RAF : Officer / Pilot Entry

soz but going back to the 'basket weaving' thing - i know someone at 47sqn and 30sqn and both said that most of the pilots done say a degree in farming (agriculture) but still got in to the RAF, so i assume its easier to attend a UAS if u dont do much complicated theory work then. Because many ppl iv met say they never had much time for the UAS.

Don't forget that UAS isn't a prerequisite. I wouldn't sacrifice doing an interesting or challenging degree just so I could join some club. If you don't have time for UAS then you don't have time, your degree should not suffer; although I would be very surprised if you didn't. Think how you'd look coming out with a degree in law and having attended UAS. Time management is a desirable trait in an officer.

Hi everyone,
I'm 18 at the moment. I attended OASC last august and was awarded the pilot scholarship, which is direct entry as a pilot on a permanent commission (until im 38), plus £1000 for my upper sixth year, and a reserved place on the 'In-service' degree scheme (several years down the line i do an OU degree, paid for by the RAF, of course). Out of 277 pilot applicants only 2 of us were chosen, so listen in!
Go to RAF careers website, click on missions, then old missions. These are jazzed up versions of the 1st half hour of the aptitude tests. Practice these every day.
I recommend playing on a flight sim a much as you can, these will hone any innate ability you may (or may not) have. Knowing how an aircraft instrument panel looks will help loads.
Learn to do mental arithmetic almost subconsciously, by practice! You will have to do sums whilst doing a memory task and a vigilance task.
Get an IQ-type-test book. improve your problem solving abilities. Know how to read and estimate compass bearings, and how to read figures from charts and tables very rapidly.
About 40 candidates were at breakfast on my OASC course the 1st morning, after the first 5 hours (the aptitude test) all but 11 of us were on the bus back to grantham station! its pretty ruthless.
The rest of the day is medical tests (not a lot you can change there, but ensure you are roughly the right weight for your height and frame).
More medical checks the next day, and an INTERVIEW!!
Know everything about raf equipment, bases and operations overseas. Know current affairs, recent military campaigns (of any country), domestic affairs, cultural issues, political issues. Know sincerely why you want to join the RAF. Learn how to carry yourself in an i/v (posture, body language, eye contact). You'll have 20 minutes to answer questions about yourself, so sell yourself! The interview is blag-proof, be direct, confident and concise!
The fitness test is 20 metre shuttle runs (bleep test) which is hard as it is a maximal test. Train like a soldier for this, an run till your hanging out of your arse! Good fitness shows dedication and a mature approach to your application as a military officer.
In the leadership tasks have plenty of confidence and drive, get involved and dont be afraid to be vocal. What use is an idea if you keep it to yourself?
The planning task is all about good arithmetic (speed/distance/time) and speedy thought and accurate calculations. Dont let them rip your plan to shreds, they will try!
If you are successful at this stage, give yourself a pat on the back. They will, however, recall you after a period of time for more in depth medical checks.
Oh and by the way, you need 5 GCSE's and 2 A levels at the very least. A Good CV goes a long way. You cannot wear glasses, have asthma, hayfever, epilepsy, migraines or be outside weight and height limits.
Best of luck to anyone who tries OASC for entry as a pilot, its damn selective!
I hope this advice helps,
Godspeed!

Is it actually this tough for any-one wishing to join the raf in a trade such as the RAF police? oh and how many new entrants drop out due to aptitude/selection tests.

Don't forget that UAS isn't a prerequisite. I wouldn't sacrifice doing an interesting or challenging degree just so I could join some club. If you don't have time for UAS then you don't have time, your degree should not suffer; although I would be very surprised if you didn't. Think how you'd look coming out with a degree in law and having attended UAS. Time management is a desirable trait in an officer.

I don't want you to take my point out of context. Perhaps "just some club" was a poor - albeit firmly tongue in cheek - choice of words, what I meant is that even assuming a career in the RAF is the ultimate goal, then doing a 'basket weaving' degree at the expense of whatever you would otherwise choose simply to allow time for UAS is ridiculous.

Based on the medical requirements for pilots, along with the competition and selection procedure assuming anything about future suitability is reckless. I don't mean to be the naysayer of the thread, and I hope everyone achieves what they set out for, but it pays to have a backup plan just in case.

Now, go and do something nice for your Mums!

I'm just curious, what length of comission is everyone going for?

BlackHawk - I initially applied for 6 yr SSC, but after filter at my AFCO, was recommended to extend it to full (what with the cuts coming into effect ~ 2008, which would be when I would apply for extension. News was that of about 60 officers who applied for the extension, last year, none got it. *gulp*).

Which I did, but now also I am personally more convinced about the long-haul than the short-haul - not only does it show dedication but after my recent station visits, I think it really is for me.

There is the option, after about 8 years, I think, to review your permanent commission status. I await correction from those in the know if I am wrong!
How about yourself - SSC or PC?

I volunteer with the RSPCA at the minute and it's quite easily to get involved on a small scale, you just turn up. As for the ATC, I'm looking into that too actually though I sent away for the information pack and have still heard nothing Maybe its time for a trip down to AFCO or something.

I noticed a few of you where thinking of joining the air cadets? I would highly recomend it to you.Ive been in the air cadets for about 1.5 years now. and its grate fun. you get free flying and shooting, visits to raf camps and drill of course . also you people who are over 16 get to do courses in parachuting and complete up to half of the flying hours you need for ppl

Thats quite interesting about the RSPCA, although probabably not best suited to myself, im not too keen around animals.

your aircadet information pack is probably as lost as my raf carers back I requested a year ago. I even got a call in december (took them 8 months to ask but its still nice they did) from the recruitment main office asking if I was persuing things after receaving the pack

think what I will do is use the contact number for the dundee branch that was listed on the aircadet site and see what happens from there

i'd have to say that pc is my aim, civil based jobs just arnt appealing to me. I've worked full time in IT in the past and I was just never happy

not an animal guy eh? Not even the fluffy bunnies? lol
I'm looking into volunteering down my local homeless shelter. Give something back to the community and whatnot seeing as I only do the RSPCA once a week.

I think the moral of that story (for anyone reading this thread) is to go into your AFCO for anything you need

I feel the exact same way. I can't explain it but I have no interest in civvy jobs at all. The forces is what I want, its just a need I have.