Originally Posted by Wallazabal
Basically it looks like the 15k pay rate applies whilst at Cranwell as an officer cadet. As and acting Plt Off on phase 2 training, your husband's salary would be around 24k.
Wallazabal,
Thank you for posting that info.
Originally Posted by charley24
My husband has an RJP soon and is hoping to be an ABM, fingers crossed, the wheels are in motion so to speak, we know it's a long road ahead, but I am a planner and like to be in the know !
Charley,
Just to further clarify the info Wallazabal has usefully linked - if your husband holds a degree, he would graduate IOT as a Flying Officer and receive a salary at Level 6, approx £29k, which will increase by one level each year. If he does not hold a degree, he would graduate as a Pilot Officer as Wallazabal says and progress annually from there. Again, as Wallazabal says, during the 6 months or so he would be at RAFC Cranwell, he would receive approx £15k pro-rata.
All of this is academic at this stage. I appreciate you want to get more detail, and you're quite right to arm yourself with the facts - common sense after all! There's a couple of things I'd also like to stress, based on personal experience. I'm sure you're probably already considering them, but they're points for others reading this, too.
The application process itself can take upwards of 18 months; some people on here are experiencing longer timescales. There is no guarantee of acceptance until long after OASC. Your husband should certainly not be talking to his employers about moving on until he has the letter from OASC saying he's been accepted. Ideally, even then he should be cautious and should not make any undertakings until he's been given a firm date for starting IOT.
Actually, based on my own experience, there are no guarantees if OASC subsequently uncover something, but there's no legislating for that! I received a phone call on the Friday prior to starting IOT on the Sunday telling me not to report for duty... I'm sure this is rather exceptional behaviour on their part, but I then had to wait another 8 months before I was allowed to start IOT. It was a medical deferral, so I may be somewhat unique (I'm very special
) - my point is, and it should be something OASC tell your husband if he's successful (they certainly told me): he shouldn't give notice until the latest reasonable point prior to starting IOT. Most employers require 30 days, so I was caught coming and going, but my case is illustrative. I was fortunate - my employer essentially tore up my resignation and I continued working there. As usual, what I'm banging on about is risk - there is always a risk, but since you're a planner, if you know the worst case, you can take measures in mitigation - so there you go, my worst-case example!
The risk doesn't end there, though; in chronological order, potential points of failure are (assuming he's passed the AFCO interview?):
- OASC
- IOT (people do fail, or withdraw, or undergo medical discharge...)
- ABMSC (potentially 6-weeks after IOT...)
- During professional training - earliest fail point is 10-weeks into the IDC - the shorter of the 2 main courses - but any point thereafter it
could happen.
Now let's look at actual failure rates:
OASC - a recent correspondent told me 66% of his intake failed; rates seems to be running around the 50 - 60% mark judging by other posters on here, but these are just hearsay not official figures.
IOT - here I don't actually know, but I'd say it was pretty low - there's a greater risk of re-course and subsequent Commissioning than failing, I suspect!
ABMSC-onward - Our current (today) overall failure rate stands at 15%; or, rather, on selection to ABM at OASC, your husband has an 85% likelihood of completing his professional training.
So, given the figures, and PS may have a clearer perspective, I'd say the biggest risk is at OASC, which bears up my earlier comments.
Originally Posted by charley24
In addition myself and our children plan to stay at home for the time being, until we know what the future holds, and for some of the training this should be manageable - we are based 45 miles from Boulmer. Although realise that long spells away from home and in different counties/countries is the norm !
You're in quite a fortunate position in many ways - I've been at Boulmer for nigh on 7 years now. There is a strong likelihood that your husband would end up working here as well - quite often a family situation such as your can be taken into account for posting on completion of ABM training, but Service need always comes first (as you recognise
).
From what you've written, your husband has the desire to succeed at this and that is one of the key factors, so I wish him the best of luck for OASC! I'll be at the Meet and Greet for the RJP and if he wants to speak to me in person he's very welcome. Just tell him to ask for 'Vizzini'. Same applies to anyone else coming up here who's reading this!
Vizzini
Armed forces discussion.
Useful Resources:
Re: Ask an ABM.
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