RN Aircrew Medical
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RN Aircrew Medical
Hello Guys, It's been a life long dream to become a military pilot, but my eyesight isn't perfect and i require glasses and contact lenses, so i had to give up on that for now 
Anyways i'm about to finish school in a year and have looked at the Raf and RN for roles. As it stands the RN entices me more in terms of roles. One of the roles i'm most interested in is the aircrew (Aircrewman | Role Finder | Royal Navy).
I called the careers office up to ask about eyesight requirements and they said as long as i fall within the RN Eyesight requirements (which i do) i'll be able to apply for the role. I want to know how true this is, because on other posts and forums everyone says the medical is really stringent.
If anyone could give me more information, that would be greatly appreciated.
Anyways i'm about to finish school in a year and have looked at the Raf and RN for roles. As it stands the RN entices me more in terms of roles. One of the roles i'm most interested in is the aircrew (Aircrewman | Role Finder | Royal Navy).
I called the careers office up to ask about eyesight requirements and they said as long as i fall within the RN Eyesight requirements (which i do) i'll be able to apply for the role. I want to know how true this is, because on other posts and forums everyone says the medical is really stringent.
If anyone could give me more information, that would be greatly appreciated.
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Monty: Some questions to ask/consider:
1) Is it direct entry aircrewman or do you have to join another branch and request/beg for a transfer. If this is the case the branch you join does not have to let you go. Don't let a recruiter who needs more stewards tell you otherwise.
2) Where do you want to live? - RN SW England, Yeovilton or Culdrose. If you consider the RAF then Brize Norton, Odiham or Benson (assuming crewman).
3) Do you want to spend much/any time at sea?
4) RAF crewmen qualify as Sgts. Significantly more cash and status for a similar role as RN crewman.
Sorry I can't tell you the exact eyesight requirements. They will be in AP1269A, or ask your recruiter to contact someone who knows, maybe take them a copy of your previous eyetest for an informal check?
1) Is it direct entry aircrewman or do you have to join another branch and request/beg for a transfer. If this is the case the branch you join does not have to let you go. Don't let a recruiter who needs more stewards tell you otherwise.
2) Where do you want to live? - RN SW England, Yeovilton or Culdrose. If you consider the RAF then Brize Norton, Odiham or Benson (assuming crewman).
3) Do you want to spend much/any time at sea?
4) RAF crewmen qualify as Sgts. Significantly more cash and status for a similar role as RN crewman.
Sorry I can't tell you the exact eyesight requirements. They will be in AP1269A, or ask your recruiter to contact someone who knows, maybe take them a copy of your previous eyetest for an informal check?
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Hi Switch, As for your first point i'm not too sure what you mean. i think it's a direct entry i'm going to the recruitment office in a weeks time so i'll ask then. Also i'm about to turn 18 so location isn't really an issue for me. For me spending time at sea would be interesting, i've never done something like that before . Lastly i've heard that you get entered in as a Sgt and it's a little bit better on pay. But really i just want to work with aircraft and preferably fly in them for a living, so money isn't a huge factor in my life, if it's enough to get by on them i'm fine.
I'm going to look deeper on the web about life in the RN and RAF, but if you could add anything more that would be great.
I'm going to look deeper on the web about life in the RN and RAF, but if you could add anything more that would be great.
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RN DE Aircrewman selection offers an acquaint at Culdrose for a week, ask at the AFCO and that can be arranged. Good value and will get you a face to face with current aircrew and an opportunity to ask the questions that the recruiting literature doesn't cover. Good luck and keep focused on what you want. Have a look on Rum ration, quite a few threads on RN Aircrewman.
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Afternoon,
I'm presently going through the application process for Aircrewman, so hopefully I can add a few things to help with your application.
Eyesight;
For the Royal Navy - you need Visual Acuity I - so have 6/12 or better eyesight in each eye, but also pass other tests; colour blindness etc.
RAF WSOp (Weapon Systems Operator) selection/application process begins with visiting your AFCO and attending a P2 presentation; this introduces you to the RAF and the role you're applying for. You'll then be contacted to attend and sit CBAT at RAF Cranwell (Computer Based Aptitude Testing) which is a battery of tests to test your natural ability and inate skills in different areas.
If successful at CBAT, you them attend your local AFCO for a interview (they'll supply info on this), pending all goes well - you'll then have an AFCO medical - a medical every potential RAF/RN and Army candidate has to have to ensure you work correctly.
Then you have your fitness test (1.5 mile run on a treadmill at a fitness centre) and on completion of this (you have to run it in a specific time, not at your own leisure) you'll then re-attend RAF Cranwell to attend OASC, a two day assessment to see whether you have the ability to lead, take and follow instructions and another fitness test (bleep test?) followed by interviews with RAF Officers and a Aircrew Medical.
Upon successful completion of all of this - you'll have to wait for the verdict - if successful you'll start basic training at RAF Halton.
You'll then attend RAF Cranwell for NCAITC, followed by RAF WSOp generic training, upon completion -
you'll be streamed either Rotary, FW or Electronic Warfare.
RN Aircrewman selection is near similar;
AFCO recruit test,
AFCO Interview,
AFCO Medical,
AFCO Fitness test (treadmill)
FATS (Flight Aptitude Tests/CBAT)
Aircrew Medical - RAF Cranwell
OASC is not required, the two day selection that is.
Loads of hurdles to jump through, but persevere and you'll make it.
Best of luck.
I may be incorrect in some aspects, I'm writing from memory as best I can. Stood to be corrected at any point.
Best regards.
I'm presently going through the application process for Aircrewman, so hopefully I can add a few things to help with your application.
Eyesight;
For the Royal Navy - you need Visual Acuity I - so have 6/12 or better eyesight in each eye, but also pass other tests; colour blindness etc.
RAF WSOp (Weapon Systems Operator) selection/application process begins with visiting your AFCO and attending a P2 presentation; this introduces you to the RAF and the role you're applying for. You'll then be contacted to attend and sit CBAT at RAF Cranwell (Computer Based Aptitude Testing) which is a battery of tests to test your natural ability and inate skills in different areas.
If successful at CBAT, you them attend your local AFCO for a interview (they'll supply info on this), pending all goes well - you'll then have an AFCO medical - a medical every potential RAF/RN and Army candidate has to have to ensure you work correctly.
Then you have your fitness test (1.5 mile run on a treadmill at a fitness centre) and on completion of this (you have to run it in a specific time, not at your own leisure) you'll then re-attend RAF Cranwell to attend OASC, a two day assessment to see whether you have the ability to lead, take and follow instructions and another fitness test (bleep test?) followed by interviews with RAF Officers and a Aircrew Medical.
Upon successful completion of all of this - you'll have to wait for the verdict - if successful you'll start basic training at RAF Halton.
You'll then attend RAF Cranwell for NCAITC, followed by RAF WSOp generic training, upon completion -
you'll be streamed either Rotary, FW or Electronic Warfare.
RN Aircrewman selection is near similar;
AFCO recruit test,
AFCO Interview,
AFCO Medical,
AFCO Fitness test (treadmill)
FATS (Flight Aptitude Tests/CBAT)
Aircrew Medical - RAF Cranwell
OASC is not required, the two day selection that is.
Loads of hurdles to jump through, but persevere and you'll make it.
Best of luck.
I may be incorrect in some aspects, I'm writing from memory as best I can. Stood to be corrected at any point.
Best regards.
Last edited by NDW; 7th Sep 2016 at 17:57.
Monty - Have a look at Navy-net.co.uk and if you can't see the answer there, ask your question and Ninjastoker will unndoubtedly tell you what you need to know.
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Ok so yes looks like you can join off the street as an aircrewman. Don't think that it used to be the case (standing by for correction.)
According to the RN website promotion to LH (=Cpl) is automatic if you complete flying training, further (e.g. PO/Sgt) by selection on merit. I don't know how fast promotion is in the branch at present. But there is a big difference between Junglie Crewmen and Pingers in terms of role. Junglies are basically wannabe Royal Marines (if they are not RM already) who sit in the back with a map scratching themselves and winding up the pilots. Pingers are wannabe back-on-board-for-another-3-course-dinner who sit in the back with a load of screens, computers etc looking for subs/smugglers/ships etc who don't wind up the pilots because they can't take it and might cry.
Time at sea can be great but if you are not so tolerant of people in relatively close proximity then give it a bit of thought. i.e. would you be happy sharing a room with 5 other lads, some/most of whom are on a different shift pattern to you and working in different areas of the ship? Some great times but some people love it and some not so much.
Flying around in a mil helicopter is completely different to civ flying (in a lot of ways better, especially for the young [at heart]. Good luck.
According to the RN website promotion to LH (=Cpl) is automatic if you complete flying training, further (e.g. PO/Sgt) by selection on merit. I don't know how fast promotion is in the branch at present. But there is a big difference between Junglie Crewmen and Pingers in terms of role. Junglies are basically wannabe Royal Marines (if they are not RM already) who sit in the back with a map scratching themselves and winding up the pilots. Pingers are wannabe back-on-board-for-another-3-course-dinner who sit in the back with a load of screens, computers etc looking for subs/smugglers/ships etc who don't wind up the pilots because they can't take it and might cry.
Time at sea can be great but if you are not so tolerant of people in relatively close proximity then give it a bit of thought. i.e. would you be happy sharing a room with 5 other lads, some/most of whom are on a different shift pattern to you and working in different areas of the ship? Some great times but some people love it and some not so much.
Flying around in a mil helicopter is completely different to civ flying (in a lot of ways better, especially for the young [at heart]. Good luck.
