expedite08

Age waiver! They must be getting low on people, good on you though if you can get it.

Anyone any info on RAF Regt officer manning levels/ requirements etc?

DP20

Does anyone know what the medical stance is on depression and flying? If you were on antidepressants over 7 years ago (for 2 years), would this stop you joining the RAF or the AAC as pilot?

Seldomfitforpurpose

Apart from pilot they will probably waive age, weight, sex, "previous" and Justin Timberlake adoreance to put bums on seats as every other trade in the RAF as a whole is in very very short supply........so we will take any bl@@dy Muppet to make ends meet

Joining the AAC demands you start anti depressants on day one just to get through

flyingbird

Does anybody happen to know dates for the next few OASCs or know approximately how often they are run? No answer when I phone. Thank You.

warty99

Flyingbird - OASC runs two boards a week. If you're waiting for a date, it will probably be at least two or three months after passing your filter interview at your AFCO, and they'll give you plenty of notice when asking you to attend.

_Quiet_Mason

Sent you a PM

flyingbird

Quiet Mason - Thanks, check your pms

3portdrift

Wouldn't be an automatic exclusion. Expect to be asked about it, but if the depression was tied to some specific, one-off life event, it would probably not be a problem. You can only offer up the truth and see how it is taken.

Paulomarto

Just had my letter back saying the competition was fierce and i have not been selected for OASC but showed potential and they reccomend I apply again in 3 months time should I still be eligible. Just wondered is this a standard letter where if it was the invitation to apply in 3 months time is just to spare the applicants feelings. Just wondered as it didnt take long at all after my interview for the rejection letter to be recieved.

the_flying_cop

try again chap. sometimes it may be a test to show your determination.


if you want something, you have to fight for it.

ps. it wouldn't hurt to try and get some feedback on where you may have been less competant. use this feedback to polish out any weak points and get stuck in there.

all the best.

TFC

Baskitt Kase

It's a 'semi-standard' letter. Plenty of candidates are no-hopers and get told that thay have been rejected full stop. Immature candidates with potential are usually told to come back in 1 or 2 years to give them time to do some growing up. Stronger candidates applying when there are spaces get acceptance letters. You appear to be in the group of stronger candidates applying for a branch that doesn't have space in the system just at the moment. This is most common for branches that require a degree (ie eng) as a glut of applicants attend OASC as soon as they get their results and the system cannot cope with them, whereas those applying in the spring may even get in with slightly lower scores as there will be fewer applicants to meet the demand at that time of the year. It's all about supply and demand.

Take heart, your is almost as good as an acceptance letter and the shorter the period they give you, the better you have probably done. 3 months is normally the shortest period offered. Moral of the story; reapply in 3 months as the letter tells you to.

Tiger_mate

It may also be worth extending the scope of your request, as "this job or nothing" often gets nothing. Whereas, "this is my trade of choice but I would consider..... as an interim", may get you an offer which is at least a foot in the door.

The other option is to look at the Navy and Army to see if they can satisfy your needs. 3 months is a short time for reapplying, and the scenarios already laid out above are far more common. It sounds like you may have simply dipped it on the numbers game on this occasion; it happens.

Good Luck with whatever your future holds.

Green Flash

Well, they didn't say 'poke off and don't darken our doors again' did they? Get your letter off in March! Hang on in there and good luck.

Melchett01

The very first time I went flying with the ATC, I was talking to my pilot about what I wanted to do. He told me that he had had an interesting route to getting to the front line. Between him and his nav, they had clocked up over half a dozen attempts at OASC.

Moral of the story, if you really want it, then this is just a temporary setback rather than a total show stopper. Find out what held you back this time (it may have been simple numbers), use the time to your advantage, get out, do more research, visits etc.

If you keep getting turned down by the same AFCO, think laterally - try a different AFCO!

Speed Twelve

Paulomarto

I'm assuming your post refers to the result of a grading interview at AFCO and that you haven't been shortlisted for OASC this time? The AFCO may give you some feedback and guidance if you request it; the RAF will reckon that any weak areas you have can be worked on, otherwise you would not have been encouraged to re-apply.

Mate of mine binned his AFCO grading interview first time due to a lack of military knowledge. A year later when he re-applied he got to OASC and was offered a commission. Keep at it! I had more than one go at OASC myself before I was successful.

Pontius Navigator

Paulomarto which AFCO? PM me if you don't want to go public. AFCOs do have track records.

kiwi chick

Hmmmmm, not sure how to take that comment, I just got in aged 35 - and I certainly don't think I'm the "bottom of the barrell" !

Paulomarto - don't give up! I got in after 4th try - it's very competitive and it also depends who is on the deciding board and what their preferences are. If you've got what it takes, someone will eventually recognise it!

AIDU

It doesn't matter if you have what it takes, if you are 35 you are too old to join the Royal Air Force.

ol-mate

the advanced testing at PSA is based on hours, don't quote me but 20 hrs rings a bell. IIRC the only difference is that the advanced guys do more elaborate aerobatics, ie barrel roll etc. and have less time allocated to circuits etc.

PSA is difficult but if you have a passion for flying and they can see sufficient progression in your skills, they will score you well. i thought the OSB was pretty full on, but if you show confidence and a level head in what is meant to be a stressful situation, then you should be fine. mental maths is part of it as LJR pointed out but it probably amounts to 2 or 3 questions.

know your squadrons and aircraft specs (top speed, range, payload, role etc.) as they do probe to get an idea of your depth of knowledge.

thats about all i can remember, hope it helps.

dave_perry

I don't want to sound igtnorant however I have just applied for my sixth form scholarship with the RAF for pilot. I know somebody who has recently recieved their invite for the 5th of February however I am still yet to get one. I was told that my AFCO interview was excellent and that I was recommended for OASC. Does anybody know if all invites have been sent or are some still left?

As I said I would hate to be cocky but I am just a little anxious at the moment considering I have not heard anything.

Dave