies in the later posts are welcomed, and accepted (at least by me).

I've no wish to see young blood turned away at the door, and I do indeed welcome your obvious enthusiasm to serve. In PPRuNe, ARRSE et al, you have a golden opportunity to glean information and ask questions to prepare.
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Old 11th Aug 2007, 13:13
  #1462 (permalink)  
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They are called "first impressions" for a good reason. The more you can do to make them favourable, the more you should try to. The response on the thread is representative of what will happen for real - from admiration for the enthusiasm and exuberance of youth to utter disdain for failing to follow the 6 P"s.
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Old 11th Aug 2007, 14:46
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Helpful link QM - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handou...r/g_apost.html
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Old 11th Aug 2007, 18:10
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The medical record issue is ongoing isnt it. Yes of course its there in black and white and is unchangeable. However, when phoning to merely enquire about a possible issue, that rude response was hardly what a potential future employee would want to hear - subsequently, my particular issue wasnt an issue!! Did i just here somwhere they are struggling to reach their recruitment figures.... wonder why.
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Old 11th Aug 2007, 19:05
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It does seem that people are reluctant to give this young lad some information other than that which will be contained in his remedial English pack if he gets through OASC!

QM - I've been asked to do the "Push to Test" with BTEC several times. In each case, the AFCO have said something to the effect of "We don't know, but we'll find out". In each case the answer has been in the affirmative. I've looked up your equiv from UCAS, I take it you achieved DDD? If so, you are quite right that it is viewed by NQF as three A Level equivalent. The sticking point (if there has been one) has been that some institutions seem to allow students on to BTEC courses without GCSE Maths at C or above - if you have your minimum of five including Maths and English plus DDD at BTEC, I'm not surprised at your unconditional offer by a University. I would go and, as you suggest, join the UAS. As a graduate entrant you will have lost the A-Level snobbery that appears to still exist in the service (oh and you will be paid more - a nod to a recent-ish thread!).

GM
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Old 12th Aug 2007, 14:30
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OASC 'CANDIDATES' and WANNABES, PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!

Afternoon all

I was just wondering if anyone knew what 6/6 eyesight means, and also ive read that pilots need to have 6/6 vision in each eye does this also count for Nav's.

many thanks

Nathan

p.s please no nav jokes lol
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Old 12th Aug 2007, 14:46
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Well two things that concern me about your eyesight. First is that on the RAF Careers website there is no such mention of the job of Navigator. They are now Weapon Systems Officers and secondly if you look really carefully you will notice that on the 19th May 2007 at 1702 you asked a very similar question to which someone posted a table explaining in detail the requirements.
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Old 12th Aug 2007, 15:05
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i laughed so hard, i think i've done a little wee.

WSO doesn't have to have 20/20 vision, but saying that, you can't be blind.
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Old 12th Aug 2007, 15:26
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Very roughly, it is a comparitor of your eyesight against a standard of visual acuity - in this case I assume measured in metres rather than feet (which would be 20/20).

So if you are 6/6, it basically means your eyesight is as working as expected and you can clearly see a target at 6m which everybody else can see.
If your eyesight was 9/6 then it means you have been eating your carrots and can pick up said target at 9m compared to the standard 6m. However if you're eyesight is 3/6 then you need to eat more carrots as you now have to be 3m from the target to pick it up compared with the standard 6m. 20/20. 40/20 and 10/20 are, I believe, the equivalent in metres.

Alternatively, you could just look on wikipedia under eye tests or visual acuity for a better explanation. As for the nav requirement, I have no idea - I didn't think we still had them and anyway you don't need perfect eyesight to work at McDonalds
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Old 12th Aug 2007, 23:18
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As an add on to AIDU's two points, you also failed to spot the sticky at the top of the page. I realise that it says pilot, not WSO, but it does say OASC. Use initiative.
x
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 08:14
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?

do you havto bring in your medical history?
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 15:49
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I am now looking at joining the fleet air arm, as opposed to the Army air corps, but am unsure if I am Navy officer material. I enjoy many of the Army type activities such as target/clay/gallery shooting, walking expeditions and the 'green' side of things, but I don't have the slightest idea about more Naval based things such as sailing or general maritime affairs, as neither have been of great interest to me. The opportunities of the FAA interest me somewhat, but without having a sea based background would it be a disadvantage?
thanks
Sam
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 16:01
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So Mr Sierra hotel what can you tell me about being an Officer in the FAA?
Well "I don't have the slightest idea about more Naval based things such as sailing or general maritime affairs, as neither have been of great interest to me."

That will go down well on your AIB.
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 17:15
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pprune is deffinitely the best was to pass officer entry interviews by the looks of things, if i could ever please you lot I could do anything.

As for my last post, i meant up to now maritime things haven't interested me, but the idea is growing. But it is a point, so many people say fly Navy, not Army, but if I know so little about the navy it's surely not a wise career move...
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 18:47
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Why not try to find out about the Navy before making a decision? Just a suggestion ...
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 19:01
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SH, I've found the Navy website is great. Spend a few hours on there and you'll find the statement 'I know so little about the navy' becomes false. It's really not that hard, and won't cost you a penny.

Enjoy your research.


Proctor
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 19:13
  #1477 (permalink)  
 
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Joey168 - if you're asking if they'll check your medical history, the answer is yes. You will also have to undergo an extensive medical as part of the assessment.
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Old 13th Aug 2007, 19:48
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Use the RN website regularly and have already seen the RN careers officer (the CSM in there was surprised as to how switched on i was). Flying looks good, but overall, im still no seadog, and the AAC is the most attractive when it comes to going rotary.
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Old 15th Aug 2007, 01:16
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Hey all,

With regard to OASC, I just came back from there a few days ago, and the lowdown on the fitness test is thus, most recent you can get:

There IS a press up and sit up component, which are both best effort in a minute and scaled to age and gender (i.e. different minimum fitness levels depending on the above) so that for girls 17-24 a score of 17 / 35 is good, but for a guy 25-30 then a score of 12 / 26 is minimum - poor. If you apply to OASC and are accepted for a selection date, the tables will be included in your pre-joining instructions.

The same goes for the bleep test. There are pre-joining and slightly higher RAFFT levels, so you are expected to improve from your OASC level to your Fam Visit levels if you are successful - so get running. It is NOT a 1.5 mile timing, but rather a test of your endurance, stamina and respiration standard - if you blast out 1.5 but then are knackered, it's not the same skills as working up from a slow jog at level 1 to all out pelt at level 12.

Ths fitness test is not everything however. Equally important and will be tested are your leadership and teamworking skills, number and information manipulation ability, knowledge of the RAF, your branch choices, and current affairs. If you ace the fitness but don't know whats going on in Gaza, then you won't look good. So get reading too.

The AFCO won't be as good as talking to people how have been through it - even if they didnt make it, they will have the inside scoop. Some have been saying it takes 4 months to get an OASC date, which can be in a further 2-3 months - but that gives you time to gen up on unfurling world events, get fitness in when you have the time, practise the kind of numbers and problems they will give you to solve, and find people who've done it to talk to. I know those months were invaluable to me!

Hope that helps boys and girls!

JD
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Old 15th Aug 2007, 08:00
  #1480 (permalink)  
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Wannabes! I have been watching your posts for some time and I have a tiny bit of advice about using PPRuNe to get the information you require. Many of you need it.

First. DON'T be a smartarse. Coming in all shapes and sizes, as 'you' do, it only serves your own egos. It does not impress anyone on here.

In spite of that you still receive advice. Others laugh and can't be bothered.

Second. Know your subject before you start trying to be clever. Choose one arm or the other (that is one service or another, Army Navy or Air Force) you 'intend' to join and get to know it thoroughly. If you attend an interview and tell the man you want to join the Navy but you like the Army - you are a winner - first through the door!

Third. And please heed this. 'You' are receiving advice from some of the best 'been there done that' individuals from all three services you are ever likely to meet, and I will guarantee some of them are of high rank, I know of at least two Lt.Colonels, two sea Captains and Wing Commanders as well a Group Captain all of whom willingly offer their help here. 'You' also have access to advice from aircraft captains, fast jet, army and navy pilots and many many others. Some, are still serving some are retired. You even get advice straight from someone in each recruiting organisation and probably don't know it! The fact is that 'you' never know who you are really talking to. So, your first step on PPRuNe is to treat everyone with respect. 'You' will get more out of it that way.

Here on PPRuNe we run seminars for people who want to be pilots. These sessions have the very best of Flight Deck talent available and the guys and gals always feel a confidence of purpose and go home refreshed in the knowledge that a place awaits them in their chosen career.

NEVER never be rude. I have had to remove posts from people who are - then you get NO help at all.

Finally, READ your post again and again before you press the submit button. That way you should be able to make sure your question is concise and that you sound good. And do try to improve your spelling skills and comms skills.

With good questions and common sense you have the best here to answer them.

PPP
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