Aircrew (WSOp)
 

Hi All,

I’m new here and am looking for a little bit of advice. I joined the RAF (only stayed around 5 months) and that was 4 years ago. I have since matured a lot and am now considering starting a career in the RAF.

I have done some research and have been investigating a career as Aircrew (mainly WSOp, Creman).

I have been in touch with the AFCO and they have given me the following information;
I will sit a 2 hour presentation, giving the details of life in Aircrew.
An interview with an Officer to determine whether I am suitable for the selection centre at Cranwell.
I will then spend 3 days at Cranwell going through Aptitude tests, Medicals, Interviews and Leadership tests for them to see whether I have the potential to lead a team and successfully get my message across.

My only concern, (as I am assuming competition is high), is that when I complete my 9 weeks basic at Halton, and progress onto the 10 weeks training at Cranwell, that (for any reason) I could be failed at Cranwell.

I have also been told that you do not choose to be a Crewman but get streamed into Electronic Warfare, Acoustics or Crewman (on either fixed wing or rotary aircraft).

I am interested in speaking to anyone who has recently done their 10 weeks at Cranwell, or already in the RAF as a WSOp.

An idea I have had is to contact certain Squadrons and ask if I can talk to any Air Load Masters (as I believe their job title has been placed with the WSOp Crewman one?). Do you think it is a bit early to be contacting them, though?

Apologies if this is a bit of a long winded message, I am just trying to gather as much information as possible, as this is my last chance.

(Some of you may have seen a similar thread at e-goat, if you’re registered there).

Thanks in advance,

Check PM's

My only concern, (as I am assuming competition is high), is that when I complete my 9 weeks basic at Halton, and progress onto the 10 weeks training at Cranwell, that (for any reason) I could be failed at Cranwell.



This suggests the question - then what happens?

The answer will be of interest to many. For instance a chopped pilot may be offered re-branching to another job or simply resign his commission. For an airman the answer will be similar - any hot gen out there?

a Handful of guys I went through with failed whilst on 55. They were given the option of either a return to trade (if serving before), leaving the air force, or off to high wycombe to see if there were any other ground trades suitable.

Thank you for the replies everyone.

Do you know what specifically the guys failed on?

I'm assuming the instructors at Cranwell are there to get you through the course and don't *want* to fail anyone... However, If you're not fit enough or don't have the right temperment for the job, then I suppose they have no choice.

I'm just wary of giving up a job (in this economic climate) to then be looking for one in 19 weeks time! However, if I were to be offered a ground trade, that wouldn't be so bad.

I don't know why I'm focussing on failing, I undersatnd that is the wrong attitude, but I am just gathering as much information as I can to ensure I make the right decisions :)

Thanks again for the information.

The first hurdle you'll need to get over is explaining why you only stayed 5 months last time around...

You're going for Aircrew. One assumes you weren't Aircrew before and one also assumes you weren't being officer trained, (if you were being officer trained then the explanation might be simple).

Now you are going for aircrew, (not wishing to start a p1ssing match), the best the RAF has to offer. If you backed out previously what can you bring to the table this time to convince me that you won't spend a few weeks hanging out with the "elite" before going home to mummy again? If you were failed in training what are you bringing to the table this time to convince me you can pass a series of courses that, most probably, will be much more difficult physically and mentally that the one you were kicked off last time around?

Harsh? Maybe... But if you don't have convincing answers then looking for a job in 19 weeks is a non-issue.

Hi 'Airborne Aircrew',

Thank you for your reply. I totally agree with you, and I expect to be asked those types of questions. No, I was not going for commission and I did not fail at anything. I chose to leave on my accord.

When I am asked the above in an interview, I will answer similar to the following;

The first time I joined I was 17 and to be honest, lacked maturity. Whilst I may have been physically mature and acted mature for my age, mentally I had areas to grow. In these past 4 years, I have gained life experiences (whilst they can’t be compared directly to the experiences I would have faced in the military) I have grown a lot in many areas, including confidence. I was a month from turning 18 and felt that being in the RAF there may have been lots of things I couldn’t experience. I knew that once I turned 18 I would have to have completed my full service time, and this is something that made me think “do I want to be doing this”. I thought about it a lot, and decided to leave. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the foresight to see that it was the wrong decisions.

We learn by our mistakes and this is definitely the biggest regret I have, leaving the Air Force.

Now I’m 21, leaving won’t be an option for me. This is something I want to do for a very long time.

I understand that Aircrew is the Elite of the RAF. But in these past 4 years I feel I have gained many qualities that will aid me to serve successfully as Aircrew. Along with hard work and the training I will be given, I feel I would certainly be able to aspire to the high standards required.

Any advice you can give me on whether or not there are certain things I shouldn’t say, would be great. I’m not asking for “answers” or what I should say, because at the end of the day there is no point in lying, as it’ll come back to bite me in the future!

Indeed their aim is to train you not chop you. I know of one baby Eng that was recoursed twice as his attitude sensor was stuck OFF. After his 3rd survival course with the promise of a 4th he adjusted his attitude and got through that phase. No idea what happened after that.

Right temperment (sic) for the job, attitude and aptitude are certainly crucial.

Having tried once before you know why you bailed out. You are therefore probably understandable wary. As A_A says, One answer of course is, as you said, lack of maturity when you were only 17. Now you have been in the wide-world for 4 years, you have learnt . . . , you know you are more mature because . . . and crucially you now want to become aircrew because . . .

I am just starting my Aircrew Training, so If you have any questions you need anwering about the Selection process or the training itself, PM me.

Jamie

Amnesia;

You seem to have things "down" now and on the strength of what you have just said I'd be prepared to give you a second chance... just one little teeny thing...



Along with No. 2 Squadron RAF Regiment my lad... along with 2 Squadron... http://www.hqrafregiment.net/images/smilies/salute.gif

Amnesia;

:yuk::ugh::=

I would like to say thank you to everyone for your helpful comments.

Any other criticisms you have, I would be happy to hear them.

I have already begun training (with regards to getting my fitness as high as I can) and will also be reading into what planes the RAF fly with, which squadrons and where they are stationed, etc, etc... but that should be expected :)

One last question - Eyesight and Tattoos!! I am short-sighted to -0.75. Is this okay?
I also have a large tattoo on my back (it's basically a full back piece) of an Angel. I know in the notes the RAF say "any tattoos that are too big", I don't think you can get much bigger than that! But, it doesn't run onto my neck or hands (or head/face).

Airborne_Aircrew - If I say that about 2 Squadron will it gain be extra points?! haha, just kidding.

Amnesia:

The angel on your back has wings, right?

Then you're almost Airborne, and thus Aircrew should be attainable without a problem... (just kidding too ;) )

You'll work harder for either than you have ever worked for anything and, in their own ways, they're both worth more than most people can hope for.

Go for it, work hard, work smart and I wish you the very best of luck...

i woudlnt worry about tattoo's mate, as long as theyre within QR's, there isnt a fat lot anyone can say against it

Apologies for the delay in replying, I've been out of action for the past week! I didn't want you to think I was ignorant and have ignored the previous two posts.

Fact_Attack - Thanks for the info. Yes, they're within the QR (I don't have a swastika or anything like that and all no tattoos are visible on the neck, hands or face.

Airborne Aircrew - Thanks for the information you've provided for me. I've been doing my research and found a link to a PowerPoint presentation that shows the training schedule for WSOp (such as the number of weeks spent at certain places and when the streaming process happens, etc).

I'm sure I will keep visiting the forums and will update you on my progress, if you would like to hear it. :)

Hi Flt Lt Mac,

The presentation can be found at http://www.raf.mod.uk/no22traininggr...6ECE6bE6FA.ppt and is the last slide in the series.

Hi all,

Apologies for 'bumping' this thread, but can anyone confirm if the link I posted contains up-to-date information on the WSOp course?

Also, do you know how frequent the 3 day selection centre is at at Cranwell?

Thanks,
Amnesia

I can tell you that the WSOp slide on that powerpoint is not current.

About 3 weeks ago 17 WSOp Course started the new version of the basic phase (titled WSOp Generic on the slides you linked to) which now has no airborne content at all!!:rolleyes:

CS

WSOp(L)
 

The slide for linguist isn't accurate either. Post Generic course, the guys and girls go to Beaconsfield/Chicksands for academic language trg for up to 18 months, then around 8 months with 54(R) Sqn for applied language trg prior to brevet award. The actual OCU (flying) phase with 54(R) is only a month or so though...assuming that there's an aircraft available of course!:}

Thanks for update :ok:. I'll do some extra digging and see if I can find the correct info.