RAF Application - WSOp

Good job Jamie. What's next for you?

I can't get my head round the way they do selection in 2017. In my day, you popped in to the AFCO for a wee chat, then a few weeks later dropped into OASC for the whole procedure. Medical and aptitude first - that culled a high percentage. Interview, a few more dropped out. Finally the group and individual problem solving, followed by hangar leadership exercises. Generally you heard the result after about a month. I applied in May, OASC in July, and started OCTU (poor man's IOT) the following January.

Seems a lot more convoluted these days, but probably saves the public purse a few quid.

Seconded, Well done Jamie.

IIRC, it'll now be a interview at the candidates local AFCO, followed by fitness test at the local Nuffield gym, then the Capitia medical, then the remainder of OASC I believe.

However, the above could also be the route for the RN Aircrewman selection, so apologies if I've not got it correct.


Ikaruss, it's interesting. I believe the new route of selection must be a recent change (by recent within the last 5 years - however, I stand to be corrected).
One thing I wanted to ask, nowadays, you can resit CBAT as many times as you wish (unless you're deemed a complete dimwit) - has it always been the case, or was there a limit?

Thanks,

Nathan




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Good job Jamie. What's next for you?

I can't get my head round the way they do selection in 2017. In my day, you popped in to the AFCO for a wee chat, then a few weeks later dropped into OASC for the whole procedure. Medical and aptitude first - that culled a high percentage. Interview, a few more dropped out. Finally the group and individual problem solving, followed by hangar leadership exercises. Generally you heard the result after about a month. I applied in May, OASC in July, and started OCTU (poor man's IOT) the following January.

Seems a lot more convoluted these days, but probably saves the public purse a few quid.

RAF WSOP do not attend nuffield fitness assesments are held at OASC

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but is there not a PJFT? 1.5 mile run on a treadmill followed by Press ups & sit ups?


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Hey,
The information i have recieved from my AFCO they have told me the PJFT is for airman only and that WSOP fitness is held at OASC.

Good job Jamie. What's next for you?

I can't get my head round the way they do selection in 2017. In my day, you popped in to the AFCO for a wee chat, then a few weeks later dropped into OASC for the whole procedure. Medical and aptitude first - that culled a high percentage. Interview, a few more dropped out. Finally the group and individual problem solving, followed by hangar leadership exercises. Generally you heard the result after about a month. I applied in May, OASC in July, and started OCTU (poor man's IOT) the following January.

Seems a lot more convoluted these days, but probably saves the public purse a few quid.

Cheers ikaruss

I haven't had anything yet from my AFCO but I believe it's the filter interview next hopefully pass that then it will be OASC. Which is interview medical and leadership excercises , after that I'm in limbo a little probably find out more whilst I'm there as to what is after OASC aslong as I pass it 👍

You will have a medical with capita before you move onto OASC. After OASC if succesful is PRTC then onto Halton etc

Cheers for the info hog 👍 Hopefully keep progressing

When you pass your filter interview try and get onto the WSOP fam visit at Cranwell. Its one day and gave a really good insight to WSOP life and training. Got to meet the instructors, current students and get shown around 45 squadron, who do the WSOP training.

From my personal experience i'm not sure it saves money in the long run. Especially with regards to travel expenses, so far i have ran up a tab of £320, with an additional £80 to be added for my next trip to Cranwell. But then again i have no idea how much it costs to recruit the 'old' way. Maybe they have reduced costs with the 'new' way and those savings offset the travel expenses.

Hi Hog

I take it those costs are reimbursed, or do candidates now have to fund their own T&S when applying to the armed forces? In answer to your question, I'm not aware of any reports stating what savings have been accrued since Capita was awarded a large chunk of the UK armed forces recruitment piece in 2012.

However, there are a number of open source reports about the performance of Capita and their IT systems. See here for a Daily Telegraph article from Jan 2017 and here for an IT sector article (Nov16). In both of these articles, for Army, you can read across to RAF and RN.

As in all things in life, you get what you pay for, and cheap doesn't always (if ever) equate to better.

I'm sorry that your generation has had to endure the political pygmies and some appalling judgements from the establishment figures of my generation. There are some of us who fight back at the system, but it's a tough battle.

All the very best guys.

Yeah will do mate, allready been advised to do that if possible

When you do Jamie, ask about the WSOp role on the P8 Poseidon.

I presume you know that the RAF is getting 9 aircraft, with delivery starting in 2019. There will be 2 operational squadrons standing up (120 - boo, also known as CXX, and 201 - hurrah), and I presume there will be an OCU also (probably 42(R), again hurrah!)

The P8 has a nominal operating crew of 7 ( 2 x flight deck, 5 x tactical) but with an undisclosed number as relief operators (as with the previous MPA the Nimrod MR2). Of those tactical crew, 2 will be WSOs (Tactical Co-ordinators or TACCOs) and there will be 3 WSOps (sensor operators) split between EW (Electronic Warfare) and ACO (Acoustics). You may have twigged that the RAF haven't started selecting ACO WSOps yet, but will have to pretty soon I'd suggest.

With 2 squadrons (and potentially 8 crews per sqn), that means there will an operational requirement for at least 64 WSOps. I haven't factored in all the other WSOp roles which generally accompany the capability eg Ops Support, Simulator console staff, Software support, Instructors and standardisation personnel. That's quite a lot of new WSOp blood which will be required. All good for anyone looking to get into the RAF as a WSOp.

But.......

Have a think about the basing for P8. RAF Lossiemouth in the far NE of Scotland. Lovely part of the world (I spent 30+ years there), but you may have heard there are a few political rumblings and some of the natives are getting restless. What will this mean for you? Well, for a start, you may (will) find yourself paying different levels of taxation than your colleagues in RAF Lincolnshire. Many Nimrod people bought their own houses up there (and continue to be very happy) but with the threat of IndyRef2 (it's coming, mark my words) and resultant uncertainty over the presence of the RAF in Scotland, then it would be a brave person who would commit to buying a house in the current political climate. And don't forget, it is an awful long way north and you (and / or any partner you have) may not adjust to the long distance separation from family and friends. It will be the only WSOp posting north of Lincolnshire.

I don't want to put you off, and it will be a cracking job. Honestly, much better than RJ or the other ISTAR platforms, but after the initial euphoria of getting into the RAF has faded, you'll start rebalancing the work / life bit, and then you have the rest of your career to wonder what might have been.

Something to ponder.

Ikky

Sorry for the lack of clarity, the above figures i mention are ones i will get/have been reimbursed. Initial trips to AFCO for talks and presentations are self funded. CBAT, filter interview, medical and OASC are paid for.

It is a difficult job trying to 'balance the books' and at the same time maintain an efficient recruitment service. The army had an AFCO in my hometown, been closed for a couple of years now. I wonder how many potential candidates they have lost now that the nearest AFCO to my town is 2 hours away. I have a brother in the army and he 'popped' in one day on a whim 5 years later hes still serving, it wouldn't have happened if he had to travel 2 hours.

I will have have a read of those articles, they may even be appropiate to discuss at OASC.

To add to the above information when i was at cranwell during my fam visit, the instructors said they currently need to recruit 500 WSOP's over what time scale im unsure. They also told us we couldn't have picked a better time to try and join as a WSOP.

When you do Jamie, ask about the WSOp role on the P8 Poseidon.

I presume you know that the RAF is getting 9 aircraft, with delivery starting in 2019. There will be 2 operational squadrons standing up (120 - boo, also known as CXX, and 201 - hurrah), and I presume there will be an OCU also (probably 42(R), again hurrah!)

The P8 has a nominal operating crew of 7 ( 2 x flight deck, 5 x tactical) but with an undisclosed number as relief operators (as with the previous MPA the Nimrod MR2). Of those tactical crew, 2 will be WSOs (Tactical Co-ordinators or TACCOs) and there will be 3 WSOps (sensor operators) split between EW (Electronic Warfare) and ACO (Acoustics). You may have twigged that the RAF haven't started selecting ACO WSOps yet, but will have to pretty soon I'd suggest.

With 2 squadrons (and potentially 8 crews per sqn), that means there will an operational requirement for at least 64 WSOps. I haven't factored in all the other WSOp roles which generally accompany the capability eg Ops Support, Simulator console staff, Software support, Instructors and standardisation personnel. That's quite a lot of new WSOp blood which will be required. All good for anyone looking to get into the RAF as a WSOp.

But.......

Have a think about the basing for P8. RAF Lossiemouth in the far NE of Scotland. Lovely part of the world (I spent 30+ years there), but you may have heard there are a few political rumblings and some of the natives are getting restless. What will this mean for you? Well, for a start, you may (will) find yourself paying different levels of taxation than your colleagues in RAF Lincolnshire. Many Nimrod people bought their own houses up there (and continue to be very happy) but with the threat of IndyRef2 (it's coming, mark my words) and resultant uncertainty over the presence of the RAF in Scotland, then it would be a brave person who would commit to buying a house in the current political climate. And don't forget, it is an awful long way north and you (and / or any partner you have) may not adjust to the long distance separation from family and friends. It will be the only WSOp posting north of Lincolnshire.

I don't want to put you off, and it will be a cracking job. Honestly, much better than RJ or the other ISTAR platforms, but after the initial euphoria of getting into the RAF has faded, you'll start rebalancing the work / life bit, and then you have the rest of your career to wonder what might have been.

Something to ponder.

Ikky