Chrisdaman

thank you

i think the raw emotion was a build up of things:

my application in total had taken 15 months to get to OASC, with various things happening on the way ie appendix removal, and after all of the fitness and interview preparation, it was an enormous dissapointment, because i didnt even get an oppurtunity to show the real person that i am.

also it wasnt helped by being 1 of 3 dropped, (the other 2 were uni bursary applicants), so to be the only 1 applying for a job made it alot worse. All of the officers were really friendly at cranwell, especially the duty officer (cant remember his name), but his job cant be easy and i dont envy him having to make the cut. I'd also been fasting from the night before for fasting glucose tests (had i got through), so i was exhausted, hungry and more emotional. Managed to hold it together through the feedback interview with the selection board president, and then got back to my room and let rip. The frustrating this is that a couple of years ago i would probably have been successful, but becuase the bar is SO high right now, i wasnt suitable.

Much to be learnt from the experience, and I await the feedback that will be sent to my AFCO, to learn from, possibly revisit OASC.

There is more than one way to skin a cat.....

Pontius Navigator

I would guess that would have been true of all candidates.

I believe they have changed the testing sequence. Did you have the opportunity to eat before the assessments? If not this may be a useful feedback to OASC.

PS,

fast, thanks for the explanation. There is always a temptation to skip breakfast if you perceive you are short of time.

Tommmo

When I went through you did part of the medical on the afternoon after the second chop, then you fasted that night and did the test the following morning before a late breakfast and then the fitness test. That way nobody was fasting throughout anything strenuous, I would be very surprised if this has changed.

fast74

I think the Selection process has changed; indeed OASC have posted on here confirming that. Candidates do the Exercise Phase on day 1 then Interview, Medical and fitness test the following day. Individuals who have to fast for blood tests have their blood taken first thing on day 2 and then they take breakfast. They wouldn't undertake any assessment without eating first! Even young Chrisdaman would have been offered breakfast before going to his review.

Chrisdaman

yeh so day 1 is:

Morning Briefing and put into Syndicates
Group Discussion
Group Planning Excercise
hangar Familiarisation
Leaderless Ex.
Leader Ex's
Individual Planning Ex.
Urine Sample given
Height and Weight Given
Hearing Test

anyone with aircrew on their application is instructed that from 2000 hours until the following morning they're to fast as a fasting blood test is required (after the cut)

END OF DAY 1.

Day 2
first thing is the first and only cut
Medical
Interview
Fitness Test

END OF OASC

note: the medical and interview may happen in reverse order too, depending on numbers

hope that helps, and yes i was offered breakfast after being told i wasn't moving on, but i didnt feel hungry afterwards

Pontius Navigator

Care to comment on the times?

What time would the blood test have been? What time was allowed for breakfast after the blood test?

Chrisdaman

blood test would have been at 0800, and then breakfast afterwards, then into the rest of the medical

emc22

Sorry you didn't get through Chris, thought you would have. For what it's worth I think you should go back to OASC.

Day 2 is a combination of:
Medical
Eye test
ECG (if required)
Med review
Interview

Fitness test will be in the afternoon after lunch.

If you get to this stage, you will not be given feedback on your performance.

fast74

You would get feedback on your performance. All candidates, regardless of how far they make it through the exercise phase, would receive a written report from oasc which outlines all areas of their performance. These should be sent to the candidate shortly after attending (usually a few weeks or so). If you need amplification on what any aspect means then your AFCO should be able to provide a more detailed breakdown.

Chrisdaman

you werent the other chris doing the personnel support officer role were you?

small world

and regarding the feedback, i had the meeting with the president of the selection board, and he showed me the written notes he had, these would be sent to brighton for them to type up and send back to me

Kernow Jam

Hi guys im new to all this i think this is in the right place.
I am going to RAF Cranwell on the 7th of August to do my aptitude tests for the first time. I am just wondering if anyone has any good techniques to help prepare for them or any sites with good information. Also I am a bit anxious about the interviews, does anyone have any tips or advice on them. cheers

Pontius Navigator

Kernow, you have read this thread have you not?

StickyStickMan

My first post on this website so hopefully it's in the right place, sorry if it isn't .

I am 16 and about to start sixth form and desperately want to be a fighter pilot after I've finished my education.

I went to my local AFCO today and discussed my future in the RAF etc. I asked the AFCO guy whether gaining a PPL before applying as a pilot would help me or not. His reply was "It certainly wouldn't harm you, but it may not necessarily help you during the selection process." Not really the answer I was hoping for.

My dad seems to think a PPL will benefit me greatly (because they cherry pick pilots during recruiting) but I think spending all the money on a PPL is a waste as you have to go through EFT in the RAF anyway. I believe it won't help me during OASC but may benefit my during EFT.

Also before anyone asks the reason I havn't got a sponsorship during sixth form is because I am attending a sixth form college in the Netherlands and the sponsorship policy regarding recidency says the sixth form must be in the UK.

I am elegible for the RAF before anybody starts questioning that issue .


Have a look through this thread. You may also find that an "official" response could be forthcoming in here. Moderators.

Pontius Navigator

SSM, I think you are right. In my opinion you would be better placed improving other skill sets such as physical fitness, organisational skills, leadership etc. If you have, or make, the opportunity for arduous activities these would allow a more rounded development. Don't neglect more general studies and above all ensure you get good A-level grades although passes is what counts.

muppetofthenorth

In some cases a PPL makes you less desirable, because you'd have to be 'retrained' out of civilian habits.

Remember, though, that the RAF selects pilots. Not fighter pilots. If you're good enough - and the timing is right - then you might get a FJ seat. If not, you could end up ME or rotary, so you better be prepared to like that.

StickyStickMan

Thanks for your opinions. I understand the RAF employs pilots not FJ's, but I am aiming to be a FJ. But if that didn't work out I would still be ecstatic with ME, and the least I would want to do out of the three is rotary, however if I got rotary I would still be happy.

If the RAF didn't accept me, my plan B is to become a commercial pilot in the civilian world (or another career in the RAF, still undecided), but ME or rotary is a lot more exciting than commercial in my opinion, but I would still be happy with commercial. (if that makes sense) Basically what I am saying is commercial appeals less to me than FJ, ME or rotary, but I would still be happy as a commercial pilot.

airborne_artist

They don't cherry pick pilots when recruiting - they look for a combination of pilot aptitude and suitability for officer training. I had a PPL when I went for interview (for the Navy) and it made no odds at interview, and any benefits were almost gone within 15 hours of flying training. You won't get marked down for previous flying experience, but neither will you get marked up.

Spend your next two years wisely (and check that your Dutch sixth form qualifications are acceptable), and ensure that your results are good enough not only to get into the RAF, but also to get you onto a university course. Always have a plan B

spuk87

I would agreethat at oasc they don't seem to be very interested in your ability to be a pilot and are more keen to see leadership potential and general 'officer' qualities. I got 173 aptitude for pilot but with a poor performance in the exercises it was effectively worthless.

Pontius Navigator

Spuk, how old are you? Do you have a plan?

At one time those with aptitude but short on leadership qualities were sent on Outward Bound courses to both toughen them up and give them the chance of effectively non-assessed leadership experience.

With a very high aptitude I am sure that everything else being equal that they would look at you a second time.

Capt.YARKHAN

I am a Canadian Citizen, am I able to apply to the RAF?

If so, would I be limited to what traders I can apply to?