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If and when you get to each stage you'll be given full instructions on what's coming. No point getting yourself in a lather now about the unknown.
Yes. Early July.
Leaving covid and MFTS woes to one side, what is the process for applying and joining as aircrew today? Looking back on the early days of this thread it was all very clearly laid out. Perhaps the same could be done in 2020.
Apply online
AFCO responds (takes about 6-8 weeks after applying)
P2 presentation (a month+ later)
Filter interview (same again)
Medical (a month, possibly 2, then a huuuge wait for results because Capita are awful)
Fitness test (a month or so after medical results)
CBAT (another month)
OASC - now only 1 day (another 1-2 months later)
Then Fam Visit and on to IOT. Whole process takes over a year.
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Process is basically identical, just with a few more gaps in it.
Apply online
AFCO responds (takes about 6-8 weeks after applying)
P2 presentation (a month+ later)
Filter interview (same again)
Medical (a month, possibly 2, then a huuuge wait for results because Capita are awful)
Fitness test (a month or so after medical results)
CBAT (another month)
OASC - now only 1 day (another 1-2 months later)
Then Fam Visit and on to IOT. Whole process takes over a year.
Apply online
AFCO responds (takes about 6-8 weeks after applying)
P2 presentation (a month+ later)
Filter interview (same again)
Medical (a month, possibly 2, then a huuuge wait for results because Capita are awful)
Fitness test (a month or so after medical results)
CBAT (another month)
OASC - now only 1 day (another 1-2 months later)
Then Fam Visit and on to IOT. Whole process takes over a year.
I'll add that with single digit aircrew recruitment numbers, you will also probably go through a couple of sifts - if you are competitive at all - so add another 6 months.
18m overall I have found is average for aircrew.
Process is basically identical, just with a few more gaps in it.
Apply online
AFCO responds (takes about 6-8 weeks after applying)
P2 presentation (a month+ later)
Filter interview (same again)
Medical (a month, possibly 2, then a huuuge wait for results because Capita are awful)
Fitness test (a month or so after medical results)
CBAT (another month)
OASC - now only 1 day (another 1-2 months later)
Then Fam Visit and on to IOT. Whole process takes over a year.
Apply online
AFCO responds (takes about 6-8 weeks after applying)
P2 presentation (a month+ later)
Filter interview (same again)
Medical (a month, possibly 2, then a huuuge wait for results because Capita are awful)
Fitness test (a month or so after medical results)
CBAT (another month)
OASC - now only 1 day (another 1-2 months later)
Then Fam Visit and on to IOT. Whole process takes over a year.
If you make it through that lot then frankly you deserve an offer just out of sheer bloody perseverence. However, I would also say it's probably good training for the faff you'll experience when you do finally get in and are out in the real RAF!
Well, if anyone has routes into the higher echelons of recruiting to have a moan about this, feel free to use them.
Gaps and delays are inevitable, but it's the 2 month wait for the AFCO to get back to you that I find worst of all.
Gaps and delays are inevitable, but it's the 2 month wait for the AFCO to get back to you that I find worst of all.
Socially Distanced OASC Boards
Does anyone know how the socially distanced boards are going? I've heard they are only testing 5 candidates a day, which by my reckoning, is not enough to reduce the lockdown backlog.
They're only doing branches that are in demand, so the next few MIOTs sound like they'll be pretty skewed.
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Medical OASC
Does anyone know what for the current OASC medical takes and includes. My son is currently going through the whole OASC process and has his ‘medical’ in a weeks time. Oddly though this is to take the form of a Skype chat.
clearly the whole process is being disrupted by Covid but what can be achieved with a Skype medical. He’s already a granted permission for his docs to be passed across.
any thoughts. He’s going RPAS first then Provost and Supply after that.
thanks for your thoughts
clearly the whole process is being disrupted by Covid but what can be achieved with a Skype medical. He’s already a granted permission for his docs to be passed across.
any thoughts. He’s going RPAS first then Provost and Supply after that.
thanks for your thoughts
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Obviously Covid has scrambled thing a lot. He online applied. Then went for CBAT Then online filter interview with the AFCO. Next is the online medical as mentioned. There’s no fit test at the moment though he’s as fit as the proverbial butchers dog. Then to OASC for the final tests and hopefully an offer to follow on after that.
I’ve been informed that all branches other than control are closed, and after some digging that applies to new applicants not those already in the system so that should not affect him.
I’ve been informed that all branches other than control are closed, and after some digging that applies to new applicants not those already in the system so that should not affect him.
Ahh, so his online Skype medical will be the 'filter' medical, pre fitness test, that only really establishes if applicants are potentially fit and well for service. If he successfully passes the OASC board, he will then have the much more thorough RAF medical at Cranwell, which is the final hurdle. This will involve blood tests, ECG, limb measurements and the like.
Interesting to hear that they have closed applications for all branches apart from control. I thought it was just pilot that was closed.
Interesting to hear that they have closed applications for all branches apart from control. I thought it was just pilot that was closed.
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Agreed. There’s only so much you can do with a Skype medical.
fitness testing has been paused at the moment. Applications are progressed with out a fit test at this time. I assume they will still need to figure a Covid friendly solution for that.
All branches closed to new applications unless selecting control (ATC and ABM). But if you had a live application before the closure you application will be progressed.
fitness testing has been paused at the moment. Applications are progressed with out a fit test at this time. I assume they will still need to figure a Covid friendly solution for that.
All branches closed to new applications unless selecting control (ATC and ABM). But if you had a live application before the closure you application will be progressed.
According to other forums, there are now candidates who are 18 months into the application process who have had 3 OASC dates cancelled on them. Sounds like a huge backlog forming that they hope to clear by closing most branches to new candidates.