Big a1

Well after my thread about what to do post uni a couple of weeks ago, I have now applied to join the RAF as an officer

(not looking good though as it was on the news today that the forces are making cut backs )

Has anybody got any first hand experience of life in the RAF, in particular joining as an officer through direct entry.

The positions which I have noted as my preferences are supply, security and intelligence officer again any views on this.

Any feedback much appreciated .

Al

FASTER MIKE!!

have a friend who joined as an officer, left school with GCSE's and a couple of A levels, did air cadets as a teenager. he found it very hard but got in. his brother applyed a year or so after with GCSE's and A levels but went on to university and got a good degree, yet he failed to get in, he never got passed the interview.

mike

Scooby96

Are they recruiting then

Petem95

I almost went in as a Pilot, was in the Air Cadets etc, but decided against it.

One of my mates joined as a Pilot Officer after uni - pay is excellent, hes on about £30k now, and hes 23. VEry cheap living expenses too, £50/week for board/food.

Its really more a lifestyle than a just a job tho - the hours can be very long, ie early mornings and late nights.

If you fancy it go for it, you'll have a local interview probably then you go to RAF Cranwell for a 2 day interview/accessment thing.

Dazza01

There's me thinking u had to start at the btm

Apple

They might be still recruiting just to keep the wheels in motion and keep people's interest up for joining.

A relative of mine joined the Navy, went through basic training, was best cadet of the section and was then made redundant after a month or two for "cost-cutting" purposes.

Seems a bit like they want a constant entry rate and then see what's available at the end of the basic to work out whether to keep people on or not - the cost of the basic training must be "absorbed" along the line / written off

I went through the CCF and went down to Biggin Hill for flying scholarship tests which I didn't get and probably wanted to apply for a commission at the time but things and priorities change... I'm reasonably happy at the moment. As said above - it's a lifestyle rather than a job and if you're good at it, "the sky's the limit," can have some great rewards and can lead to things if/when you come out once you're in the "military" frame of mind...

Also, it can work the other way if you don't fit the mould / buck the trend. AFAIR a lad on my course at Uni joined up and in his fist posting after IOT, didn't get on with his Commanding Officer to the tune of "one of us is going and you're the lower rank, what are you doing about it?"

Andy

Apple

to add...

Don't know whether it still applies but when we went for the selection centre couple of days, everbody was put forward for pilot, then navigator, then .... down the line until they ran out of jobs (and probably said bye-bye ). They wanted fast jet aircrew first as the cream of the crop and depending upon where you "failed" they would have the role lined up for you. I wanted to be an airframes engineer (AFAIR) and they said I was good at sorting the technical info in the aptitude tests but the reactions weren't quick enough for aircrew etc...

Big a1

Right thanks for the replies, suppose its good to get some opinions other than that of the careers office.

Interview will be in about 4wks then if I pass that its down to cranwell for three days worth of tests.

The way i'm thinking is that if I get in i'll be earning more than I could do in a civilian job and in a better position to save, plus if I believe the hype from the careers office i'll be in a fairly exciting role.

Any other opinions welcomed.

RIGPIG

I concure with what Apple say's,

I spent sixteen happy years in the RAF, leaving as an SNCO,Airframe Technician.

If you can pass all that Biggin Hill and Halton can throw at you,and belive me it stinks, You will have a good life in the force,and the money is far far better than you can get in civvy street at least it's fixed and the contract you sign is BINDING ! Tell me any other company besides the other forces that will honor that?

Go for it, you might not like the first few weeks,but stick at it IT DOES get better.

Criss

r32

Sure they want you after all these cuts? Dodgy profession now!

Leslie

I joined it a long time ago as a pilot and stayed in for my working life. I would not have missed it but at the end as it got smaller the atmosphere changed for the worse.

I loved the flying etc though but with the swingeing cuts coming now it may not be like it was.

Les

MooseRacer

I'd recommend it. My brother did the same as you. First few months are sh1tty, but after that it is a fantastic life. Good pay, cheap housing (live in the officers mess and buy a house to let out), great social life (RAF base summer ball anyone?), loads of time off, superb pension, cheap beer the list goes on!

Reffro

My best mate joined at 17, he's been in 14 years now. He's now a corporal, earning just short of £30k, travels everywhere. In 8 years time, he'll be guaranteed a full pension, and hefty lump sum should he decide to leave the RAF, all by the time he turns 40...........

Its been an excellent career for him. He's had excellent training, and is easily able to transfer his skills into civvy street (aero engine mechanic), plus he's had a laugh most of the time. The hours sometime suck, but he's enjoyed 90% of his time so far.

Big a1

Anybody got any ideas of what sort of tests i'll be put through at cranwell. I should be fine with the physical stuff I just hope I dont get caught out by one of the reaction or problem solving tests.

SteveLegacyToo

It can be a great life, but competition is intense. A mate of mine went in after an age in the ATC, then a 6th Form Scholarship, then into Cranwell after A levels.
Flew through the basic training etc and was top 1-2 on his course. Once the specialisation kicks in though, he completely fell apart, chopped from the Fastjet course, then from the Rotor course, and jumped ship before starting the multi-engine course.
If you want to be a pilot, head over to the RAF website, and look at how many aircraft the UK actually has!!

Big a1

##

Wouldn't mind being a pilot but I'm pretty blind without glasses, so it wouldn't be a good idea letting me loose with a plane .

Its the supply/intelligence and security officers that i'm interested in.

SteveLegacyToo

Ah, Ok, that's probably a better idea then!!

RIGPIG

Most of the test's are Phyc ones,how do you act under pressure,how do you react to others whilst under pressure,how do they react to you when you tell them your point of view, ect ect,

It's all people skills, if you dont get on your not getting in!!

You are put into small groups of about 4 or 5 given 3 long poles,a couple of barrels,rope,an oar,a few planks,and told you have to pass over an invisable river only using the equipment provided, nothing but the barrels can get wet or it's FAILER for ALL (Not the case) you are then assested by the disip staff on how you react and interact as part of the TEAM, once as leader, are you willing to give orders and take them and are you willing to stand by them!
All I can add is when you make an order make sure you run it through your head first and once issued STAND by it,if you change it for what ever reason it can and will be seen as a weekness(Only on these tests)

There are a few more phyc tests All are to do with TEAM (Best BUZZ word) never be an "I" always"US,WE,TEAM" !!

Criss

Apple

The aptitude type tests I did were pc based but you've got a joystick / controller, rudder pedals and a keypad with four coloured buttons on like fastext (sneaky trick they do to tell whether you're paying attention is to give the four answers as red/green/blue/yellow but if the answer is blue, you'll have to press the yellow key etc )

They tested different areas - some are hand/eye/feet co-ordination skills (e.g. keeping a set of crosshairs aligned on a moving dot), some are calculation tests (fuel usage rates and flight times), some are data collection / processing tests (given an aircraft control panel full of dials, what's the current altitude, flap angle etc), some are spacial awareness tests (given 5 piccies of aircraft, which is flying towards / away from you etc).

All these are timed AFAIR (whether you know it on screen or not) to test your reaction / processing "throughput" against the number of correct answers - some are where the question changes after x seconds. As said above, it's how you react under pressure and cope or go to pieces.

You'll come out of it drained but it's an experience and when I went, you got full restaurant / canteen services and your bed made in the morning which was a big step up from cadet camp stuff

Then there's the physical stuff as above, the medical and the interview to keep you off the streets... I didn't do the interview but from what I can gather, you need to be level headed, think on your feet and can hold a valid conversation on a range of topics (i.e. well read and current affairs etc - knowing big bro' scene grabs might not get very far ) without appearing too OTT or forcing yourself to be "unnatural" and false.

Andy

PS things have possibly changed as it was 16 years ago I went through it

Apple

PS for "Security Officer" does that mean RAF Regiment as they might not exist in a while according to certain reports depending upon whom you believe...

Big a1

Security officer is like the military police.

The three day testing at cranwell seems like its going to be very intense. Its a shame that it takes such a long time from applying to actually getting to cranwell (6mths) .

I'm hoping the proposed cutbacks aren't going to affect the chances of me getting in 2 much.

Any ideas of things I can do to help me prepare and get into the military mindset, i've applied to get into the mountain rescue so that should hopefully help.

Alan C

I left after 22 years last year. Apple an I have had a chat about the testing and selection process over a beer & BBQ as we both went through the same sort of thing, so the things he's said are still current and worth knowing.

The other things mentioned about leadership & team are good too. Cranwell tests are short and intense and will definately test you. There are really no right or wrong answers, just application and your ability to reason them through and support your argument/method.

Be careful that even relaxed in the mess, dressed in you Jacket & tie, you'll be looked at by the staff. Not intensely, but just from a fitting in and personal point. Do you come across as an all round good egg in the interviews but swill your beer, swear like a trooper etc and act completely different when your guard is down?

Swot up on your RAF history & current affairs. You'll be expected to know what the RAF have done in the past and what they are doing now. Sqn sizes, operational areas, aircraft types and applications. Swot up on the current reductions and how they are going to affect the strategic and tactical operations. You'll be led along a variety of current topics with no apparant connection. Don't blag it. You'll be spotted a mile off. If you don't know or have little knowledge in a particular area tell them and explain why.

The economist is a good source as well as a good read through the broadsheets. The Sun is also a good paper to read as it will show that you have a good open mind!

It may be a few weeks away, but I'd start ASAP on this process.

Hope this helps..

Apple

Wondered if / when you'd find this thread Al...

Alan C

RADAR's on a nd working me old mate!