OASC 'CANDIDATES' and WANNABES, PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!
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Don't forget your:
Most Adventurous and High Point
(They don't do low point anymore).
Be able to sell yourself in a sentence... e.g. My most adventurous point was going to BLAH and leading a group of BLAH while overcoming problem BLAH (you get my drift?!)
If they ask what you high point was, don't just say 'passing my A Levels' exaggerate the sentence to sell it/you.
Most Adventurous and High Point
(They don't do low point anymore).
Be able to sell yourself in a sentence... e.g. My most adventurous point was going to BLAH and leading a group of BLAH while overcoming problem BLAH (you get my drift?!)
If they ask what you high point was, don't just say 'passing my A Levels' exaggerate the sentence to sell it/you.
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Melchett's right - but even if Iraq and Afghanistan don't feature on your list of My Favourite Current Affairs Topics, make sure you know about them. It is not unknown for those pesky boarding officers to entirely disregard your balanced, relevant and thoroughly-researched list of topics and ask you about something else completely -like, oooh, Afghanistan or Iraq.
Oh AIDU, yes, yes, yes. Kosovo may be old hat - especially with Helmand being the focus of all the fighting at the moment.
However, Kosovo is important as far as UK Plc is concerned - it is about to potentially tear itself apart and the UK Spearhead Bn is the lead NATO Reaction Force from early 08 onwards. Plenty of scope for the UK to be going back into the Balkans when everyone's attention is focussed to the east.
Coupled with that, the Balkans at the moment could well become a proxy for the NATO - Russian ding-dong that has seen Q launched how many times this autumn? Won't say anymore .... wouldn't want to give all the answers away!
However, Kosovo is important as far as UK Plc is concerned - it is about to potentially tear itself apart and the UK Spearhead Bn is the lead NATO Reaction Force from early 08 onwards. Plenty of scope for the UK to be going back into the Balkans when everyone's attention is focussed to the east.
Coupled with that, the Balkans at the moment could well become a proxy for the NATO - Russian ding-dong that has seen Q launched how many times this autumn? Won't say anymore .... wouldn't want to give all the answers away!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Flik, there has to be more behind that than you say.
There was.
There was.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 2nd Dec 2007 at 17:37.
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RAF pilot recruitment question (from a wannabe)
Firstly, I hope I’ve posted this in the correct forum. Initially I considered posting in the Military Aircrew forum but reasoned, although this question is aimed at them, I should post in the wannabes forum in the hope that they also browse here. If I’ve posted this question in the wrong section, I apologise
.
To cut a long and boring story short, my dilemma is this. My dream is to be a pilot in the RAF but, more realistically, I want the privilege of being allowed the chance to tread the long and difficult path of being selected. The problem is, by the time my qualifications meet the initial criteria required before I’m eligible to be even considered, I’m going to be 23 years old (another 2 months and I’ll be 24). As I understand it, pilot recruiting age is 17.5-23. It appears I’m already cutting it extremely close. Now taking into account the time taken for initial testing, interviews etc, things are looking even bleaker. Am I too old?
I know I should have done all of this 2-3 years ago but my story is a complex one. The bottom line is, I’m willing to invest as much money/blood/sweat/tears as I possibly can. I’m determined to do my best for the chance, for the consideration but I’m not getting any younger.
I approached the RAF today with this but due to the specific and unusual nature of my question, I have to make further arrangements to speak to someone within the RAF who is better able to answer it. Which I will but I thought I’d also throw the question at the pilots of this forum in the hope that they can shed more light onto the problem.
Will I be considered or shall I break out the pipe and slippers?
I've tried to keep this as brief as possible. Any help (preferably with my question and not the use of my written English in this post
) is very, very appreciated.
cheers,
. To cut a long and boring story short, my dilemma is this. My dream is to be a pilot in the RAF but, more realistically, I want the privilege of being allowed the chance to tread the long and difficult path of being selected. The problem is, by the time my qualifications meet the initial criteria required before I’m eligible to be even considered, I’m going to be 23 years old (another 2 months and I’ll be 24). As I understand it, pilot recruiting age is 17.5-23. It appears I’m already cutting it extremely close. Now taking into account the time taken for initial testing, interviews etc, things are looking even bleaker. Am I too old?
I know I should have done all of this 2-3 years ago but my story is a complex one. The bottom line is, I’m willing to invest as much money/blood/sweat/tears as I possibly can. I’m determined to do my best for the chance, for the consideration but I’m not getting any younger.
I approached the RAF today with this but due to the specific and unusual nature of my question, I have to make further arrangements to speak to someone within the RAF who is better able to answer it. Which I will but I thought I’d also throw the question at the pilots of this forum in the hope that they can shed more light onto the problem.
Will I be considered or shall I break out the pipe and slippers?
I've tried to keep this as brief as possible. Any help (preferably with my question and not the use of my written English in this post
) is very, very appreciated.cheers,
Guessing purely, I would think that if you are a graduate then you are okay - if not, then you are running a little late but the train has not left the station.
Of course, if you REALLY want to fly, you should go Army rotary
Sam.
Of course, if you REALLY want to fly, you should go Army rotary
Sam.
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Well you only get one shot at life. You're on the right side of 23 so you just need to decide how much you want it.
It is close mind, similar situation to me. Between university changing points per module and loosing my coursework it took me longer than expected to graduate, add to that fact I was told I was too tall to fly a Tornado when I was on summer camp with the ATC ... It all put a dampener on getting in.
I graduated at 23y 6m
It is close mind, similar situation to me. Between university changing points per module and loosing my coursework it took me longer than expected to graduate, add to that fact I was told I was too tall to fly a Tornado when I was on summer camp with the ATC ... It all put a dampener on getting in.
I graduated at 23y 6m
Red On, Green On
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You won't make it all the way through in eight weeks with Christmas in the way. You may be able to persuade them to give you an extension, so try. Your alternative is the RN - upper age limit of 25 and 11 months on entry. Same pay, better uniform 
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Bogey Ben,
You wrote a long post but actually said very little. In one respect this is good as you do not want to bare your soul in public before OASC etc.
You say
and Sam Rutherford guessed that you are., or will be, a graduate.
If you will be a graduate then you should have achieved the initial criteria 6 years ago, namely 5 GSCE Grade C or above incl English and Maths, an 2 A-levels. In other words you could have applied then. If you are only just getting these qualifications then you would be a weak candidate in comparision with others of your age who are most likely graduates.
If you are a graduate then you have still left it too late as you need to be no older than 24 on your firt day at IOT. However if you are an exceptional graduand and have exceptional pilot apptitude skills and can write a good case then you might be considered.
Your first hurdle is to pursuade the AFCO that you should be considered.
Other than your late entry in the race, your post on pprune looks promising.
You wrote a long post but actually said very little. In one respect this is good as you do not want to bare your soul in public before OASC etc.
You say
by the time my qualifications meet the initial criteria required before I’m eligible to be even considered, I’m going to be 23 years old (another 2 months and I’ll be 24).
If you will be a graduate then you should have achieved the initial criteria 6 years ago, namely 5 GSCE Grade C or above incl English and Maths, an 2 A-levels. In other words you could have applied then. If you are only just getting these qualifications then you would be a weak candidate in comparision with others of your age who are most likely graduates.
If you are a graduate then you have still left it too late as you need to be no older than 24 on your firt day at IOT. However if you are an exceptional graduand and have exceptional pilot apptitude skills and can write a good case then you might be considered.
Your first hurdle is to pursuade the AFCO that you should be considered.
Other than your late entry in the race, your post on pprune looks promising.
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application for the 23 yr old
Bogey Ben,
You are still within the age limit (17.5-23) and you said yourself that you can apply whilst you are 23, but not after. So thats one problem solved.
The application process takes a long time so if your age isn't a problem at the moment, get your application in and get the ball rolling!
I looked to apply with the RAF but was really put off by the careers guy who said that i had 'come in far too early to be looking for a career that i can't start until next year'. How wrong was he!
I am currently under application with the Navy and i expressed my interests in March 2007, im am now doing my FATs in 2 weeks and i was informed that the process can take 9-11 months from initail application.
Fray
You are still within the age limit (17.5-23) and you said yourself that you can apply whilst you are 23, but not after. So thats one problem solved.
The application process takes a long time so if your age isn't a problem at the moment, get your application in and get the ball rolling!
I looked to apply with the RAF but was really put off by the careers guy who said that i had 'come in far too early to be looking for a career that i can't start until next year'. How wrong was he!
I am currently under application with the Navy and i expressed my interests in March 2007, im am now doing my FATs in 2 weeks and i was informed that the process can take 9-11 months from initail application.
Fray
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Fray,
If you read what Wader said, Ben is out of time. He has to start at Cranwell in less than 2 months.
In that 2 months he has to undergo the P2 sift at AFCO, get an invite to OASC, pass that, pass the next stage, then arrive at Cranwell.
As you say that could be neigh on a year. That would put him 10 months over age. The only hope is that he is so exceptional that they would make an exception of him.
Now WSO Nav!
If you read what Wader said, Ben is out of time. He has to start at Cranwell in less than 2 months.
In that 2 months he has to undergo the P2 sift at AFCO, get an invite to OASC, pass that, pass the next stage, then arrive at Cranwell.
As you say that could be neigh on a year. That would put him 10 months over age. The only hope is that he is so exceptional that they would make an exception of him.
Now WSO Nav!
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Forgot I had to post in the OASC thread I apologise.
I’m stuck on another couple of questions, and got some pretty good answers last time.
Basically I’m just after some information on RAF pilot career progression. If anyone had any that would be great, people certainly did with WSOp!
And secondly, how would people on here describe the leadership roles of pilots and WSOp? Would I be right in thinking that as an individual, these roles are more “team work” based rather than “leader” based? * Hides from offended pilots and WSOp’s *.
Thanks for any replies.
QM
I’m stuck on another couple of questions, and got some pretty good answers last time.
Basically I’m just after some information on RAF pilot career progression. If anyone had any that would be great, people certainly did with WSOp!
And secondly, how would people on here describe the leadership roles of pilots and WSOp? Would I be right in thinking that as an individual, these roles are more “team work” based rather than “leader” based? * Hides from offended pilots and WSOp’s *.
Thanks for any replies.
QM
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
RAF pilot career progression. If anyone had any that would be great, people certainly did with WSOp
And secondly, how would people on here describe the leadership roles of pilots and WSOp?
Would I be right in thinking that as an individual, these roles are more “team work” based rather than “leader” based?
All leaders need teams to lead. A leader needs to be a team player both within his own team and as a team leader in someone elses team. When all said and done the RAF is a team player within the MOD.
The Melchett style of leadership is certainly not team based. "Follow me" is more team based but you need to have built up that team to know they will follow you.