Advice on joining Fleet Air Arm
 

Please could anyone offer advice to my nephew on joining the FAA. He is 21, has just graduated with a BSc (Hons), and wants any hot tips before going to see the men (persons) at the careers office. Thanks. Siegfried.

If CVF gets ordered...join..the future is bright.
If CVF gets canned....don't bother, turn the lights out!

The AFCO no longer has any selection role, and does little beyond giving out leaflets and showing the pre-AIB video. If the applicant meets the basic educational and other criteria then they have to let them go forward to AIB.

The one thing your nephew must ask them for is places on the Potential Officers' course at Culdrose/Yeovilton. They should also be able to get him a ship visit for a few days. They'll give him plenty of bumph to read, and he needs to be strong on his knowledge of the RN and its role/assets when he gets to the AIB.

Do the RAF provide any kind of Potential Officers' course?

It's not something that I've heard of before.

Does he want to be an Operator or Engineer?

CraigJ, in a word, No.

See PM.

In another word, yes... at least for certain branches. There's a 2-day Cranwell visit run by ELT for potential EngOs, I'm pretty sure PROAC still runs for Rockape wannabes and I'm sure I've heard of something similar for our scopey bretheren.