Should I sacrifice my braces to attempt to become a pilot in the RAF?
 

It has been my dream to become a pilot in the RAF for a very long time. A few months ago I recieved a text message from RAF Careers saying that my prefered role (pilot) has opened. I leaped at the opportunity and returned all of the application forms within a couple of hours.

I was then invited to a presentation at my local ACFO, which I attended and was then invited to carry out the RAF computer based aptitude tests at RAF Cranwell. After 9 long hours of aptitude testing, I passed!
I was then invited to attend a filter interview at an AFCO, just yesterday. I begin revising straight away and continued to every day up until the interview. I arrived at the AFCO, sat down and the Officer looked at me and say "you've got braces. You can't progress any further in the application process until you have those braces removed." After hours upon hours of revision, I was sent home.

My question is, should I have my braces removed to continue with my application? Or do I wait about 1 year until my dental treatment is completed and then reapply. Bearing in mind that the RAF may not be recruiting pilots when the treatment is complete and that I will possibly have to resit all of the aptitude tests, which I may not pass again.
I really can't decide what to do. If I was guaranteed a place in the RAF as a pilot, I would have the braces removed without hesitation. It is the fact that I may not be successful and then be left with no braces.

Thanks for your help! I don't just want to join the RAF because I don't know what else to do. I like really really want to! (I'm 18 by the way)

Ditch the braces, then visit the dentist when you pass Cranwell :-) (oh look I've made 216 posts on the day that they disband!)

Ditch the braces - no brainer.

Should I sacrifice my braces to attempt to become a pilot in the RAF?
 

Ditch em , once in a life time chance here .

I think I'd rather wait a year, know my teeth will be ok, and apply at 19 rather than 18. If the alternative is possibly just getting in a year early (why the rush) but having a lifetime of dodgy, crooked teeth....?

I would wait until my treatment is completed, however it's the fact I may have to redo my aptitude tests (which I may fail) and they might not want pilots. I've had to wait a couple of years to actually be invited to apply

Ditch the braces and go for it. You can always go back to braces later if you want, but the opportunity to become a pilot may not be open later on. Seize the day!
Have you tried a belt?

OK, I will bite (excuse the pun).
Is this some kind of a wind up?
Braces or flying jets??

Are you mentally unstable or what?
What will you tell your kids in future:

Well kids, daddy is a loss adjuster for Aviva because he chose to wear braces rather than become a Typhoon jock wazzing everywhere, but atleast daddy has a nice smile nowadays doesn't he?

Get a damn life will you!:ugh::}:}:}:}:}:}:}:}:}:}:}:}:}::}

Most of our pilots have wonky teeth - part of the British charm. If you were joining the PTI branch however......

The fact that you have to ask the question on a public forum and give the impression that you could possibly be swayed by the views of people who you dont know, makes me think that perhaps your decision making skills fall slightly short of those I would hope are required of a front line military pilot.

Thomas coupling,

Strapping yourself into a fast jet maybe once or twice a week for a few hours in some God forsaken remote part of Perfidious Albion isn't everyone's idea of a "life"......

simplythebeast,

???????????????????

Have you met any front line military pilots?

Take no notice of those miserable bar stewards on this forum who lose no opportunity to spread their venom. They are absolutely not typical of the people you will meet in the Services, but they serve their purpose by teaching you whom to ignore and to grow a thick skin.
Well done for putting your question to a military aircrew forum. It shows initiative. Don't be put off by the pooh stirrers. Bin the braces and give it a go. The sky is the limit!
Good luck.

Many pilots have wonky faces to disguise their wonky teeth!

Go for the dream and ambition - as stated, good dental treatment is available in the service. You could, however, obtain advice from your current dentist as to whether suitable treatment could be applied in a year or so with the same end result...

Be fair, chaps !... Give the lad a break !.....He's only asking a simple question.

My snaggers (when I had any) were all over the place. Never did me any harm. Let's cut to the quick: any sensible girl looks at the whole package, not at just a set of dentures...D.

Gut feeling, frankly if you even had to ask you won't make it anyway.....

Take it from an unbiased individual. Most aircrew are so ugly that they have to learn to fly to stand a chance at pulling after happy hour. If it is what you want above all else, you've got to go for it :ok:

What's wrong with asking people on this forum? I know plenty of pilots that suffer the opposite problem of being too stubborn to question their own opinions!!

Jack, I would ditch the cheese-graters and crack on every single time...unless you have the teeth of Shane MacGowan!

Course you could always keep the braces and apply to the US Navy - apparently a gleaming set of gnashers is a prerequisite for their FJ pilots.

I mean, just look at Tom Cruise. Do you think they'd have let him fly that Tomcat with a set like this?

http://parkorthodontics.co.uk/wp-con...ise-Before.jpg

No wonder he had his teeth fixed. ;)

http://parkorthodontics.co.uk/wp-con...os-angeles.jpg

Use a belt instead.....:}

Hat/coat etc