i had phase 1 of oasc today, the aptitude tests, and passed them for all branches except intelligence, and linguist WsOp, so i'm chuffed to pieces :D

got 127 for wsop
140 for atc and abm

the only thing that isnt so good is that they're working with "around september" for the earliest phase 2 oasc, and next april to start training should i be successful

rough with the good i suppose :)

[QUOTE] had phase 1 of oasc today, the aptitude tests, and passed them for all branches except intelligence, and linguist WsOp, so i'm chuffed to pieces

got 127 for wsop
140 for atc and abm

[/QUOTE

Congratulations, that's one hurdle over and done with. What branches were you actually hoping to go for? With 140 for ABM, and with the ABM and Int branches being 2 of the only branches I can think of that were completely untouched in way shape or form in round 1 of the recent redundancy announcements, you may well find yourself heading in that direction. Hopefully you would be happy with that.

I have my Aptitude on the 5th April and I got a call from OASC today to confirm I was still attending. I asked a few questions about coming back for phase two and she said that it would take up to 2 weeks before hearing back and it's likely to be around June/July before coming back again.

This doesn't seem to tie in with other peoples reports of a September onwards timescale...Also what are they going to do with everyone who successfully passes Phase 2 and are fit for Aircrew? Pick the top 10 candidates from a long list come April 2012?

I've been through OASC before and was thankfully successful through the whole thing and offered a Uni bursary, only hearing 2 months later I was temp medically unfit which has now been reversed back to fit. Since it was over 12 months since aptitude I now have to go through the whole process again, which is rather frustrating.

Surely they're not just queuing everyone who passes through OASC into a giant sift and then picking who they want a year later?

that would sound like what they're doing mate

my score for atc / abm was much better than the score for wsop, so i'm currently talking to the afco about adding another trade to my application, acting on the advice given to me at cranwell on monday

@ melchett - yes i'm looking at ABM and ATC (officers for both of them), it would be appear that i'm more "naturally apt" for those two choices than my original choice of Wsop lol, i would fancy ATC over ABM though, although both are cool in my eyes

OASC
 

Just completed phase 1 of OASC at RAF Cranwell last weekend. I was expecting a much larger turn out I have to say! There was 5 of us in total, with myself being the only girl. The candidates mess looked set for in excess of 50 people.

Lets hope Phase 2 is busier! :)

I seem to remember from well over 5 years ago watching a TV documentary on a University Air Squadron. (probably BBC) Not sure whether it was a one off or a series. I am not getting confused with the BBC documentary series 'Fighter Pilot'.

Anyone remember the name of the program/ series?

Cheers.

There was a series called 'Combat Pilot' following a group of trainee Pilots at RAF Valley? Is that the one you were thinking off?

NDW - I've seen 'Combat pilot' series and it definetely wasn't that :(

It was called "High Fliers" and was broadcast on Discovery Wings. I had a bit of a search on the web a few months back, but could find any leads...

Hi people.

A short while ago the age limit for a military pilot in the RAF and NAVY was increased to 26. It was then lowered slightly to 25. Do people know why this age limit was lowered and if it is likely to be increased in the future at all?

Reason I ask is because I am 23 and going to university in September at Leeds University to study aviation tech with pilot studies. When I finish I will be 26 and approaching my 27th birthday. It is to my knowledge that you can be 25 and 365 days old when joining the RAF/NAVY as a pilot at the moment. However I will be outside the age limits when finishing uni unless the age limit is increased. I would apply for RAF/NAVY now but unfortunately I have been told I have to wait X amount of time before applying due to a past illness.

Any info is much appreciated.

Cheers.

The Navy age limit has always been 25 and 11 months on the first of the month in which you join BRNC, so you could be 26 on the 2nd and join up to the 31st of the month and be within the rules.

The RAF may be similar. If you will be approaching 27 then you are knackered unless you can get a waiver, which seems less likely in the current environment.

You can join RMAS for the AAC up to 28, which may be your best shot, though you won't have confirmation of joining the AAC until your third term at RMAS.

Thanks mate.

So basically, unless the age limit is increased then its not going to happen? I wont be 27 for another 3 n a half yrs so hopefully things will have changed by then :rolleyes:

The age limit will not go up for either Service, trust me. The RAF have only just raised it, and the RN have had it at that level for at least 30 years. There are already far too many applicants, so the idea of raising it and thus having to handle even more is a non-starter.

Now you know that the RN and RAF are out of the way I'd concentrate on getting into the AAC. If you do all the right stuff you could get your grading done before you join RMAS and be as close as possible to a place when you complete. The AAC, like the rest of the Army, like to get to know their chaps before they turn up on day one. Get known.

i just had another filter interview regarding adding both ATC officer and ABM to my application, and i was successful

so now, when it happens, i'll be going to oasc phase 2 with 3 / 4 potential applications instead of one

buzzing at the moment

You can join RMAS for the AAC up to 28, which may be your best shot, though you won't have confirmation of joining the AAC until your third term at RMAS.

All Regimental Selection Boards are done during inters now (second term). Plenty of 30 year olds kicking round the AAC pilot pipeline at the moment. There is no one under the age of 22. Everyone else is 25 or over; with 25 being considered young and 22 ridiculously young!

funkyt111, you could always join up as a WSOP and then retrade to Pilot after a couple of years as you can retrade from wsop to pilot until your 33. I think you will be streamed to rotary or multi engine.

Yeah, because joining as a WSOp is an absolute doddle these days....:rolleyes:

Did i say it was an easy alternative, just giving him an option that most people dont know about .

There's a reason it's not talked about.

Yes, it happens, but it is the exception to the rule. It is making your life harder and it is by no means guaranteed. To suggest someone that they enter a career which they do not want and might then be stuck in for 20yrs... it generally doesn't end well.

The poster could try that route, but it is making his life far harder than it needs to be. Unnecessarily so, too.

While I am broad agreement with Muppet I know of a Sgt AEOp that in fairly short order rose to become an Air Commodore (AEO). He avoided the greasey pole by standing on other's shoulders.

I also know of one or two other NCA that have crossed over to pilot but they are very rare beasts.

Definitely it happens - there were 2 on my IOT - but there were also another 75 guys who had gone straight for Pilot. And those 2 WSOps knew which way they'd have rather done it.

Thank you for this advice. By WSOP, i presume you mean weapons systems operator? And by IOT i presume you mean initial officer training?

So you can apply to be a WSOP and once I finish my IOT then I can switch to be a pilot? I assume it is not a straight forward process? What the chances of switching and being streamed to fast jet?

Thanx all for the info. Very much appreciated.

That's right funky because WSOp's do IOT. Have you ever wandered why the are called Non Commissioned Aircrew? The clue is in the Non Commissioned bit. They do their own NCAAITC and then go on to do a further 12 - 18 Months worth of training before you reach your Squadron and then depending on your Aircraft type you will have to give a return of service due to the costs of training you in the first place.

You do know what a WSOp is don't you?

WSOp = weapons systems op right? I'm a little bit mis-understood on how this whole process works and if its even worth if if the chances are small of switching to a pilot. Could somebody please explain the whole process to me please.


Thanx

Are you asking or telling me?



Right, here goes, the whole procedure in detail. You join as a WSOp and you apply for a Commission as a Pilot a few years later. There you go.

I was asking, hence the question mark....

Is this a process that happens regularly? Do the RAF give you the option to apply for a commission as a pilot. If so, do you or anybody else know the success rate of this application?

The RAF generally like their Officers and SNCO's to show a bit of initiative, so could I suggest you go off and look at what a WSOp does in their day to day life.

Also did you forget to mention something?
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Maybe you should contact your local AFCO to ask if this will bar you from joining.

I appreciate what your saying in terms of initiative. At the moment I am just trying to find all available options to me. I was completely unaware that you could join as a WSOp and switch. Now having that knowledge, I will do some more research into the role etc.

Yes I have had ALL. I have spoke to them already and it was impossible for them to give me a definitive answer. They said the guidelines say that ALL would place an applicant below initial entry standard unless diagnosed and treated as a child or early adult life. I was 19 when diagnosed so hopefully this is classed as early adult life. However, I am aware this still maybe a hindrance. I can only apply and find out.

Stop focussing on the WSOp and switching thing. The chances for you to join as a WSOp, give the return of service required and then being able to apply for a Commission as a Pilot are slim to none.

Joining as a WSOp is not an easy thing to do. Look into the role of a WSOp before you decide to apply.

Does anyone know what's happening with WSOp training at the moment?
I remember reading on here a while ago that there hadn't been a NCAITC go through for a few months, anyone at Cranwell know if this is still the case?

Cheers.

funky - in October 09 you wrote:

and?

still in no position to apply to the RAF and to be honest does look likely ill ever be in a position. Finished treatment leukaemia in 2010 and was told I have to wait 3 years before applying. I'm just pulling at strings.

Well, I am sure any letter back from the RAF at present would probably end.
"Unfortunately due to your current medical condition we are unable to process your application any further".

Come back to pprune in three years fella and then we will be able to answer your questions as at the moment you have no options regarding joining the RAF.

funky, a few NCA will be pushed to apply for a commission if they stand out from their peers on the sqn. It was some years ago but at I guess I would say it was somewhere in the order of 10% but often they will have done 15 years or more as an NCO. The commission is more usually in-branch rather than cross-over to pilot. That is even rarer.

Funky


Who told you that you would have to wait three years? You may find that you have to be treatment free for ten years before being eligible to apply with a history of leukaemia.

OneFifty

Joining as a pilot in the RAF
 

Hope theres someone on here that could give me some good advice about joining the RAF as a pilot.

Basically my GCSE results where not to bad but not exactly the best, I am in the middle of doing my A levels and they are going well... if I was to gain good A level results would they concentrate on those results more than my GCSE results??... I have been a member of the Air training corps, completed my gold D of E award, had flying experience and I have also been a fully qualified engineer for two years at the age of 21, I am also very fit and determined to get into the RAF as a pilot, would they take this all into account when assesing my application? and would it help?

thankyou in advance for any information passed on

Alex

Do you meet the minimum requirement? Given you did them 5 years ago did you realise you need a grade B in maths and well as English and three other subjects?

Thanks for replying... yeah I have the minimum requirement GCSE's mostly B's. Just not exactly straight A's but my A levels are going well. I just hope that with my A levels and my determination I will have a chance. I no that people walk in with straight A* grades but dont always pass the fitness, leadership tests or even have a good understanding of life in the RAF... Are they going to turn round and say because you havent got straight A* at GCSE's you have no chance.... sorry to be a pain, you probably get this message all the time lol

Alex

Jobby, what was my first question?

You answered Yes. What more is there to say? Next hurdle is to get the 2 A-levels.

Quote:

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Thanks for replying... yeah I have the minimum requirement GCSE's mostly B's. Just not exactly straight A's but my A levels are going well. I just hope that with my A levels and my determination I will have a chance. I no that people walk in with straight A* grades but dont always pass the fitness, leadership tests or even have a good understanding of life in the RAF... Are they going to turn round and say because you havent got straight A* at GCSE's you have no chance.... sorry to be a pain, you probably get this message all the time lol

Alex

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You could have the best GCSE and A Level grades in the World, but not be the ideal candidate the RAF are looking for.

As Pontius Nav. stated - get through your A levels (A choice which in many ways I regret pulling out of, now I have to pay for my education :mad:).
The GCSE's are just the first stage of filtering.
They need to be ideally at A-C grade, the RAF use to accept grades A-E at 'A' Level, but due to the recent cuts, they have become more stricter and can pick and choose who they want.
Being an ex-Air Training Corp cadet will help to some degree, it shows that you have experienced;

• Drill & Discipline,
• Leadership tasks,
• Working as a team,
• Flying and Gliding,
• And a partial look at the reality of the Armed Forces.

All the best