pr00ne

OneFifty,

"OSB(ATC) and ABM are soon to be one in the same."

Won't that be a tad confusing? One half of the branch task will be to keep aircraft apart, while the other half will be doing precisely the opposite. Training will be fun...

Amymil

I did hear rumours that it has been considered (joining the two) but that was as far as it had got.

It is oasc phase 2 next month.

Pontius Navigator

Muppet/150, I know that, but even people serving still think of them by their original titles. To the uninitated OSB and ABM are just TLAs. Admittedly an applicant will have research both trades and be well versed in the differences.

teeteringhead

Canada have combined the branches (ATC & FC) for many years. It's only the initial training which is common, then people rarely move from one specialisation to another .....

...... rather like aircrew!

Wander00

Cazatou - probably depends on how may legs they have - but French court or UK?

BPJ36

Hi all,
I'm fairly new to this so please excuse me if I make any obvious mistakes.
I'm aware that you may have had quite a few people in my situation contacting you on this matter so I'll try and keep it to the point as much as I can.
I wish to become a pilot in the RAF (there's always one! ) I'm currently on the verge of finishing my A-levels in Geography, Film Studies and Systems and Control (design technology) predicted grades are BBB, hopefully looking at ABB. I have a B in maths at GCSE and in English, A's in Electronics and Additional Science at GCSE and a B in Science at GCSE level. I'm not planning on going to university as I didn't take Physics or Maths at A-level, and imp really not sure how I would get on at university. I have looked into UAS's but again, i'm just not sure about university. I have a part time job to provide at least some work experience, I've been in the air cadets, done GIC's and my bronze D of E then swapped to my local Army CCF, due to family problems. I stayed there for 5 years. I've been on visits to Brize Norton and Shawbury organised off my own back, and also I'm currently having a few basic flying lessons to boost my hours.
I'm hell-bent on getting in as a pilot or WSOp. I'm aware that the recruitment freeze in still in process but for how much longer. all I want is a date! I've tried to organise visits to Coningsby and Valley, but both said that I would need an interview date at OASC after my initial interview at the AFCO.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks.

NDW

BPJ36,

I was in a similar situation a few years back as I originally after school, I planned on joining direct as a WSOp. Unfortunately I had a few academic set backs. Once that was all done, I applied in September 2010.
Unfortunately I failed the AST by very few marks ( but marks are marks and I didn't make the cut) it would be an understatement to say that I was disappointed.

Now that they have increased the GCSE mathematics grade, I am tempted to apply as another trade and work my way up in 5-6 years.

However, I am still working on increasing my current GCSE grade to at least a B as I still want to apply as a DE WSOp.

I apologise that I have drifted of your original topic, but truthfully, it boils down to what you want more.
Do you want a commission or would you be happy with being a SNCO?

I have done exactly the same as you, I have visited a few RAF bases, all of my own back.

Most bases won't allow it due to operational requirements - which is totally understandable.

Best of luck in what you decide to do.

NDW.

Pontius Navigator

This is basically just a filter process. The AFCO interview will filter out those with no academic potential and the OASC date will prove interest. That said, a nephew at age 15, was offered a weeks work experience with the RN. All he had to do was get himself to Gibraltar where he joined HMS Daring for the passange home.

So, if you don't ask you don't get.

JaneLP

Good luck, but if you're looking for quick answers with dates to a very complex question of politics and policy, you may be disappointed. I don't think you can really do any more than you are doing just now - shoot for your dreams, and don't accept a job doing anything else with the promise of a cross-over in branches later. It's certainly a possibility, and plenty of people have done it, but could take years and you might miss your opportunity due to other service commitments. You sound like you've got a few years yet before your time runs out - volunteer at big airshows? Join the RAF Reserves?

BPJ36

NDW,
Yes I can see where your coming from about applying as another trade and working your way up. I too have considered this, but as the pilot role is solely a commission then I believe that it would take quite a long time for me to achieve that in another role. If I really asked myself then I know that the answer would be a commission, but if the WSOp role did come up I'd jump at the chance to take it as from what I've seen it's a great job, and well that's my main reason for joining. Not the money, it's the job, environment/encouragement/mates that you get along the way. Best of luck to you to in your future goals, hard work and determination will get you there.

PN,
Thanks for the heads up, very true if you don't ask you don't get. I'll just have to be patient to visit the other bases!

BPJ

BPJ36

JaneLP
Could you give me any information on volunteering at the big airshows? This might be a good thing for me to do whilst the role opens up.
Many thanks once again for all your help!
BPJ

Pontius Navigator

BPJ,

Re-volunteering. First I guess you would need to be close to an airshow unless you can get accommodation. As far as the military air shows all the volunteers that I know would be air cadets. The advantage, from the air show organisers point of view, is that the air cadets are trained and vetted to some extent.

On your own you would be an unknown quantity.

The other air show way is to find some air show participants and see if they can use a volunteer - cleaning the aircraft for instance.

Have a look at Flypast magazine that should give you some clues.

PBI

Can anyone confirm the current form of the fitness test at OASC?

I'm hearing contradictions between treadmill run and the MSFT. Can anyone one shed any light?

Tommmo

It's on a treadmill.

doodlekin101

Hi,
At the moment i am 14 and looking to join the RAF as a pilot (yes another hopefull but this time more determined).I was wondering what the appropriate attire for your first AFCO meeting would be.casual or smart?.I understand the situation of RAF pilot recruitment at the moment and in the coming future but still remain hopeful as i hope to go to uni to study Aeronautical engineering (not a mickey mouse degree) which would mean that my application would at 21 so in 2019 or 2020.I am in the RAF CCF and have logged 1 hour 15 minutes in the grob tutur (with about 50 minutes of that being with me at the controls,as my instructor skipped most of the novice BS and sent us straight into loops and barrel rolls).

Melchett01

At 14 you still have a way to go. So if by 'first AFCO meeting' you mean just popping in to say hi and pick up pamphlets etc you can get away with pretty much anything. If I recall, I was mooching around in jeans and t-shirt when I happened to pop in on the spur of the moment for the various branch brochures all those years ago.

But anything other than that, then I'd forget the casual look and go for at least smart or semi-smart. Remember the military - and especially the training enviornment - is more formal than the rest of society and what is considered acceptable on a daily basis in civvie street won't necessarily cut it. So if you are talking about interviews, then a suit would be the safe option. Failing that, then jacket and tie or if in the summer smart trousers, shoes and shirt / jacket combo without the tie - known as Planters Rig in the Officers' Messes would probably be fine. If you make it to OASC, it's a suit all the way.

Oh and it doesn't need to be an expensive suit, just make sure it isn't too shiny and modern - opt for style over fashion. M+S is a good bet for relatively inexpensive and fairly traditional suits. Leave the ill-fitting shiny ones to the mobile phone salesmen.

PS - don't choose a degree on the basis of what you think the RAF would like you to do, choose one you will enjoy doing and think you will be successful in. That way, you will actually enjoy your time at university and get the most out of it. Unless you want to be an Engineering Officer (or Lawyer / Medic), the RAF couldn't give a monkey's what subject you study as long as you pass. As I said to my interviewer when he asked why I hadn't gone to Oxford or Cambridge with my grades, I told him I thought university was about developing as an individual as well as getting a degree and I didn't think I would do much developing sitting in a library for 3 years. He seemed fairly happy with that as a reason.

NDW

Melchett01 priceless advice there.

I remember when I went for my AST for WSOp, there was only two of us taking the test.

Me, I was wearing; Shirt (with creases) Tie (Windsor knot), trousers (with creases) and polished shoes. I felt confident and overall smart.

The other candidate turned up in muddy jeans and a green hoodie (I thought they were taking the biscuit at first, but it soon turned out they weren't)

Even though both of us didn't pass the test (which I an still shameful of to this day), I was told to reapply for the role after the six months had surpassed and after speaking to the other candidate they were asked not to. So, I don't know whether it was because of the scores or if it was on personal presentation - either way 'Dress smart'.

Best of luck with your venture

ratty1

"I only got two C's and B"


Quite agree, who needs to learn the effects of controls and how to take off and land etc. Get straight into flying upside down the other stuff isn't important.

Melchett01

Oh Ratty, Ratty , Ratty, my dear Ratty. When trying to be funny about someone else's educational qualifications, it does help if you don't make rudimentary grammatical errors in your post.

Note to all wannabes - please note Ratty's incorrect use of the possessive apostrophe. It's something that you should get to grips with if you don't want your coursework at Cranwell to come back covered in red pen.

ratty1

Oh Melchett01, Melchett01, Melchett01, my dear Melchett01. When trying to be funny about someones else's rudimentary grammatical mistakes, it does help if you don't make rudimentary grammatical errors in your post.

Note to all wannabes - please note Melchett01's incorrect use of a double space after the second "ratty" and the comma. It's something that you should get to grips with if you don't want your coursework at Cranwell to come back covered in red pen.