what subject at Uni suitable for Aircrew
 

Hi T2 Tennant,
my son is keen to join the RAF as Aircrew. He is currently studying for an International Baccalaureate equivalent to A levels . He has been advised to go to Uni due to the recruitment issue and cutbacks. What subject will you be studying at Uni and have you been advised what subjects are recommended for graduate entry. Alternatively he is looking at the Canadian Airforce or USAF .

Greengrass, any good degree. A 2.1 is good but a 2.2 and a broad set of interests and skills can offset the lower degree.

A history or international relations degree would be suitable for Intelligence as would a science degree - analysis.

A science degree would be an asset if going for logistics.

Many Cranwell graduates have BEng.

Many Admin types have LLB.

Languages can be very useful for many tours later on.

I would disagree. A logistics degree would be an asset if going for logistics, but other than that, any degree would be fine.

Mr C, I bow to your knowledge except that Miss PN, a logistician told me that a BSc was preferred to a BA.

Greengrass:

First rule of Service life - always have a plan B. Your son is best off doing the degree he wants to do, not the degree he thinks will please OASC. The reality is that his chances of making RAF aircrew were slim and are now slimmer, so he needs a degree that will be useful to him later in life, or elsewhere in the RAF (or the RN/Army).

As it happens there is no "perfect" aircrew degree subject - they need to be numerate, but don't need a Maths degree, they need to be able to write well enough, but don't need a degree in English. They need leadership skills, but a management degree won't help. A foreign language is no bad thing - see if you can work out who we will be fighting in ten to twenty years time, perhaps.

I knew a capable Dark Blue pilot with a degree in theology, which always seemed a good choice - even if he didn't believe in God, he might have understood his mysterious ways ;)

Depends where you get your degree - I have an MA but it was in aero eng.

TS, her's was in modern history and her thesis was on Air Power. She was too slight for aircrew and was aiming at Intelligence - I know, oxymoron - except that the ratio of suppliers to intel is 3:1 and they needed loggies.

There is a desire to see the whole Log Branch as graduates with appropriate membership of a professional body - but given you don't need a degree to be a Loggie, I fail to see how there can be a degree of preference. Meh - not that I care any more :E

Unless that's a Cambridge MA i can't help think the 'true' Eng content of an MA degree is limited.

And I can't help but think that the 'true' content of a Cambridge MA which turns up in the post automatically a few years after you graduate with a BA is limited. Much rather have my well-earned postgrad MSc in hard sums thanks.

Need some advice, The RAF recently put the maths grade up to a 'B', as nailed on is this grade as I have no time to be able to retake yet I can confidently do speed sums etc.

Cesc

Not sure what you're asking, i'll let someone else pick up that issue. The gcse grade required in maths is indeed B for the aptitude branches. If you don't have that, you are not educationally eligible to apply.

Cesc,

You may be the best speed summer in the world, but unfortunately you need that Grade B, especially in the situation the RAF is in.

As I asked previously, its a simple filter exercise, who has a B/who doesn't.

I was in the same position, I have two GCSE Mathematics grades both at Higher C, one was 9 marks away from a B.

I am hoping that in June 2011 I can re-sit one module to push the grade up to a strong B.

Best of Luck.:ok:

@ Greengrass

Applied to do Maths this year, I chose to do this because it is what I am good at, your son should chose something he enjoys (he will be doing it for thee years remember). In terms of what the RAF think, I wouldn't worry too much (I think they care more about your personal development, maturity/responsibility ect)

Maths, Engineering, Sciences, History, English, Foreign languagues, logistics/management are just some decent choices of the top of my head though. As long as he doesn't take some joke of a subject where all he does is drink for three years.

Pilot intake for the financial year 2011/12 has been set a 0...targets for 2012/13 could be similar.

Source: letter of 17/3/2011, O/C OASC RAF Cranwell.

Like it or not, the situation is perfecty clear. Endex. How about giving this thread a rest for a few years then, until there is something to talk about?

Europaflyer

...because other trades and branches continue to be available...

Well back in january I scored 130 they had just changed required aptitude score for pilot to 125 up from 112. So was given it bluntly that it would take 9 months for any movement with regards to a return to cranwell and it is increasingly unlikely to be successful this time round. Thankfully when I started my application to the RAF I applied for university at the same time and am now studying Engineering. So now is the waiting game.

Also it doesn't matter what type of degree you get just do something you enjoy and can use outside the RAF if it doesn't pay off. To my knowledge the only type they dont accept are art based degree's

Edit again; When did you go down MC19 when I was there, there was only like 15 people and only 2 of us passed for pilot to my knowledge.

The RN and AAC are still hiring though.

My test date was January 12th 2011 so was up on the 11th-12th! Was the same with me, except there were about 40 candidates of varying career paths and about 3 pilots passed.

I rang RAF Cranwell earlier to get some information on our positions. They said it's likely that I'll take my exercise phase around August, and that IOT is re-opening April 2012 at the earliest!

Ha I was the day after we had a northern Irish guy from your who had failed by one mark because of the increase.