Good Luck
 

It is clearly possible to cross the divide, but it is not easy.. there are many ex ground bods who have done it...several reaching the exalted level of `Airship`(see above)

A word of warning, however, with the demise of Tornado "within a few years" (actual date dependent on the latest oops! oh dear another clusterf*k life extension) there will not be a two seat fast jet in service. This will surely hamper converting Weapons Techs as they must go round in pairs - one who can read and one who can do the joindey-up writing. :)

Nonetheless - good luck with your endeavors and joining the RAF Gliding & Soaring Association (or a RAF power flying club if you must)and learning how to fly WILL help I`m sure. For trainees, there are active gliding clubs at Cosford, Halton and Cranwell :ok:

English Lang?

I know personally know plenty of armourers who have gone NCA Aircrew or WSOp as it is called today.

The way I see it you have 2 options.

Get in as an armourer and do all you can do further your knowledge of WSOp so when you hit the AFCO for WSOp Filter Int and then OASC you'll have it nailed. Use this time to make sure you have the exact educational requirements. I've never known a serving airman in the current climate to be refused a crack at OASC.

Or

Use the next 2 years or so till your eligible to apply to get some life experience and then apply as a DE WSOp.

Hi RG56, you seem to have a fairly decent plan but there will be huge distractions. The system for re-mustering these days is very good and gives you a fair chance (unlike the old days when the Station Board had a say!).

Once you're in there will be lots of training (even Armourers are trained, apparently :E), beer, after that a posting to somewhere, beer, more training, exercises, beer, deployments, guard duty, beer, rent a crowd, beer, random deployments i.e: Bailing out the government for anything, beer, more random stuff, beer, more training, beer, Adeventure Training, beer, Force Development, beer, next posting to somewhere new, beer, more training, beer, etc.

If you are serious about making it to NCA you will need to remain focused on your goal, get the qualifications you need and apply as soon as possible, don't keep saying 'I'm busy at the moment I'll do it next year' otherwise you won't make it. Use the excellent Education facilities the RAF has and let your line mangers know what you want to do once you are posted, they should fully support you, if they are not don't worry you will have a career manager on Station who will be able to help, and hopefully sort out your line manager too!

Good luck, keep your eyes on the prize :ok:

O-P wrote:

Cliff Spink, in common with many others, proceeded more or less directly from Apprentice Training at Halton to becoming an Flight Cadet at Cranwell. They joined in the technical trades but never served any significant time in them.

Halton; or Locking; to Cranwell was a route that served the RAF well, providing a good many high fliers.

YS

Commisioning Club?
 

..is that some sort of posh `ammer? :)

If so, the lad seems to be headed the right way, him becoming a plumber and all that!

;);)