Army SSO and Navy offers went out today. Congrats to those who got the call

Got a call for RAAF distribution today! Anyone else get one???

Anyone here a current serving pilot in either the Army or RAAF and based in Sydney?

If so, could you PM me if you would be willing to meet up some time so I could have a chat with you and ask you some questions about your experiences and views to do with your career?

I tried to call the defence forces switchboard, but they said I had to do it through my careers counsellor. The only problem being that my careers counsellor says he has no contacts and doesn't seem to be able to get any for me (which I find odd and exceedingly disappointing).

Additional testing day
 

G'day everyone,

I have finally been granted an opportunity to sit for the additional testing for ADF pilot, and I am looking forward it. I have read this thread from top to toe and have discovered a wealth of quality information that has helped to keep me on the right track over the years.

If there is anyone out there who would like to share their recent experience of the additional testing day in public or by a private Message, I would very much like to hear from you.

My testing date is the 1st March in Parramatta. If anyone has the same testing day and would like to meet up beforehand for a chat, PM me, im buying the coffee.

Russ.

Specialist Testing
 

I have applied for an ACO position and have my specialist testing this week. I am trying to get prepared for it and have been reading over the threads but the information seems to contradict each other a lot. Some posts have stated that the testing involves writing an essay on why you want to join the ADF and tests on general ADF knowledge, but I was under the impression this was done on the Assessment Day and the specialist testing was just going to be a harder version of aptitude testing. Am I wrong on this? If anyone who has done their specialist testing recently could let me know, it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

what s next after pilot assessment day
 

anyone know program after pilot aptitude test day? waiting a call from DFR. how long to wait for 2-week flying program and how long after that for initial training? What is the flight test profiles during the 2 weeks? Cheers, TS

TSRABECOMING,

From memory the pilot specialist testing takes a bit over half the day and consists of some general math, flying specific math and hand eye coordination tests. It took me about 4 months between my initial application and getting a call for PSA which I did last March and I only just got a call for distribution last week to probably start in May. On the other hand I have friends who only waited about 2 months, it all depends what service you prefer and when they're hiring.

Well, got the invitation to flight screening in March, however I cannot attend due to a wedding overseas. As such it looks as though the next opportunity will be in May. Good luck to all attending.

Liz, if possible, I would be interested in getting your partner's feedback and advice upon his return? Best of luck.

Cheers
Dan

Hi Dan,

No problem at all - what a bummer - do they give you another date to attend? - I'll post when he returns.

Cheers
Liz

Liz, all I know is that I will be placed back in the selection process for the May courses. Hopefully it all works out. With this application going on 2 years, this was bound to happen :ugh:

Talk soon

Dan

Anyone recommend a good aviation degree/course either online or in the Brisbane area?

cheers

Hi, could anyone please confirm if there is an in-depth psych interview on the pilot specific testing day.

Cheers, Russ.

Testing only on that day. Psych on Assessment day.

Thanks CJ

Russ.

And what is assessment profile (flight test activities) from PSA during two weeks??

First of all- a big congratulations to caity for making a dream come true!
All the hard work has paid off and I wish you all the best!

Secondly, can anyone suggest further study material. I have the ARCO military aptitude booklet and used that last time I sat my Pilot Spec. testing however I was looking at more material to better prepare me. I've glanced over some ASVAB booklets(American- I know). Anyone have links or further reading material that might better prepare me?

Cheers, and if anyone has any questions on the application process I've been through it all so don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks heaps afraid_of_heights!

The only book I used is Get Your Wings. It has info about all the courses and tests to get your ADF wings and some practice questions.

Get Your Wings

Hope this helps!

Hey everyone. First time poster to this forum. Just thought i would let you know that i got the call to attend flight screening in March. :)

Hi again,
Just had a quick question....at the YOU session I understand that there is a general aptitude test, but is there also further mathematical testing as well or any other testing in general?

EDIT: would it be anything along these lines? At any stage of the recruitment process that is. I understand that this specific testing is for NAVY. Defence International Training Centre

thanks.

btw, congratulations harry :D

Hey mate, I'm not exactly sure if you encounter any additional maths testing on YOU day specifically if you identify yourself as a Pilot candidate but from my experience of YOU sesh there is a maths test of about 15-25 questions at most that you do right after your GAT.

It's not very hard at all (as repeated many times throughout this thread). If you use maths and any kind of algebra in your everyday life as well as recall the foundations of Year 10 mathematics such as 3/4/5 triangles and which side of the triangle is the hypotenuse (which was a serious question that people at my YOU sesh couldn't answer during the testing) you should ace it. It is much easier than the maths in the link you've posted if that gives you an idea.

Thanks Pacificjet,

As i am already a serving member in the RAAF I believe my testing may be slightly different to someone from outside. Basically on the day of your apptitude test you will be required to complete approximately 6 different tests as well as write a 15 minute essay and also complete a Physc interview. The test include a general apptitude test that all personel do regardless of mustering. The other 5 are pilot related tests. including instrument reading, aircraft orientation and maths. I cant recall them all exactly but i hope this helps.

wings
 

Caity thanks so much!
Had a look at some of the free samples and even they are incredible!
Been looking for something like this for a long time. I appreciate it!

Congrats Harry :ok:

Hey,
So got back from the YOU session yesterday. Everything went fine. Apparently I'll get a call from the case manager soon to book me into my Spec Testing. On this note, I was wondering if I could grab any advice of anyone on here in terms of things such as; what's involved in the testing, is there any physics involved etc. Basically anything to give me an idea about the Spec Testing.

Thanks guys.

G'day all,

I've got an upcoming assesment day, I've been doing a lot of reading in prep for it but there are a few queries I cannot find answers for anywhere. If anyone could prove some insight into these I'd be most grateful!

1. Is there additional maths/aptitude testing on the assessment day? I am NOT going for ADFA entry but have read contradictory info on this... I was hoping that was done and dusted with my Spec testing!

2. Was the essay done at the start of the day, was it on a "topic", or just a series of three questions? Once again I've read both things and was hoping to do a bit of preparation...

Feel free to PM if you would prefer that to replying.

Thanks for any help!

All the best with your recruitment.

Caketin: PM Sent

Appeal now submitted due to being categorised as Class 4. Just a minor hurdle to overcome!

I have had no details from my careers counsellor (CC) regarding contacts for currently serving pilots in the ADF. He says he has no contacts to get in touch with.
I was told that I can only get these meetings arranged through my careers counsellor, so should I attempt to get a different one? Has anyone else come across this problem? I don't want to be disrespectful to my CC, but I feel that having a discussion with current serving pilots in the RAAF and Army (applied for both) is more important.

talk to a pilot
 

Crazydingo,

From what I've been told (and it seems to change on a case by case basis-that's just DFR) you must first pass your assessment day and be recommended to be able to visit a base and speak to a pilot.

My case manager told me that if every YOU session applicant for a pilot role was given an opportunity to speak to a pilot they'd never get a chance to fly. That being said I have had an opportunity to speak with an army helicopter pilot. I might be able to find his number if you send me a PM. Otherwise, just keep pushing through and hopefully you'll get the opportunity after you pass your assessment day.

crazydingo,

i just contacted my local raaf base (east sale) saying that i was interested in becoming a pilot and would like to come down and talk to some of the pilots and have a look around, got a email back, talked to someone down there who helped me arrange it. (and CFS is extreamly busy)

so i would just contact the base directly, call 1800 033 200 and ask to speak to the base of your choosing.

hope this helps

I'll definitely give that a try, thanks

Back from Tamworth and got recommended which I'm pumped about. Offers are out soon apparently so hopefully something comes. Thanks for all the help everyone's given, really appreciate it.

hey everyone, first post :)

So i have my additional pilot testing coming up soon, just wanted to ask a few questions. it would be greatly appreciated.

Basically, what kind of mathematics is involved, any essay writing or the like, is there a memory test, or any instrument reading? Basically absolutely ANYTHING ANYONE can tell me, would be of the utmost help.

thank you very much. :D

That's the next thing on my list, so I'd like to know too!

Read the thread

To be fair, it's a very long thread. I was being lazy because it took me so long to read through it all the first time.

However, I went back a bit and I found this:

"Phase two: specialised aptitude
Instrument test
spatial skills tests
maths tests
hand-eye co-ord"

Anyone that has done it recently? Is it up to date? Did you find any particular part more difficult than the rest? What exactly is the instrument test?

To be fair, pilots course is much longer.

Thanks to everyone for their help on this forum over the past 3 years. Today I got the distribution call for Army SSO. Best news I've ever had in my whole life. It has been a rocky ride and I nearly gave up but now the real hard yards begin and I can't wait :ok:

hey guys, had my additional testing today and passed, so all's good for the assessment day :D

Just wanted to let people know that is they want to ask any questions (even if they've read the thread, searched online etc, I know i did, that they can PM me any time, and ill try my best to answer them.)

Good luck everyone else!
Thanks

Hi dudes and dudettes,

Just a big thank you to you all for providing all this information. It is hard to read through the whole thread but it's worth it. Two years ago near the end of uni I "was thinking about it", and over time the desire to become a RAAF pilot just really took hold.

How much I've learnt in the past 2 years about the job, it's unbelievable the misconceptions that I had and that most people who will never apply will always have.

Anyway, I'm posting for a reason and that's to ask a question (like everyone else here!). I've done my YOU day, done my Assessment day. I had an issue with childhood asthma but after a specialist test it was all cleared after a week or so and about 2 months ago after repeated calls to my case manager I finally found out that my file had been sent to the PSA.

My question is this: it's been 2 months, and could be another 10. Is there any way at all of finding out how competitive one is compared to the rest of the cohort? I know I'm not top top because I've seen others bragging (just being happy) about their FSP dates in here which means I've been passed over at least twice. Any ideas? Or do I just sit and wait and get on with things for a year hoping for a call? To be honest I don't get why they don't tell you how you score, at least then you can have some kind of closure or hope either way!

Thanks guys.

@ yossarian88

If I recall correctly you should have been given a contact number for PSA in the letter stating that your file has been received. My suggestion would be to give them a call and ask how you're sitting. I did the same and they were quite helpful.

Cheers

yossarian88

its a floating pool, changes weekly.