RAF : Officer / Pilot Entry

Just a note - its the 30th November (there aren't 31 days)

Reply 102

Shen

lol

so yea...ummm

11 Days...

Shen

Reply 103

got my letter 2day - anyone else off to cranwell on the 18th jan for sixth form stuff??

Reply 104

Shen

Argh i just got my exam timetable today and have exams when im meant to be at Cranwell...

Any ideas on what i can do?? This is P**s poor admin by the RAF planning six form scholarship OASC date whilst AS exams are going on...

Argh!!

Help

Shen

Reply 105

really? now uve got me worried, havent got my timetable yet.

Call this number (its in the red booklet you got with your invite to cranwell:

(01400) 261201
Ext. for surnames A-G: 6726, H-O: 6730, P-Z: 6788

They should be able to help rearrange the Cranwell date.

Reply 106

creativesurgeon

Get an RAF recruitment pack from their website, I have, and it contains everything you'll need to know: finance, entry requirements, combat details, accomodation etc.

RAF-logo.gif1.0KB

Reply 107

steve_nels

Hi there, my post originally in this thread seems to hav been deleted lol. No idea why. So i will repeat it:

I was just wondering what life is like in the RAF. I'm currently studying my A-levels and still unsure on wether or not the RAF life is for me. I want to be a pilot (no suprise lol) but just wondering what the main benefits and disadvantages of being a pilot in the RAF. Also being an officer, what jobs and responsibilities do you have as an officer as well as a Pilot? I just want to get a general idea on what its like, such as duration of deployements, how often, responsibilities etc so i know what im letting myself in for if so to speak. I went to an RAF presentation a few weeks back and i dint really learn antything new. Just wondering if anyone could help me out.

Cheers
Steve

Reply 108

steve_nels

I want to be a pilot (no suprise lol) but just wondering what the main benefits and disadvantages of being a pilot in the RAF.

One of the main benefits is what you get paid to do every day. Today, it was shitting with rain and overcast. Get airborne, switch to instruments, pick up a radar service, hit cloud at 800ft and by the time you get to 4000ft it's blue skies and sunshine. Dark visor down, look around, no-one else around as far as you can see and you've got clear skies all the way to space to play in.

Nothing beats that feeling, especially when you're on your own and are off to polish some aerobatic skills for a while, or something relatively easy.

You might like the idea of having a job which pushes you. By definition, every pilot is pushed pretty hard; everyone starts as a potential Harrier/Typhoon mate, and is restreamed for "easier" aircraft at whatever stage is appropriate, to keep them at the highest level they can manage.

Maybe you like the idea of serving your country. Maybe you like the idea of helping others. Maybe you like that a flying suit is probably the most comfortable outfit you could ever go to work in, could be anything.

steve_nels

Also being an officer, what jobs and responsibilities do you have as an officer as well as a Pilot?

Depends when. Through training; which is up to 5 years with holds right now; virtually nothing. Every junior officer on a station will have to be either Orderly Officer or Station Duty Officer at least a couple of times a year. You can't be SDO until you're a Flight Lieutenant with 3 years in the rank, so ignore that for now. OO's don't do too much, just deal with any problems regarding station personnel through the evening, and call the SDO with any real sticklers. Once serving on a squadron, you'll have your day to day work, plus a secondary duty. You might be OIC of a sports club, or the creche, or on the Officers' Mess committee. Running a club can be hard work, but you'll enjoy it, because you picked it as a duty and it's a sport you like. There are other duties; you might be a flight commander for some NCOs, and have some welfare, pastoral care and report writing duties, or discipline issues.

That's aside from flying. Email me if you want to know more about that.

steve_nels

I just want to get a general idea on what its like, such as duration of deployements, how often, responsibilities etc so i know what im letting myself in for if so to speak.

Deployments vary by type, and how many people are available to do them. In a "bad" year you might spend 6 months out of the country, but that'll be in 6-8 week lumps. Some are shit; tents in the mid east, that sort of thing (poor rotary chaps :wink:

). Some are brilliant; lots of fast jet mates go to Red Flag in the US annually, which involves a while staying on the strip in Vegas. Don't assume deployments aren't good; big hotel in the middle of Madrid? Vegas? It's nice when you're with an aircraft that knows exactly when to break down and strand you somewhere for a couple of days. I've heard some awesome stories!

steve_nels

I went to an RAF presentation a few weeks back and i dint really learn antything new. Just wondering if anyone could help me out.

Well, that has to cater to everything. Did you ask? They'll be able to tell you pretty much everything. How old are you? Contact your UAS if you're at uni age, else Air Cadets can (sometimes) be helpful.

Email me if you'd like to know any more. Hope this helps.

Reply 109

Sire

10

You're a shoe in, provided you don't know the meaning of the word fear

Reply 110

creativesurgeon

Sire

...provided you don't know the meaning of the word fear

Yeah, he's right. Joining the armed forces is something you have to be sure you wanna do - bear in mind, that although the RAF offer some of the best sponsorship opportunities, the also expect you to serve with them for 10 - 30 years. It isn't just a job - it is a career. Be absolutely sure this is what you wanna do.

Saying that, if you apply for an information pack, there is no obligation, and they don't follow you up (even though, when it comes down to conscription, you've shown an interest, so you'll be one of the first ones up there). If you then complete the interest form (which I havn't done), they then regard this as official interest. You are then given an appointment to meet Armed Forces Career Officers. They are actually there for you, to see if this is really what you wanna do - they ain't gonna want cadidates who are unwilling to fufil their service time.

Reply 111

steve_nels

cheers Wzz. What do you mean by 6-8 week lumps by the way?

Reply 112

obsolete

My brother, 12, loves planes and helicopters and stuff like that - to the point where he would build them all the time (models) and he know the names of loads and loves to go on and on about them. Yea he is only 12, but i think he may still want to do something to do with planes or become a pilot when he is onlder.

So my question is what do you have to do to become a commercial/fighter (more fighter) pilot, what qualifications u need, degrees etc.

I live in Northern Ireland... any one know anything about that?

Reply 113

creativesurgeon

obsolete

I live in Northern Ireland... any one know anything about that?

Get an RAF Recruitment Pack - no obligation (read my earlier post).

But they may not take you - the MOD is understandably 'concerned' about recruiting the Northern Irish.

Go to: RAF Careers UK

Reply 114

steve_nels

cheers Wzz. What do you mean by 6-8 week lumps by the way?

You're out of the country for 4 months in a year, say; but that's not 4 solid months, it's 6 weeks away, 2 months back, 2 weeks away, 6 months back, 8 weeks away and so on.

Reply 115

creativesurgeon

Get an RAF Recruitment Pack - no obligation (read my earlier post).

But they may not take you - the MOD is understandably 'concerned' about recruiting the Northern Irish.

Go to: RAF Careers UK

It wont be a straight "no we wont have u cos ur from NI", otherwise u could sue for racism. NI is still part of the UK, and what they want are people who have been british citizens for 3+ years. Applications may go through additional background checks, but, assuming you dont have any dark secrets in your past :wink:

you/ur bro have as much chance as the next person. They do advertise equal opportunities after all

Reply 116

Being from NI doesn't make a blind bit of difference as far as your application's concerned; it's a part of the UK. The background checks, as far as you're concerned, will be the same.

Terms of service wise, if on a permanent commission, you'll serve until 38th birthday or you've completed 16 years service, whichever comes last.

If a graduate, you have a free option to leave after 12 years' service, but your pension rights change.

A short service commission means you're out after 12 for aircrew or 6 for ground branches, if I recall correctly.

Reply 117

icklecathy

Wzz

Being from NI doesn't make a blind bit of difference as far as your application's concerned; it's a part of the UK. The background checks, as far as you're concerned, will be the same.

Terms of service wise, if on a permanent commission, you'll serve until 38th birthday or you've completed 16 years service, whichever comes last.

If a graduate, you have a free option to leave after 12 years' service, but your pension rights change.

A short service commission means you're out after 12 for aircrew or 6 for ground branches, if I recall correctly.

I'm filling in my application form and have to choose whether to apply for a PC or SSC, what do you reckon?

Obviuosly there are good and bad things about both, like if you are miserable you are stuck with 16yrs on a PC, but if you only get a SSC and you love it, you might have to leave after 6.

Does it affect what the boarding officers think of you?

Cheers Wzz

Reply 118

ShOcKzZ

7

icklecathy

I'm filling in my application form and have to choose whether to apply for a PC or SSC, what do you reckon?

Obviuosly there are good and bad things about both, like if you are miserable you are stuck with 16yrs on a PC, but if you only get a SSC and you love it, you might have to leave after 6.

Does it affect what the boarding officers think of you?

Cheers Wzz

ur name looks somewhat familiar

Reply 119