RAF - OASC

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What is OASC?

OASC stands for Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre. OASC is located at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire. This is the final stage of assesment for Officer and Aircrew candidates.

What Does OASC Consist of?

OASC is currently a four day selection process that breaks down into the following:

Day One

You arrive at Cranwell and have an initial briefing. You will have the evening free to yourself.

Day Two

A 0615 start followed by Aptitude testing! The length of this test varies from depending on branch choice, but can last up to seven hours. These tests are computer based. You will be tested on such topics as; deductive reasoning, memory, spatial orientation, mental agility and hand/foot/eye coordination. These tests are designed to help identify abilities that the RAF, and your chosen branch are looking for. Lunch is taken during a half hour break towards the ends of the test.

Following your aptitude test you will be called for a review. You will be told how you performed and if you made the required aptitude score for your branch choices. All test results are confidential and someone will be there to advise you how your score affects your application, as well as an overview of any areas to improve. Some candidates may leave at this stage.

After this, you change into coveralls and bibs, break down into syndicates and commence the Exercise Phase.

First, your photo is taken with your assigned syndicate and number, for reference purposes.

The syndicates move to their respective syndicate rooms where they first partake in the Group Discussion: The group discussion is an informal discussion on current affairs topics which require no in-depth knowledge as such. Candidates are expected to produce valid comments and qualified opinions on the topics yet must be able to listen to the other members of the group. There are three topics and they may be such as, "Has technology made it easier to communicate or has it adversely affected the way we socialise?", "Is the Olympic Games in 2012 a good thing for Great Britain?".

After the group discussion comes the Group Planning Exercise: The Group Plan-ex involves a twenty minute private study period in which the candidates may, individually, look at the information presented before them and come up with a plan. After the twenty minutes comes a further twenty minutes (PLEASE QUALIFY - UNSURE) in which the syndicate may, together, discuss their options and formulate a plan. After the second period has elapsed, the boarding officers question each member of the syndicate on their plan.

This is the end of Day Two, candidates may retire to their rooms and the Candidates' Mess.

Information correct as of 10/08/2008

Day Three

Day three continues the exercise phase. After reveille and breakfast, the candidates make their way to Adastral house where they will undertake a number of exercises.

Firstly, the candidates undergo the Hangar Familiarisation. This informs the candidates of what is to come during the hangar exercises, they are given safety information and some information on how to approach the tasks. This includes some demonstrations of various techniques that can be implemented.

After the Familiarisation, boarding officers collect their syndicates and take them to one of the Leaderless Exercises: The leaderless exercise is 30 minutes long. The candidates will be presented with a problem and will be expected to work together to accomplish the task.

After the Leaderless Exercise, candidates move on to the Command Situation Exercise: The CS Exercise is 15 minutes long. Each candidate will lead a command situation exercise, those who are not leading an exercise are still members of the team. The leader is taken away, briefed and then given a compulsory two minute planning period in which they may pick up equipment and obstacles, move things around and walk all over the exercise area. They are then told to call for their syndicate from across the hangar, brief their syndicate and accomplish the task.

Lunch follows completion of all the Leaderless Exercises

After lunch, some candidates may not continue to the final phase.

The remaining candidates will be taken upstairs to the medical board. Medicals will commence. Medicals are different depending on what branch is being applied for, but for aircrew it includes the following: Eyesight, Hearing, Blood Test (Day four), ECG, Anthropometrics, Physical Medical Examination

Meanwhile, some candidates may have their OASC Interviews in between medical examinations.

Day three concludes with the candidates being allowed to retire to the mess. Any candidate receiving a blood test must not eat or drink (except water) after 2000 on day three.

Information correct as of 10/08/2008

Day Four

Medicals and interviews continue on day four. Upon completion, coveralls are returned and candidates change into sports kit.

Candidates complete the fitness assessment which comprises of an MSFT (bleep test), press ups and sit ups. (SEE BELOW)

Upon completion of the fitness assessment, candidates return to their accomodation, change and leave OASC.

Information correct as of 10/08/2008

What Are The Fitness Requirements?

1.5 Mile (2.4 Km) Run (Correct March, 2010)

First set of figures (Higher time) is the Pass time (Amber). The second time is the Desired level of fitness (Green)

Pressup Test (time permitted: 1min)

First number represents Amber (Pass), Second number represents Green (Desired level of fitness)

SitUp Test (time permitted: 1min)

What Are The Medical Anthropometric Measurements For Pilot/WSO?

(Correct as of July 2009, from OASC med form) PILOT:

WSO:

Eyesight Requirements

Pilot; Uncorrected Acuity 6/6, Refraction range plano to +1.75. Cyl up to +0.75. That means you MUST have 6/6 vision with NO myopia but a small range of long sightedness is acceptable. You can have virtually no trace of astigmatism.

WSO: Uncorrected 6/24, correctable to 6/6, refraction -1.25 to +3, cyl to +1.25. So you must be correctable to 6/6 with glasses or contacts, and you can't have a myopia/long sightedness of less than -1.25 or greater than +3.

WSOp is uncorrected 6/24, correctable to 6/6, with a refraction range of -2 to +3. Linguists can get away with -4 to +4.

What Can I expect from the aptitude tests?

Some of the tests are the following: (From RAF Testing Methods Booklet)

Control of Velocity test (CVT)

Use a joystick left and right to hit the targets. The targets are small circles cascading down the screen but theres a delay between what you do, and the dot actually moving.

Instrument Comprehension (INSC)

A measure of general and spatial awareness using basic aircraft instrumentation (alt, art horiz, vertical speed, air speed, compass aswell as turn and bank). First part uses just the artificial horizon and compass to identify the correct orientation of an aircraft from a set of pictures, the second part uses all 6 instruments and given a number of verbal descriptions of orientation. You then have determine which description matches what you have on screen.

Sensory Motor Apparatus (SMA)

This is basically a tracking task. Using a joystick and pedals to move a dot both horizontally (pedals) and vertically (joystick), keep the dot as close to the target as possible. The dot is moved away forcing you to compensate.

Digit Recall

Short term memory test where you are presented with sets of numbers of varying length on screen, each being shown for about 10 secs. As soon as it disappears you have to type the number in.

Vigilance (VIG)

You are presented with a 9x9 matrix on screen. Each cell in the matrix is identified by numbers along the top and left hand side. You then are asked to do 2 tasks; 1 routine and the other priority. The routine tasks involves entering the cell number when a star appears in it, the priority task involves doing the same when an arrow appears. This has to be cancelled first by pressing a key then entering the cell number.

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Also See

Why not read these other RAF Articles?

• RAF - How to Join and Preparing for Interviews
• RAF - NCO vs Officer
• RAF - Roles, Ranks and Joint Operations
• RAF - Senior Commanders, Eligibility, Contacting the RAF
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