Hi everyone,

After about 2.5 years of being in the DFR pipeline, I've finally received my offer to attend NEOC 61 as a pilot candidate. I got my offer about 3 weeks after attending my OSB. If anyone else is coming to Creswell on the same course, flick me a PM.

Thanks for the info! If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you went DEO?

Hi, thanks everyone for the sheer amount of content here - really really useful stuff! I'm currently in the DFR pipeline - applying for RAAF & RAN Pilot.

I've just been invited to do my second round of testing in Sydney and I assume this is the step before ASP. Does anyone know what this entails? I've only been told it's a 'battery of tests' but would love to prepare as much as possible.

Thanks in advance and sorry if this has been covered above - I'm slowly working my way up!

Yup so you are going for your pilot aptitude training, it will be the same as the you session testing but on different topics. It will be Gauge reading at speed, it will ask you for example "whats the airspeed?" and you will have to look at the display and choose the closest answer. There is some spacial awareness questions where it will show a silhouette of a plane and say what will it look like after a right turn. You then have four options to choose from, the next set is similar but it will show you cockpit instruments and you have to choose which silhouette matches. The last test is rapid maths!.

I just received my ASP dates for 7th and 8th of May. Anyone got any tips or prep suggestions. Cheers in advance!

Thanks for the reply above! Will work on my quick maths!

Good luck at ASP. How long did it take for you to get ASP dates after finishing 2nd round aptitude testing?

Thanks

I recently attended ASP and fortunately was recommended for progression for Air Force Pilot and Mission both with a moderate standing (ADFA and DEO for both) as well as Army and Navy pilot both with a strong standing (ADFA for both).

I now need to submit my order of preferences but need some more advice.

One person I spoke to at ACMC suggested to me that Army and Navy view you more favourably if you place their service as first preference whereas Air Force do not really consider that when deciding to give you an offer. Alternatively, the Enlistment Coordinator I spoke to just said that all services consider your preference order.

My real personal preference, like most, would be Air Force Pilot but I certainly wouldn't be disappointed by either Army or Navy.

Given my stronger standing for Army and Navy I wouldn't want to jeopardise my chances there by placing Air Force first but also don't want to lower my chances of Air Force selection. Is it better to place Air Force as first preference and rely on my stronger standing for Army and Navy to keep in consideration or just commit fully to Army or Navy and place one of them as first?

Lastly, the decision between Army and Navy. I do like the idea of the maritime aspect but feel that the Army may have more combat opportunities. Which service provides the most thrilling/rewarding career with the best conditions?

RAAF Pilot
 

G'Day Everyone,

I'm currently in yr 11 and preparing to begin the recruitment and selection process to become a RAAF Pilot, I'm very dedicated to achieving this and have looked at the different avenues to join the RAAF as a pilot. I have my eyes set on doing this by first attending ADFA and I had a couple of questions as too what I should do for preparation, are those websites that say they have good content to learn on worth paying for or should I seek other ways of preparation (if so what ways). I'm also an air force cadet and was wondering whether that help throughout the [rocess in terms of looking at me over someone who isn't one?

Thanks.

You are overthinking this. Put down the services you want to fly for in that order. FYI, if you prefer to fly Army or Navy, then your ASP score will put you in a better shot for those rather than RAAF; as the RAAF to date with ASP scores tend to be leaning towards the higher scoring candidates - and this may simply come down to a greater number of applicants wanting RAAF so they can afford to be choosy. From what I have been told about the other services (Navy in particular) this is not the case.

Also, you can choose to be sneaky with your preferences and when the OSBs are coming up for a particular service and drop preferences so that you can be in on a preferred service OSB first and foremost and play the waiting game to see if they want you. At a later stage you can add on another service to your preference list and be thrown onto upcoming OSBs for that. I was going down this route with keeping RAAF as my sole preference for a period of time, then seeing how things panned out if I received a LOO within a reasonable amount of time...if that didn't happen, I was going to add RAN as a preference. If you are genuinely happy flying with any, then go for all the preferences - just be prepared that potentially you may attend an OSB for your #2 or #3 preference before your #1...and may receive an LOO for that #2 or #3 before any offer for your #1 comes about. From what I have been told, the only real burning of bridges would occur if you turned down an OSB or LOO for one service while hoping to get in with another...and then tried for that service again after realising your preferred service wasn't going to materialise. That would not be advisable.

Wrt Army vs Navy: Navy will have longer training to get you from street to seat than Army will, given Navy do both BFTS and 1FTS. You'll also have your fixed-wing pilot wings to go with your rotary-wing pilot wings at the end of it though, and this may be more appealing to you. Perhaps it may make Navy pilots more attractive for cross-service transfers, but that's just speculation on my behalf. Regarding deployments, well, Navy guys will definitely go out to sea a fair bit. Surely that's attractive if you want to see more of the world. Can't comment on Army pilot life who may potentially be more at the whim of conflicts abroad/humanitarian requirements to experience deployments.

Ausaviation.

The OSB does not have any idea of how you ranked your preferences. In respect to receiving a LOO that is not your first option, you do not have to reject it due waiting for your first preference LOO. If you would take this if you did not get what you wanted than accept it. You can always change your mind later if you get the preferred LOO.

I find it amazing that this thread has been open since before I was born and now I want to enter aviation.

I have my ASP on 7-9 July and I have only just heard about it via email about my OSB, I was wondering if I get gather some tips and help as for what to expect?

Expect to be asked:
- Your motivations for entering the ADF and the particular service you are applying for.
- Personal questions relating to how you will cope with the lifestyle changes, being away from home, etc.
- Knowledge of the service you are applying for. Know all the aircraft and ships if you are applying for the Navy.
- What is the difference between a leader and a manager. What kind of leadership experience do you have?
- What operations are the ADF currently involved in and some recent ones.
- Some basic Geography. Particularly around war zones/conflict areas.
- Some current affairs. Watch the news for the weeks leading up to the OSB.
-Where you could be posted. How much you will be payed. What your minimum service period is.
- What training you will undergo. When, where and for how long.
- Ranks for the service you are applying for.
- Maths questions like 26 x 14. Learn how to use techniques to solve questions like this and practice using phone apps right before you go in to get your brain in the mode. I was asked a question like this and they were very impressed when I answered correctly within a few seconds. Also, some time/distance questions relating to flight times etc. Know how to calculate using knots and miles as well.

This list is not complete. You may be asked all or none of these questions. There will definitely be some I have not included here. Everything (almost) you need to know is either in the job description for the job you are going for​​​​​, or on the department of defence website. I compiled a folder with all of this info and more and studied it every spare moment I got until I knew it back to front.
You need to be confident without being cocky. The only way to achieve this is by knowing your stuff. There is no way to bluff your way through. If you study all that I have told you and plan your responses you will be giving yourself the best chance you can and it will definitely help with your confidence. Make no mistake, the difference between answering one or two questions correctly is the difference between a recommendation or high recommendation. One of those will likely get you a spot at flight school and the other won't.
I have done my OSB twice and pretty much nailed it both times so I know what I am talking about.

Modest too! I'd suggest that you didn't, pretty much nail it, if you had to do it twice.

Maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself unless you know what you are talking about. There are (or we're) two components to getting offered a pilots job. The flying testing and the OSB. I was told by the OSB panel that I was one of the best officer candidates that they had seen in a long time. Unfortunately my flying was average so I only got a recommendation, not a high recommendation the first time around.

Titan, don't talk like that - it's unbecoming of a potential Officer, disrespectful to an experienced QFI and the fact is, you did sound rather arrogant.
The Defence community in Oz is a small one, don't make a name for yourself before you even get a crack a it, particularly if, as per your admission, your flying was "average".
Slezy9's flying was a fair bit better than average, so best pull ya head in! Good luck!

Mate, I took a fair bit of my time (typing on a phone) to give honest advice to a candidate. I got and expected nothing on return. In return for that I was attacked by Slezy9 and insulted despite the fact that he knows nothing of my circumstances. If that is the way people who give advice are treated then good luck getting any more advice.

Oh my, this is what is turning up on the doorstep as one of our "best officer candidates" - there are plenty of people on here who can and have provided constructive advice without being so precious about it.
"Attacked" and "Insulted" - dude, you've gotta harden' up a bit... I retract my previous "Good luck!"

He would have been sent to UH1H back in the day Jo. You know he would have. :}

Considering the vast array of people in this thread who are doing the job, I'm sure people will survive without your world beating advice and attitude Titan. If you do get in you should try going guns hot like that on your QFI's! :ok:

hey guys,
my name is Fred and i attended the asp on October 4 of 2018. i applied for direct entry raaf pilot at age 18 and unfortunately did not get offered anything. i was not at uni and was having a gap year at the time. which im sure you can all guess, failiure was going to happen as an 18yo with barely any life experience and not studying anything. i realized my mistake and since the asp i have been at uni studying aero engineering at RMIT and have reapplied for ADFA. So my question is to anyone on this forum who has reattempted the asp: was it any easier having done it before? how did you go results wise? anything i should do between now and october? ie preparation methods? and any general advice and results for second time round guys.
cheers! Fred

Anecdotally a few people off my ASP had another crack and the majority improved their scores.

Hey guys,
long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been applying for RAAF pilot ADFA since last year and recently attended my ASP. I unfortunately did not recieve an offer as a RAAF Pilot, however I was offered to attend the OSB for Army, Navy Pilot and RAAF Mission.
I am pleased with my results and am planning to attend the OSBs however I have a few queries. While I would happily accept a career in these jobs, I have always been strongly motivated to become a RAAF pilot. If I was to accept an offer from another branch/career will I be able to transfer to RAAF Pilot and when (1-4 years?)?. Would it be more ideal to wait an entire year and reattend another ASP.

To answer the previous question from Fred, there was two people on my ASP who had already previously attended the course and both received a RAAF Pilot offer. They both had similar results to my ASP results.

Sorry for the horrible read, I typed this up quickly on a ****ty phone.

Thanks!

RAAF Pilot
 

Hey all,

I'm 16 years old and currently in year 10 with a very strong desire to one day join the RAAF as a pilot, I've done a lot of research and can only think of this career going ahead, and have been doing so for quite some time now. I only have a few questions.

Next year, i'm studying general math and english with average scores (60 - 70%) with physics, psychology and legal studies and thinking about getting a cert 2 in a trade of some sort (mechanical engineering, automotive etc) the certificate is connected with school and basically counts as a subject, meaning I graduate with an ATAR and a certificate in a trade. I'm only thinking of doing a trade with school as it's just an added bonus with an ATAR, and all my brothers wish they had of done it.

I'm thinking of applying as soon as I finish school as a direct entry to a pilot although I can do it as early as 16 years and 6 months, being a pilot is my main focus, nothing else. I've done work experience up at RAAF Base Sale, volunteer as a lifesaver every summer, participate in multiple team sports and work as a basketball referee and part time at a chemist delivering medicine. I have no experience flying although I'm thinking of taking 1 normal flight lesson and then a few aerobatic flights, as a RPL is too expensive for me.

Is there anything I should consider changing?

I'm completely open to answering any questions and suggestions, such as getting experience in a specific workplace etc, just trying to get as much help as possible.

Thanks for your time and again i'm open to all responses :)

Any news on the Army and Navy opening the pilot pipeline for DEO or RMC again?

Update
 

Hey mate congratulations on the offer, during the 7 years of waiting did you take up any other jobs?

Hey everyone, been trawling here for a long time and this thread has been keeping me going during the long waits. Finally have my RAAF OSB for pilot booked in Melbourne this coming Friday, I'm feeling pretty prepared and I'm super pumped. Anyone else here attending this OSB? Also it's probably been asked a million times but here I go, is the score from ASP the main ranking criteria for selection or is it just an indicator with the OSB being the main selector? I got a strong recommendation from ASP, so hopefully that makes me more competitive.

Any last minute advice for the little things that you wish someone had told you?

Theangelplan I'm in a similar situation. I'm in New Zealand and I sat my YOU session last earlier this week. I unlocked the pilot role no problem but I was told I can't progress until my New Zealand school results have been converted to the Australian System. I submitted those to NESA on Monday but they won't be returned for 10 working days. DFR said they will try and arrange an additional pilot testing session and an assessment day as soon as my results have come back, possibly even on the same day.

If I manage to finish assessment day by say, the 11th of September, will it be possible to attend ASP and OSB in time for 2020 ADFA or have I missed the cutoff? DFR said they don't actually have access to the exact cutoff date so I'm not really sure if it's possible or not. I've heard ASP and OSB can take a while to get into so I'm cutting it pretty fine. I'm really trying to aim for 2020 as I'm in my last year of school so I'd rather not have to wait around a whole year for 2021.

Medical problems have annulled my pilot offer
 

Hi there,
I wrote a few times in this forum as I have been in the process to be accepted in the ADF as a pilot for over 3 years now. I'm 20, and I received an offer for RAAF Pilot ADFA on the 19th of August 2019 after attending the OSB in march.

Unfortunately, on Monday I received a letter from DFR Medical saying that my opthomologist results came in and I have an accomodation which doesn't meet the requirements of AVR1, and have been classified as AVR3. I find the entire ordeal a bit odd, since they took 3 months since I sat the tests to give me the news, during which time they called me twice to ask me if I'd come in to do my test. I've never had any problems with my eyesight. My personal opinion is that the original results of the tests were lost or misplaced. But that is irrelevant now, as my offer has been revoked, and my application is on hold until further developments.

Today I went to do another optomolagist exam, at Personal Eyes as was suggested by my coordinator, and managed to get the results the same day, which, according to my doctor, were "well within AVR1 range" and he even went as far as saying "I have no idea how the other doctor deduced you have a bad eye-accomodation".

So, now I have the option to ask for a review, which I assume is the same as appealing the decision, by writing a letter with the supporting documentation I have obtained today.
The letter read:
To anyone that has gone through a similar experience, or knows any information regarding this appeal process, I have the following questions:
1. Although it says it will take a minimum of 6 weeks to process by the Head of Aviation Medicine in Canberra, is it likely to be longer? Could I be stuck in a pile until next year just to be approved by a doctor?
2. Would my appeal be more likely to be approved if I went to another clinic and repeated the tests a second time, and submitted both results, instead of just one set? As I understand they will otherwise have two sets of results which contradict each other, from the same company, but from two different clinics. How would they decide which to agree with if they only have two sets as opposed to three or more.
3. As I understand my offer has been nullified because of what happened, which I find hard to believe seeing as another set of results could prove the first ones wrong, at which point I would need to receive another offer even though I was deemed fit enough to be given one in the first place. Is this actually the case?


Thank you so much for any and all replies that I receive, this is a tough time for me and any guidance from you gods will be greatly appreciated!

​​​​​​Having been through an appeal process regarding eyesight, in answer to your questions:
1. Yes. Except six weeks as a minimum. This is Medical, they are their own beast. Get in quick as its coming up to end of year and everything shuts down from early Dec, so ideally you'd want a successive appeal and be back on track with a new offer prior to the end of the year.
2. Two wouldn't hurt. More supporting evidence for your appeal.
3. Maybe, maybe not. Get onto the appeal quick and stay very close with your EC; they can keep you abreast as to what positions/intakes are still likely to be available

I missed episode 3, but watched a recording tonight, so late call from me. Yes, it was interesting and showed me how much had changed since I was a TWU instructor. When Beagle was a student and I his instructor (yes, I'm even older than him), he had a huge choice of postings. Harriers, Jaguars, Lightnings (EE version), Buccs, Canberras, Phantoms (think that is where Beagle went to) to name a few. I may even missed a few & do remember sending one student to VC10s. Moreover, not to be able to drop real bombs, fire real rockets and guns is not as much fun. Additionally, the actual hit is more important that a pic of a simulated hit. I do recall many times I had my gun camera film debriefed by a QWI who said it was rubbish, what was my score?; to which I replied Direct Hit (DH). There is no substitute for live weapons. That said, however, I do like the modern technology whereby Instructors can debrief the fight on computer. I never got to fly ACMI.

Army pilots are currently under a "no service transfers accepted" policy, so don't join Army with the expectation of making the jump.

Hey All,
Just finishing up my last pieces of assessment for Year 11, and since I'm shooting for ADFA next year, I have a question with regard to my school results. I'm currently doing straight maths/science (English, Specialist Maths, Maths Methods, Chem, Physics and Biol), and I will be continuing this into Year 12. What impact will my Year 11 and/or Year 12 results have on my application? I know I would have to achieve the required ATAR for my course at ADFA, but do my results in Year 11 have any affect?

Thanks in advance.