OASC 'CANDIDATES' and WANNABES, PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!
 

I am going to the OASC pretty soon and I still have no idea about how fast you have to run a mile and a half in. Does anyone know out there who could help me and generally let me know about the fitness test itself?

Thanks!

Matt

Hi Matt,

I vaguely remember that you have to be able to cover the ground at a rate of a Half a mile every three and a half minutes.

However, the RAF fitness test is now a shuttle run over 18, 20 or 25 metres, depending on how much of a short@rse you are. You may find the requirement if you search pprune under iot or oasc.

I don't think it's part of the fitness test, but later on, during IOT, you may have to do a set number of press ups and sit ups. This is the best information I have right now.

You have done well to go forward for OASC-don't screw it up by being unfit or not practising your maths. You owe it to yourself.

Word hard and be lucky!!

I remember 13 press ups (no time limit), ~30 sit ups in under a minute.
For the run I think it was 1&1/2 miles in around 10 minutes being acceptable for the middle fitness group.
For the bleep test it all depended on your sex & age.

One thing most people didn't know about was the swimming test (especially important for aircrew). That was 6 o r8 lengths of the pool and treading water for a minute

All of it is easily done if you are reasonably fit.

MATT
The important thing is to show an improvement over the length of the course - in every discipline. As for the run, I had been jockstrapping for months ahead, wearing DMS boots. On my first run (with the DI staff watching) I managed an easy 12 minutes. At the end of 18 weeks I clocked up 8 mins 30secs. Even attracted a compliment from the PE'd staff as I had just passed my 36th birthday.
Best of luck!:ok:

At OASC the only fittness test you do is the bleep test, no press ups, no sit ups, no 1.5 mile runs. They are done at your fam visit prior to IOT if your are succesful at OASC.

Loads of good threads on OASC on this forums if you search for it.

Beware of some false information about the bleep test. There was a discussion suggesting that the PTI's will stop you when you reach a certain level. That's not true it is a best effort assesment as several of my friends have reported since their visit last week.

Good luck

Correct, fitness at OASC is tested using the bleep test:
10.6 Good
11.7 Excellent
I don't know any below that, hopefully you won't need to know them!!
TMA

Find out what level bleep test you require for your age. If you can do 1 level better thats as good as it needs to be. Don't try too hard when you first arrive, as improvement is the key (makes the PTIs look good)
The 1 1/2 mile at the fam visit, just decides which PTI group you will be in.
Group 1. Is for racing snakes and fitness freaks so you will work really hard during IOT.
Group 2. Is for the competitve but not so fit, so you will still work really hard.
Group 3. Hear goes the none PC bit, is generally for the couch potatoes and the girls.

Now the logic, they will nearly all pass IOT regardless of fitness, so if you like looking at girls arses and you want to be able to improve, go for a nice steady run on the fam visit.

You aint seen me right!

Just been back from a WSOp Fam visit in Cranwell, where the PTI's and NCAITC boss said that you should be aiming to clear the 2.4km in around 10mins 30s.

They also mentioned the Aircrew swimming test: 100m in Flying Suit ( any side or front stroke) and tread water for 2mins then climb out unassisted. I assume if you can run the 2.4km in around 10 mins, the Bleep test at OASC will be no bother ( I hope so anyway!)

WW1

OASC, full up?
 

I went to the local careers office and went through all the appropriate interviews etc and its been 8 weeks and still not heard anything from OASC!! Careers sent me a letter saying I was through, and they said that they would chase it up for me but I have still not heard anything! Does anyone know if there is a problem or if the waiting time has increased as they're so full or what? Have I done anything wrong? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

If you have a look on my thread 'RAF vacancies' you'll see that recruitment is almost at a standstill with many branches.

So given that, I guess it would definately contribute to a large hold up at the AFCO's at present.

Good luck:ok:

It can take a very long time....months to get offered an OASC place, if you pass then an initial confirmation you have met the standard required, and another long wait for an IOT date. Much patience required!

Last I heard, four month waiting list for OASC places.....so you'd be looking at October-ish. Things might get even worse if (when??) large-scale "downsizing" is announced as is widely expected.

Heres a question - would a British citizen be able to join another commonwealth air force if there were vacancies????

A friend of mine went through an AFCO at the start of the year and has just got a date back for Sept. When my papers went through a while ago, it was about maybe four months between papers going in and a slot at OASC.

Make that I just got a letter the day after this post, saying come back in a year and we'll have some spaces! I thougt that they made that decision after you had been to OASC and before you went to IOT (yes, IOT, not ICT stupidboy!)?

Any help joining the RAF
 

Hi,
I'm 15 and have just started my GSCE's; and i've also just started the Duke of Edinborough award. I've just come back from work experience at St Mawgan; I already wanted to join the RAF but now I'm certain I want to join as a pilot.
Is there any advice you could give me to help me on my way to joining the RAF as a Pilot.
Thank you.

Blimey, its like asking a bunch of prison inmates if its a good idea to come and join them!

If you are interested in a miltary career and you want to fly, then the RAF, FAA and AAC are all options available to you. If you are not already a member join the ATC or something similar, think about joining - it will give you a taste for military life with all its ups and downs. Make sure you are not colour blind as well.

Despite whatever happens in the defence review we will always have a military and it is a good career if you are tempramentally suited to it. If you are not you won't make it through selection. If you just want to make money, then you will be better off in civvy life. Even the Airships don't get paid much by comparison. There are big upsides to being in uniform - but that's a different subject all together.

I'd advise you to make sure you want to be an RAF Pilot as opposed to any sort of pilot. Truth is the RAF probably want to see that you want to be in the RAF as well as a pilot so they may want you to put down some other choices when you apply to OASC. Some wannabe end up doing other things in aircraft other than driving.....

Strength and Honour.

SW

Top tip (had to get that in there somewhere)

Study something that you enjoy!

Don't think that the RAF want you to do anything technical at A level or uni. They don't neccesarily, so if you want to go to uni, do something that you will enjoy, you can be good at, and that will give you time to go and do lots of extra curricular stuff (like fly with a uas if they still exist then!)

Who knows, by the time you want to join, the RAF will suddenly realise they're really short of pilots, and start recruiting at something close to 'normal' levels.

Best of luck, and remember, the force will be with you. Always.

Hi mate.

As 'always_broken...' suggested, get yourself a good Uni such as Kings College for War Studies ;) and then join the University of London Air Squadron and then get your hands on the beast that is the Grob......:ugh:

Lots of stns run commissioning/NCA groups with after-hours discussions on OASC techniques, current affairs and the occasional leadership exercise or visit. If there isn't one near you, then consider getting involved in setting one up.

OASC drugs
 

I am due to attend OASC in a few weeks time and currently gathering together some last bits of info and found this site courtesy of a very helpful RAF pilot.

I have been advised by all military personnel that i have spoken with to totally condone any drug use. I do not consider myself a drug user by any means and only drink alcohol and do not smoke. However, at the initial interview at the Careers Advisory Centre when asked if i had EVER used drugs I admitted that I had at university once tried cannabis which was then questioned as to how it made me feel etc and what were my current opinions on it to which i truthfully replied that I understand it is illegal and think it is wrong to engage in such activities particularly when as part of a respectable organisation or one where professionalism and concentration is required at all times. therefore anything that may infringe on one's job commitment even in personal life must be condoned. She seemed to accept my reasoning and honesty and indeed has forwarded me to Cranwell. Now everyone is telling me I should lie. Is this the case? If i tell the truth will i be automatically discarded from selection? Please can someone help? I hate lying but I dont want to ruin my chances if everyone else lies too. Surely they will have my answers anyway with them from the original interview?
Sorry about this little panic but as you can see from all of the other potentials we all get a bit panicky as our time nears! Many thanks for any help and advice.
T-L:D

Realistically, a proportion of people who go through OASC will have tried/used drugs, and I imagine most would lie about it. They take blood/urine samples at the medical and I assume they will test for drug use. However these will only show use in previous 6 months or so. I doubt wether the actual interview notes from the Careers Liaison Officer will be present, but you cannot be certain.

Admitting it in the initial interview was maybe not the best thing to do. However now you've done it, I would recommend repeating it at OASC. The interview is very, repeat VERY fast paced and a short concise answer is what they ask for. They may not even ask if you have personally tried drugs, but they will certainly cover the drugs topic. I would state that I fully understand that drugs and service in the armed forces are totally incompatible etc. If asked wether you personally have tried them, I would say along the lines of...... 'I once tried cannabis at Uni, it made me feel sick, I regret the incident and have never, or will never repeat what was a foolish incident'. I doubt they will press much further on the subject.

In the above post I've used the words.....imagine, assume, doubt, maybe......because you never know quite what OASC are after. However I know for an absolute fact that if you are caught lying/misleading the interviewing officers you will fail selection.

F

I would imagine they will respect your honesty if you tell the truth, especially with the expanation of your views that follow. You may want to check the definition of 'condoned' though. I think it may mean the opposite of what you think it means :p. Be prepared for a difficult question though, they do try and make you think on your feet (but you will be sitting down ;) ).
Oh, and best of luck :D .

Gingerbread Man

Don't lie.



Good Luck.

That was one of the questions we used to have to ask UAS candidates. Along with views on homosexuality and involvement with the police....

Used drugs? Not wanted. Good-bye! Dress it up how you like, but that's how we kept self-confessed drug abusers out of our UAS. Plenty of other folk who'd had more strength of character to choose from.

Hopefully this won't sound too stupid guys, but what in your opinion would you say is the best tabloid newspaper to read in relation to current affairs ( one that give a RAF side point of view!) Oh and thanks for all the advice so far great help also very encouraging Cheers.

Rigger Mate,

I'd suggest you just skim the tabloids and read the Daily Telegraph/ Times and possibly, ( incoming flak to me) the Guardian, to give you a balanced view.

[On an SAC's wages, nick 'em from the Zob's Mess next day. If you find Grauniad has been read, report to Plod.]


How nice to find someone keen & positive, Good Luck to You.:)

Don't lie, trust me ;)

Littlepom, the genie's out of the bottle now, so I agree with the others who say don't lie. These things have a habit of catching up with you particularly in the OASC interview - they will get you if they think you're not being straight. Remember your personal integrity!

Beags, I agree with your policy of not wanting drug abusers in your UAS, but as someone who these days works a great deal with what I suspect was Littlepom's agegroup at the time of the 'incident', the attitude towards drugs is not the minority, fairly hidden thing it once was and I do think that for Littlepom to try it and then decide it's not for him shows at least a reasonable strength of character given the peer group mentality I observe. I speak as someone who went through university mildly disappointed never to have been offered drugs in order that I could refuse! On the other hand, having seen the effect that regularly smoking cannabis for even a short time does to the reactions and situational awareness of young people, I wouldn't have let them within a mile of a 'dog (or Teutor - must keep up with the times!).

Education Centre will have the newspapers, often used for resettlement - job pages.

Re Cannabis.
I'm sure I read in the popular press that Prince Harry had a go and he's shortly got his interview at Sandhurst.

Sorry - pressed wrong button and ended too early.
As someone who\'s been there and done it at OASC then can\'t emphasise how much I agree that now you have opened the can of worms you must admit, say it was a terrible mistake and will never, ever do it again. And by the way DON\'T do it again or you will not be wanted in charge of one of her majesty\'s aircraft where you will do lots of damage to others whilst under the influence.

Agree - just skim the tabloids!

If you don't have time to go through Times/Telegraph every day I suggest you get hold of a magazine called "The Week". Summarises most current events in pretty easy to read format. Also The Economist - not as boring as it sounds - provides a much more international view on current affairs.

Good luck and definitely visit your STDO/OC TDF - they keep a pile of stuff to go through before OASC which is much more comprehensive than the stuff they send out from Cranwell.

From people I've spoken to recently they've tried to find out your views on the subject as well as your experiences, how you'd react to finding your mate having a quick dabble etc, although I suppose they're looking for good answers all over!

Asking anyone for a Rizzla in the Mess is probably best avoided too!

BEags mate

you're a bit out of date. It's no longer a automatic no-no, and answers along the lines of "Tried it once, didn't like it, prefer beer!" go down ok.

The RAF can't afford to miss out on the vast number of youths who have "experimented".

As has been said already, come and talk to those of us that are doing the job. At Lossie you are in good position to pop over to 202 and spend a day or 2 over at Kinloss on one of the Sqns. We are always happy to host people like you and take you up in the Vomit Comet for a few hours ;)

Good luck

Mad Mark!!! :mad:

Agree with tokentotty,

Economist worked for me! Not only does it give you whats happening now, but also the history behind a subject which helps you best formulate your opinion. And stick to it, don't be bullied into changing your opinion to tell the boarding officers what they want to hear.

I managed to get by on 4 copies of the Economist and two days of Telegraph just before interview.

Ready for incoming flak now, but IMHO, I believe that the boarding officers will have made their opinion, certainly about the way the interview is going to go, within the first 2 minutes!

Clean shaven, smart suit, polished shoes, cheery disposition, strong handshake etc.... then in the chair, sat upright, not fiddling with anything....

People put a huge emphasis on current affairs on the interview, but in reality it only makes up about 5-7 minutes'ish of a 40 minute interview. More important, is that you are fully aware of the job you are applying for and associated training etc.

Goodluck

TheBeeKeeper
(DH82b)
(Ex TG2, and no, it wasn't me the got the trade its nickname!)

If you have already said to the RAF at interview that you have "tried it once at a party blah............." then you better stick to your guns as they will have this on record. I know several people who have admitted to it in that context and are now in the mob, so it wouldnt seem to be an obvious stopper. However, also heard a guy once told them he did and was unsuccessful (dont think the two were related!) and subsequently re-applied. This time he " forgot" to mention the fact he had tried it and they showed him the door quicker than his feet could carry him.

Moral of story, dont tell porkies at OASC, at all....... ever!!!

BEags, well said!;)

Surely if you've told the officer at the careers office and he's still putting you forward for OASC it can't be a showstopper in his eyes???

As far as I know what teeteringhead said is correct, and has been for the last few years.

And anyway by what I have seen of the military drugs seem compulsory once you get to the higher ranks, bhah:hmm: