They do not accept paper applications.

Thanks Downsizer,

I thought that was the case, but needed confirmation. :ok:

WSO (nav in old money:ok:) recruitment to start ASAP.

If you score highly at CBAT expect to be pushed this way.....

Put another way, it provides a fall back position for some u/t pilots that fail to graduate.

I had a feeling this may happen as I was given a WSO score in my recent batch of CBATs.

Downsizer,

Out of interest, any news on how soon a time scale they'll start recruiting?

Probably the new year.

That soon, blimey.

Would there be a Fast Jet stream to see Tornado out or will it be purely ISTAR fleet?

Who knows, but I would expect like the pilot stream, recruit for FJ and stream those deemed less suited to FJ. Later potential retreat.

What is recruitment for FJ looking like at the moment? Non existent or pretty average?

Out of interest; any news on the recent WSO rumour of re-introduction of the role?

Hi everyone,

Recently got back from OASC and recently told I was unsuccessful. Rather than wait another 12 months I am applying to the non-commissioned ranks and get some experience before perhaps trying again. However, do you get many applicants in their late 20s.

The boarding officer suggested it may be teenagers and would like to know if its worth it..? :confused:

By all means join as a tradesman, or NCA, but do not assume that you will automatically get another go at a commission. You will have to be a high performer in your chosen trade to get the chance and it may not hapoen before you get too old. Still you could follow my path and stay in the NCA world for 34 years instead - after passing the maximum entry age for Pilot before getting good enough reports to go back to IOT. :)

Oh and you'll need way better sentence constuction than that too!

Whether it's worth it depends largely on your aims and ambitions. If all you want to do is be in the RAF, then it might well be, and you aren't that bothered about rank or trade. If you're thinking it could be a stepping stone, as camelspyder noted, it could go either way, and OASC will expect more of you as an ex-ranker given the exposure you'll have had. That said, I personally know of at least 3 individuals who joined as NCO aircrew and went on to get a commission, including one as a pilot. So it can be done, but it's not necessarily easy.

Oh and unless there are genuinely no vacancies in the Branch / Trade you're interested in, or you are outside the criteria, just bear in mind that OASC will try to steer you down certain routes to meet quotas - they tried to push me into Med Spt to meet such a quota. So when they say it's impossible or suck their teeth and say oooh tricky like a plumber you've just called on Christmas Day to fix the boiler, bear that in mind and follow your heart and instincts and go for it anyway. I'd be doing medical admin if I'd listened to them when I went through!

There were a couple of lads at OASC that were rankers and said they asked their boss after a couple of good reviews and he gave them the green light. Seems much more supportive than the other services.

But the boarding officer highlighted the lack of military experience on my CV and suggested I go reserve or non-commissioned.

...but is Halton full of whipper-snappers??

And I know NCA to Air Cdre.

Reference in-Service support, one son-in-law applied for a commission in the Army but his trade was in short supply and they turned him down. He found a loop hole and applied to the RAF. He is now a wg cdr after 10 years.

Must be a no? A mate of mine in recruitment has heard about the rumour but has no info on any future recruitment for the role.

WSO is currently unavailable.

WSO is currently set to re-open next year, in anticipation of manning increases for P-8, Reaper, Protector, and a couple of other platforms.