WSO vs WSOp Questions
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TTN ... short of cashiering said 'officer', it's hard to say what the system would otherwise do. There are, of course, always 'out-lying cases'.
However, whilst the stories are always interesting, I guess we should focus on the reality that faces 'whatshisname'* in the career conundrum he faces!
* Apologies, Charliehotel47
However, whilst the stories are always interesting, I guess we should focus on the reality that faces 'whatshisname'* in the career conundrum he faces!
* Apologies, Charliehotel47
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TTN ... short of cashiering said 'officer', it's hard to say what the system would otherwise do. There are, of course, always 'out-lying cases'.
However, whilst the stories are always interesting, I guess we should focus on the reality that faces 'whatshisname'* in the career conundrum he faces!
* Apologies, Charliehotel47
However, whilst the stories are always interesting, I guess we should focus on the reality that faces 'whatshisname'* in the career conundrum he faces!
* Apologies, Charliehotel47
Last edited by Charliehotel47; 30th Nov 2018 at 07:06.
I've scanned the thread, so this may have been covered, but do you have a feel for how long you might want to serve? Are you a potential lifer (I was when I signed on the dotted line- I served out my initial engagement and left!), or do you see the RAF as an early career before settling down outside? The latter might make NCA more attractive- better pay early on, fewer BS jobs, almost certainly no ground jobs etc. Just a thought.
CG
CG
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"No ground jobs" needs a bit of amplification. There were plenty of jobs for NCA that were not even on airfields. For obvious reasons some have disappeared but will undoubtedly returned with the return of the Nav/AEO/AEOp specialisations. WSOp were employed in Acoustic Analysis and intelligence roles. Whether these jobs will be manned by int branch specialists or by WSOp I don't know. Then there are instructor roles many of which are best delivered by aircrew with recent operational experience.
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I've scanned the thread, so this may have been covered, but do you have a feel for how long you might want to serve? Are you a potential lifer (I was when I signed on the dotted line- I served out my initial engagement and left!), or do you see the RAF as an early career before settling down outside? The latter might make NCA more attractive- better pay early on, fewer BS jobs, almost certainly no ground jobs etc. Just a thought.
CG
CG
I would say a lifer. I am a bit older at 25 and I am leaving a well paid career, albeit one I find wholly unfulfilling, to join the RAF. I have been fortunate enough to be able to buy a house and as such, my current career has now served it’s purpose. Having ‘been there and done it’, I know a desk job isn’t for me.
Cheers for the insight,
CH47
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I think both WSOp and WSO are under-manned at present and likely to continue that way. The amount of non-flying or flying related posts will surely reflect that. Those that are fit, able and willing to fly should be able to avoid support jobs as long as they like. I flew operationally until walking out the door at 55 (and could have stayed on to 60).
I think both WSOp and WSO are under-manned at present and likely to continue that way. The amount of non-flying or flying related posts will surely reflect that. Those that are fit, able and willing to fly should be able to avoid support jobs as long as they like. I flew operationally until walking out the door at 55 (and could have stayed on to 60).
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25 years as WSOP (AEOp) on both ISTAR (Sentry) and rotary (SAR Seaking). Don't regret a day of it.
CamelSpyder's advice at #2 is spot on BUT it depends what type of chap you are, and what you value.
Google 'John Boyd, to be or to do'.
Good luck.
Enjoy.
Sun.
CamelSpyder's advice at #2 is spot on BUT it depends what type of chap you are, and what you value.
Google 'John Boyd, to be or to do'.
Good luck.
Enjoy.
Sun.
Charliehotel47, Another thing to consider is that both IOTC and AAITC are both demanding courses, basically similar. but each differ in their own ways. Why would you willingly think about doing both, when from the outset you can do only one. If your future aspirations are to be commissioned, do it from the start, rather than taking the very much more difficult route of commissioning from Airman Aircrew. You have already jumped through the hoops, don't make life a lot more difficult by having to jump through much smaller and more difficult hoops later on.
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I can say without a shadow of doubt IOT was not demanding, more draining, in a 'sap the very soul from you body' kind of way. 2 weeks crammed into 9 months, the worst 9 months of my life!
Now that I think about it, commission from the start as IOT after being a SNCO for over a decade is nauseating and soul destroying in equal measure and a complete waste of everybody’s time and effort.
Now that I think about it, commission from the start as IOT after being a SNCO for over a decade is nauseating and soul destroying in equal measure and a complete waste of everybody’s time and effort.
Last edited by heights good; 10th Dec 2018 at 02:56.
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Nine Months IOT?? Well, whichever, both IOT and AAITC involve a fair bit of physical effort in addition to the mental aspects. IMO, best to get the physical stuff out of the way when younger, but then I've always been lazy sod!
Gentleman Aviator
I was still wearing RAF Regiment flashes at the time,
This is subject to curious conditions, envisaging a three-tier Regt. A gunner who remusters to another trade as an airman, may still wear "mudguards" but not as a SNCO.
Similarly, a Regt SNCO who remusters as - for example - Airman Aircrew (sorry NCA) may wear them as a SNCO, but not if commissioned.
Those like yourself, JROC qualified, may wear the insignia as an officer.
I'm sure there were OBEs to be won devilling out those rules......
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But Flying Badges are forever! 
I still regret we didn’t have Branch badges like the USAF, so that we non-Aircrew could see who/what people are. I indulged in the purchase, for souvenir purposes only, of a Master Air Traffic Controller badge in a PX once!
I still regret we didn’t have Branch badges like the USAF, so that we non-Aircrew could see who/what people are. I indulged in the purchase, for souvenir purposes only, of a Master Air Traffic Controller badge in a PX once!
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No they weren't, don't know about today, but you had to do 6 months post-OCU. If you failed to reach operational then you were at risk of grounding.
I once served on a committee where not only an initio training was discussed but also re-read re-roling or converting to different type. It was quite an eye opener.
I once served on a committee where not only an initio training was discussed but also re-read re-roling or converting to different type. It was quite an eye opener.
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Copied, PN. I did of course mean in the basic sense, even if subsequently grounded and sent to ATC ... as a few mates of my acquaintance, including a former LM
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I would say Pilot aptitude (3/4-D awareness, high workload capacity) reads across quite well on the aptitude front. After all, I passed both Pilot and ATC Aptitude testing in my early days (OASC x 4, on various attempts to get though the door!!).
And a late good mate, albeit ‘wingless’, was ‘failed aircrew’ which might have explained his bolshie-ness ... or just being Welsh He still made wg cdr, though!
Fellow RAF ATCOs will know who I mean ... and I was one of a few who could call him Blodwyn without being prostrated on the floor!
And a late good mate, albeit ‘wingless’, was ‘failed aircrew’ which might have explained his bolshie-ness ... or just being Welsh
He still made wg cdr, though!Fellow RAF ATCOs will know who I mean ... and I was one of a few who could call him Blodwyn without being prostrated on the floor!
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BGG, it is odd that some trades have trade badges and others don't. That aircrew, do and ground trades don't. That pathfinder crews did but others didn't.
There are many 'ticks' that could have qualified people for emblems. R, VR, A are common on No 1s. Sky pilots have wings. When only selected aircrew officers went to Cranwell they could have worn a discrete C with their mechanic counterparts from Henlow Tech wearing a T. QFI and QWI could have had F or W with Spec Ns having S.
On second thoughts C, N, T, S, F and W might not have been such a good idea.
There are many 'ticks' that could have qualified people for emblems. R, VR, A are common on No 1s. Sky pilots have wings. When only selected aircrew officers went to Cranwell they could have worn a discrete C with their mechanic counterparts from Henlow Tech wearing a T. QFI and QWI could have had F or W with Spec Ns having S.
On second thoughts C, N, T, S, F and W might not have been such a good idea.
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Pontius Navigator [QUOTE.]it is odd that some trades have trade badges and others don't. That aircrew, do and ground trades don't.[/QUOTE]
Except for Police, Regiment, PTIs Radio Techs, Medics, Dental trades and Bomb Disposal obviously.
Except for Police, Regiment, PTIs Radio Techs, Medics, Dental trades and Bomb Disposal obviously.
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I never knew that about retaining Regiment flashes teeteringhead (we never called them mudguards in those days, btw). When I was in the Regiment I remember several officers who still wore pilots' wings, but I didnt realise the reverse could apply now. Quite a few ex-rocks flying at that time, including a Victor nav who retired as station commander at Marham.
