OASC...a fail??

Guys

I just completed OASC last week. I thought all had gone not 2 badly, aptitude pass with pilot grades which is more than enough for WSOp ALM which is my branch. Interview went well, and onto phase 2!

Phase 2 went as well as can be expected...no one in my group finished their tasks, the group discussion was fine and the group planning and individual planning and command tasks didnt go badly!! I aced the fitness test and swimming test for Aircrew.

Then came the letter...I am now on a review board for March and my overall grade is a C+ and I require development.

Thing is the letter that I have describing my final performance completely contradicts what the reports on my interview and exercise phase state. I have an infantry backgroud and serve as a Corporal, I know a thing or 2 about commanding troops, and the Board President's Report describes someone else entirely. It certainly doesnt follow suit for any other course reports I have had in my career.

The cover letter states...'I am pleased to tell you, you have been placed on a list for futher consideration'.

Has anyone else had a similar experience??

Ice

Reply 1

djmm

15

icemann2k

Guys

I just completed OASC last week. I thought all had gone not 2 badly, aptitude pass with pilot grades which is more than enough for WSOp ALM which is my branch. Interview went well, and onto phase 2!

Phase 2 went as well as can be expected...no one in my group finished their tasks, the group discussion was fine and the group planning and individual planning and command tasks didnt go badly!! I aced the fitness test and swimming test for Aircrew.

Then came the letter...I am now on a review board for March and my overall grade is a C+ and I require development.

Thing is the letter that I have describing my final performance completely contradicts what the reports on my interview and exercise phase state. I have an infantry backgroud and serve as a Corporal, I know a thing or 2 about commanding troops, and the Board President's Report describes someone else entirely. It certainly doesnt follow suit for any other course reports I have had in my career.

The cover letter states...'I am pleased to tell you, you have been placed on a list for futher consideration'.

Has anyone else had a similar experience??

Ice

C+ is decent, though you might fancy checking your branch choices. You don't join as your specialisation; it's given to you after you complete generic aircrew training at 55. You've been placedin a sift, don't worry about it, you're competitive enough not to be told to reapply in a year etc.

Reply 2

M!ke

You lucky git! Got your letter already! I went to OASC on the 23rd Jan and I'm still waiting :frown:

Reply 3

icemann2k

OP

Yeah on my report I scored highest on the WSOp ALM branch, and the report states thats where I would be best suited...just as well its where I want to go!!

Waiting that amount of time for your letter is outrageous! Which branch are you going for??

Ice

Reply 4

M!ke

I suppose it takes longer as it has to come through PSF to my flight commander. Whatever reason it is, it's frustrating!

I'm going for Fighter Control , FltOps and Supply.

Reply 5

icemann2k

OP

All I can say buddy is when it comes be prepared for a complete dressing down, as that seems to be the theme.

Some of the things they have said about me contradict the black and white reports, and are completely out of character.

They are very heavy handed with the report, even in sections you clearly did well in.

Reply 6

luxurydave1

M!ke - I went through OASC on the 7th of Jan and got my letter from OC PSF on the 2nd of Feb. I rang OC PSF just to remind him that i was expecting my results to go through him, just in case he didn't act on the envelope dropping on his desk straight away.
I am in the sift waiting until March for a result. Going for Flt Ops and ATC
Good luck and chase OC PSF Monday just in case!

I would agree that the report from OASC is very frank and does lean towards the negative points at your time there, but i think that is common even for those who get through so don't take it too much to heart!

Reply 7

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

icemann2k

Then came the letter...I am now on a review board for March and my overall grade is a C+ and I require development.

Thing is the letter that I have describing my final performance completely contradicts what the reports on my interview and exercise phase state. I have an infantry backgroud and serve as a Corporal, I know a thing or 2 about commanding troops, and the Board President's Report describes someone else entirely. It certainly doesnt follow suit for any other course reports I have had in my career.

Two points. They were looking at you for a job as a Sgt, and a Sgt in an extremely responsible position from very early on in his career. Therefore, even if you performed like a very competent, experienced Corporal, you would have fallen well below the required standard. Sounds to me like you didn't do too badly at all given your background and what you were applying for.

Secondly, the Services eat their babies! That is, at no time in my aircrew career did I hear of, see or receive a report that ever felt any necessity to report back what I or anyone else had done well, they always report exclusively on your failings and weaknesses. Success is just a tick in the box, failure is written about in every agonising detail - that's just the way the reporting system is, and particularly the aircrew system. Any jobs that have a life and death element, Aircrew, ATC, FC etc will have training and reporting systems that have a very firm bottom line - drop below that line even by a millimetre and you are chopped. No-one cares of you do a perfect talk-down or a perfect intercept or a perfect log and chart, if you have made one single safety mistake. It's just not the Service way to praise achieving the standard, which leaves people only open to commenting on genuine excellence, or failings and weaknesses.

Reply 8

icemann2k

OP

I just heard today that one of my friends who is already serving RAF from OASC got thru he starts leadership training at RAF Cranwell in July. I am very very pleased for him. It also means there is still a chance as out of my selection board there were 3 of us going aircrew, 2 B minus grades and a C+, 2 of us are in the hold and one got thru.

I think it will just be a numbers game now, depending on how many B and C grades they have to decide upon. I sincerely hope I get thru however it is now out of my hands!!