A2QFI

You are well ahead of some of the people who turn up here asking sensible questions. It looks as though you can spell and construct a sentence. OASC will work on the assumption that what they see is what they get and why you are there being interviewed and how you got there won't bother them. They will see through any 'act' you put on and if they like what they see and hear you will make progress.Good luck

Pontius Navigator

Some would say yes to this.

And many will fall into this bracket.

Wanting to fly is probably, well in my case, more a dawning of awareness with some doors opening and some doors closing. Two of my uncles were in the RAF. One died the year I was born the other joined before the waar ended and eventually retired in the 70s. The only gee whiz factor was when I visited his marrier quarter at Wittering in the 50s.

I was in the RAF cadets but the RAF was never in the front of my mind until I was 17. Two months later I applied and I was in just before I was 17 1/2.

airborne_artist

Bear in mind that you are really only competing with yourself - it's not X-Factor, and the assessment is done to ensure that the RAF gets the people best suited for the job. While preparation is vital, they are not really interested in whether you've wanted to be a pilot since you could walk - they are taking a snapshot on the day, not measuring (if it were possible) some hard-to-define and long-felt desire.

The other aspect is that some of those who are ex Air Training Corps and/or UAS may actually think they deserve the job, and can come over as slightly arrogant. That really annoys the interviewers.

Remember the old phrase - Prior Planning and Preparation Prevent Piss Poor Performance.

Good luck!

preduk

I've always wanted to be in the mil, does that mean I deserve to join? Of course not. As others have said, the tests are designed to pick the best person not the person who wants it the most.

I was a cadet as a teenager for 4 years, I only know one person from my squadron that joined the RAF. He didn't even join the full timers, it was the Regiment Aux that he joined.

I wish you the best of luck, do a bit of research decide it's for you (or not) and go for it!

As many have said on this forum, the armed forces isn't a job, it's a lifestyle.

A2QFI

Then I don't think it is a lifstyle many people would aspire to! Largely ineffective men at the top, shortages of every sort of hardware you can name, frequent detachments, rubbish quarters, JPA to sod up your pay. I am sure there is more! Great people, good flying if you are lucky and that's about it IMO.

preduk

Sounds exactly like my current job, although I work in the private sector and deal with the general public who love a good old moan.

Although we have very effective men at the top, sadly that allows them to get greater wages while the rest of us struggle.

I would trade my current office for a military office any day.

stuart955

It's great to hear that die-hard fans and newcomers are all treated the same.

My main problem now is that I can honestly say that I don't have any hobbies or interests that make me sound like RAF material. I'm into skateboarding and other tpyical things. Well, I'm growing out of skating a bit now, but I'll challenege anyone who says it's for 'hoodlums' and trouble causers!

I'm aiming to do a bit of travelling, get some life experience and live off my own back in the big bad world for a while. Am I right that this would be a good thing to mention at interviews? Well I'm generally aiming to do more outward bound adventurous things, purely because I know how bad it would sound to say I've done nothing of the sort but want to be in the military!

preduk

One thing you should maybe consider is getting yourself a trial flying lesson. Although the stuff you learn wont be of much importance to the mil, it will give you an insight into flight training.

You should try things like hill walking, running, going to the gym, skiing etc. as well.

airborne_artist

OASC like to see people who have been rounded a bit, through working with different ages/backgrounds/abilities etc. Have a think about where you could volunteer/help out with something that will assist on this, and perhaps also develop leadership/team skills at the same time. Duke of Edinburgh is a classic route, but you can no doubt think of others.

If you are going to travel, do so with a purpose. Eg. go to South America where you could learn Spanish, volunteer in schools/community projects, travel etc all together. Just travelling and working from bar to bar doesn't say so much.

As far as aviation is concerned, take up gliding. Great for basic flying/poling skills, cheaper, and usually in a club environment.

Ten West

" I'm aiming to do a bit of travelling, get some life experience and live off my own back in the big bad world for a while. Am I right that this would be a good thing to mention at interviews?"

It sounds like a good thing to get involved in anyway. Especially the self-sufficiency aspect of it. I've met endless "Uni" bods whose idea of "Travelling" is to fly off to Goa or somewhere for a year, get wasted permanently and have Mummy and Daddy send them more cash when they run short.

I wish I'd had more applicants like you when I was interviewing candidates for vacancies in my previous career!

I'm a Civvie, but I would guess that in the military, as in my world, attitude and aptitude would be a more important consideration than your age or how long you've wanted to be a pilot. If "Childhood ambition" was the sole governing criteria I'd be an Astronaut by now!

Guy Gibson (If memory serves) was a Wing Commander at 23 years old.

... You do know who Guy Gibson was, yes?

wanabenavypilot

Hi People, I am going for selection on Monday, but I have a problem. I have ear infection and flu symptoms...ergh! It wud have to be this week that I am ill. I am considering phoning to ask if I can rebook my appointment, for another week! But, I am concerned that I wud be wasting a slot that another person cud have! What shud I do???

Evalu8ter

Stuart955,
The reason that you've been treated well on this site is that you have appeared reasonable, humble, articulate and honest. Some of the "wannabees" that lurk on these pages have attitudes, chips and are fully paid up members of the "I deserve it" club.

I followed a classic ATC/Flying Scholarship/UAS route into the RAF, however, some of the most outstanding aviators I've met in the past 17 years have been "walk-ins" into a CIO.

The quality of a Sqn mate is his/her ability to do the job, muck in when required and "take one for the team" when necessary. An ability to tell a Halifax from a Lancaster is "nice to have".

My advice (albeit from Biggin Hill days....) is be yourself, be honest what you put in the application form (because you will be questioned on it), do some background reading (aircraft, roles, stations, likely training courses) and brush up on your current affairs. Some time overseas is excellent if it is meaningful.

Now, final bit of advice. Before you ask any further questions on this forum do some googling first...

Best of luck!

Pontius Navigator

easy,

Postpone.

It is your future you are considering not anyone else's. This is your chance to sell yourself, don' t sell youself short, you do no one any favours.

Console yourself that the person who would have got your slot was a hopeless cause.

olliec3000

Right, so i've been to my local armed forces career office (AFCO) a couple times to speak to the Navy & RAF about joining as pilot aircrew.
Had finished my business with them so thought I'd check what the AAC had to offer.

They said that unlike the other two services where you can only be offficer pilots the AAC prefer you to enter with no commission and work your way up to promo for corporal before they consider you for the AAC pilot course.
Spoke to some AAC NCO's a couple of days later at Bournemouth airshow and they said this is because an officer will only have about 5 yeard behind the controls before he's prooted behind a desk whereas a NCO can expect up to 20 yrs flying.

Is this correct?
Does this mean that you can still apply as commisioned officer but the AAC just prefer the NCO route? Or you can only got the NCO route?
Help please?
Ollie

airborne_artist

As always, Google is your friend

If you have the required academics and can pass AOSB then you'd be nuts to join the AAC as an OR. If you want to stay flying just transfer to either shade of blue once they threaten you with a desk; loads of others have done the same.

A distinct advantage of going green is that you can't be offered any aircrew role apart from pilot - no Observers/WSOs in Teeny Weeny Airways.

Flik Roll

You don't ALWAYS get sent to a desk. The last few AAC Liason Officers (they run the fams at Wallop) all did 8+ yrs in the cockpit then either banged out or went light blue/dark blue.

Go visit the AAC website here and email them if you are interested.

olliec3000

Thanks you for the replies

whats 'OR' officer....?

I was in my local AFCO chatting to the Army recruiter today and he said that he wasnt sure how easy it would be to switch services if threatened with flying a desk. Is it quite easy/common in the AAC??

If you did, presumably you'd be flying lynx/sea kings in the RAF/FAA,
You woulbnt be restramed to transport/fast jet?

Thanks for your help and i'll check out the AAC website. Ollie

Pontius Navigator

OR = Other Ranks ie not an officer.

airborne_artist

Yes, by all accounts.

ricster

Hello.

I've heard from the Student Room that the RAF have lowered their eyesight requirements in line to the Navys.

Does anyone know if this is true?