chaos.

Out of curiocity I wondered if careers in the army (blah) was all about getting shouted at and treated like ****/dodging bullets .. or if it's 'the good life'? are there any perks?

cos I cant get a job and Im not going back to college :-(

Richard_P

Money can be ok, if you don't go in as a squaddie then you come out with trade and are generally respected when you leave with decent prospects of another job. You don't have to sit behind a desk, you get to see the world, plenty young folk for you to get along with, not always the case in a job.

Downside is you've got to respect the authority and do as your told. I know 2 people in the army, one loves it, the other thinks its ok as he's bored with where he's posted.

SJ_Skyline

I would have thought the Royal Engineers would suit you Chaos, you get paid to blow **** up!

Daz34

Pioneer Corps digging latrines more like

Mrs WRX

My father and brother were both in the RAF so i know abit about it. To be honest Chaos it is a career that you want to do and not really one that you fall into because you cant get a job at the moment. I wouldnt be able to stick it, and if your heart is not really in it then you wont stick at it. It is something you have to really want to do. I do know how you feel as i was made redundant last week so i am desperatly looking for a new job, so just keep trying and something will turn up.

The Zohan

I am pretty sure they have a basic education test which involves spolling so i am afraid you'd be fecked

SiPie

errrr..... and you might have to go to war cos Tony Blair decides it's a good idea.....and you might die

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

How can you not get a job? There's so many spare jobs in the UK that we have to bring in immigrants to fill them.............don't we?

Alcazar

EddScott

My neighbour got captured during the Bosnian war after his troop/company/gang whatever got ambushed. He picked up his mate who was shot but couldn't out run them. Paraded over local and international TV in a pretty sorry state for a few months IIRC.

Kinda put me off a bit.

catalunya199again

thw army is ****e i was in it for 6 years some people treat you like you an idiot cause there power crazy little hitlers. money is awful i was in the artillery and when i left after 6 years i was on £47 a day as a gunner. it can really clicky to.if you fancy wasting your weekends standing on a cold rainy main gate saluting di*k head officers then go for it but i wouldnt near it again it really is crap.


reference to all the shouting you get loads of it in training to "prepare you" for what its like in your regiment (total bollo*ks) there is less shouting in your regiment. i was never based in germany but from what i here its better than england so if you do go go there. also heres a list from my experience what i would join if i new what it was like

reme
engineers
logistics
artillery
infantry

R*** ANT

Did 5 years in the infantry served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and many more places. Absolutely loved it but then got together with my wife and decided it is ok if you are single but hard if married.

Yes you do get treated like a muppet in training but when you get to your regiment it's not like that at all. Be prepared to have some fun times and some not so fun ones aswell. Think about could you cope with the real life of war etc...
I lost 2 of my best friends one died in my arms!

With the right mental attitude it's a good life, but you will need to really want it!

Leslie

If you can't accept authority and feel unable to work with others as a team-forget it!

Les

CEL

iTrader: (1)

Try your local newsagents and ask if they have any paper rounds going

Freak

If you want to get shouted at and treated like crap by some crazed loon on a power trip then go back to school

Petem95

Got a mate whos a pilot in the RAF and another who's a pilot in the Navy and theyre both loving it. Money is fantastic - 36k with flying pay, and thats after only 2 years in the service! You'd dont need to spend much either as living costs are minimal and theres no electric/water bills etc.

Officers mess sounds pretty good - waiter service etc - bar is dirt cheap, and theyre always off skiing etc! Certainly sounds like the good life!

King RA

I don't think he wants to become a teacher!!!

Freak

The Zohan

LMFAO @ King RA

Chaos

Fancy a smart uniform?
Great training and career prospects?
Want to be part of a team?
Be the best you can?
Opportunities to work all over the place and not get shot at (unless working in Moss Side)

Practice the following "Would you like fries with that?"



I know just the place for you if you can get that phrase correct!

steffiraf

I was in the RAF for 7 years and loved most of it. The first 6 months or so were hard, and yes you do have to go through the yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir routine, but its worth it in the end. You make loads of good friends, have a fantastic social life(especially if yr single) and if your living in 'singly' accomodation, the money in yr pay packet is just beer money.

The only thing i would change if i did it again would be to join as a technical trade ie airframe technician.

Then you can have a whale of a time for 9 years while they train you and then come out and get a job earning twice as much money!

HTH

Kellicious

As long as you're not planning on joining the RAF, then fine. I don't want to be working with you

chaos.

really?

Guns and bullets and wimmin = disaster

But anyway ..






See ya soon

fatherpierre

I did 12 years in the RAF and leaving was the best thing I ever did.

First few years were ok, but when you get a bit older you find yourself stuck. It's like being owned and put massive restrictions on your life for not a lot of money!

I left and got a job that paid £15k per year more without really looking, so the RAF did help as I got it on the strength of my former service.

The forces are ok if you have no initiative and like being spoon-fed all your life.

Kellicious

What you talking about, it's a perk of the job, carrying a rifle about all day

chaos.

I like shooting as well

chaos.

GENERAL


I'm interested in the RAF as an Officer, what happens now?

1. Initial Talk at the AFCO (Armed Force Careers Office). You go to your AFCO and chat to the staff there. They'll give you the right brochures and ascertain whether you are qualified to apply for the given branches. You don't need to know anything other than the fact you are interested, they will give you as much information and advice as you want.

2. Officer Presentation. You spend several hours at the AFCO and recieve information about the RAF, The RAF/Officer Way of Life, The Selction Process and Initial Officer Training. BE WARNED - many of the questions that you'll later get asked in interview can be answered from the information given during the presentation. TAKE LOTS OF NOTES. Especially about OASC and IOT (you need to know these in great detail). Finally, ask loads of questions...this isn't a time to be shy!

3. AFCO Interview. The first stage of the selection process proper. The interview lasts between 30 min and an hour. They will ask about you family background, education (know your grades!), jobs you've done, hobbies, sports, when you've had reponsibility, why you want to join the RAF, why you want to be an Officer, why you want to do the branch/es you've chosen, what happens at OASC, what you do at IOT, what you do for your Branch training and what you will do as a Junior Officer in your branch. Sometimes they will ask about Military topics (overseas bases, deployments, aircraft etc) Top Tips....prepare really well, be very confident and SELL YOURSELF. If you pass this they will send you to OASC....

4. OASC. (Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre) 4 days at RAF Cranwell. PART ONE is Aptitude Test, Medical and Interview (very hard interview). If you pass Part One, you will go on to complete PART TWO. Part Two is Discussion Exercise, Fitness Test, Individual Problem Solving, Group Problem Solving, Leaderless Practical Exercise, Leadership Exercise and a final Interview.

So what should I do to prepare?

A. SELL YOURSELF. Analysis the things you have done (work, hobbies etc) and use these to demonstrate the qualities that you think they are looking for (leadership, ruggedness, adventurous, active etc).

B. Do your RESEARCH. They will expect you to have a detailed knowledge about current affairs, the military, the RAF, OASC, Officer Training, Specialist Training and the job itself. You MUST research these in detail. In interview, be concise and accurate. You CANNOT blag your way through selection...if you don't prepare you will look a fool say "I don't know" over and over again in an interview.

C. Get FIT. You need to score EXCELLENT on the Bleep Test. This means that you need to go out running on a regular basis. Can't be bothered? Then you haven't got sufficient motivation to join.

D. Be YOURSELF. Don't pretend to be something you are not. They'll spot it a mile away and you'll fail for it. It is a MYTH that you need a posh accent etc. If you have the qualities, you'll pass.

E. Be CONFIDENT. If you pass, you'll be an Officer within 9 months. You'll be in charge of people (experienced, intelligent people). You need bags of confidence to pull that off.

F. Practise your MATHS. The problem solving exercises and aptitude tests require a strong ability to metal arithmatic QUICKLY and IN YOUR HEAD.

G. Develop your LEADERSHIP. Take any opportunity to put yourself into a position of responsibility, make decisions and motivate other people to achieve things.

H. Decide WHY you want a Commission. It's not an easy job...why do you want to do it?

I. PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE....and when you think you've done enough...prepare some more. DO NOT underestimate OASC!!!

Are there any requirments?

Yes, these can be found at http://www.rafcareers.co.uk

What is IOT?
Initial Officer Training is held at Cranwell for a period of 24 weeks. This is due to change to 30 weeks in November 2005 to 30 weeks in 10 week blocks.

IOT is split into phases as well; Basic Phase is weeks 1-4, and is basic military skills. 5-11 is the Leadership Phase, ending in Field Leadership Camp of a week and a half. 13-18 form the Academic Phase, then 18-20 is Carousel, where the squadron splits into thirds and does adventurous training, a station visit, and a management simulator week. Then you do a week's military skills to prepare for the final exercise, which is a week away, called Exercise Peacekeeper. Then you have Champagne Monday (find out if you're gradding or being recoursed) followed by 2 weeks of drinking and practicing your drill. Then graduation and onto specialist trade training.

What sort of things will I be asked at my interview?
Here is a vague idea, questions will change from person to person and branch to branch, but they tend to follow a defined format.

What is your date of birth?
How old does that make you in years and months?
Where do you live?
How long have you been there?
Did you have any particular problems growing up with your parents? (what he was getting at is emotional family stuff, they want to know you had a stable upbringing.)
How do your parents feel about joining the RAF?
Are you in a relationship?
How does she feel about your joining the RAF?
How many GCSE's did you get?
How many A levels did you get?
Looking back, how do you feel about the results you got?
What opportunities at school (up to the age of 16) did you have for joining Air Cadets or Army Cadets or Sea cadets?
What opportunities at school did you have for travel?
What opportunties at school did you have to join clubs?
What sports if any did you play with the school?
What organisations or schemes (i.e. Duke of Edinburgh Award etc) were you involved with at school?
What was involved with your D of E Award?
What sports were you involved with outside of school?
What else were you involved with out of school?
What university did you attend?
And what was the result of your degree?
How do you feel about that result?
**Same questions about sport and club involvment but now at university.
What if any, leadership roles did you have during this time?
What opportunities have you had to travel, either with you family or by yourself?
What employment did you have whilst you were at school?
At university?
Between University and now?
On to the second bloke.
So why do you want to join the RAF?
You've chosen Pilot, Intelligence and WSO, what are your reasons for chosing these branches in particular?
So you've been accepted, how does your training start and where?
And then?
**he will pick on one or more of your branches ask you to run through the training including duration and places or pick one point out in detail**
Given that i was going for pilot he asked;
What Aircraft do the RAF operate?
Where is that based? (picked couple at random)
What new aircraft are the RAF getting?
What new capabilities are the RAF getting? (he was talking about ASTOR (Airborne StandOff Radar) for battle field surveillance)
Where does the RAF have permanent bases overseas?
If you were unsuccessful in your application, what do you plan to do?
Having put on a uniform, you are now a target. How do you feel about that?
Give me some headlines that have grabbed your attention from around the world? (have enough to reel off at him till he stops you because they will wait to see when you stop and thus if you have just learnt a few for this occasion)
**he will go into detail about one or more of these, i had Isreal and the failed road map to peace**
So what would be your 'road map to peace'?
What roll if any do you think NATO plays or should play in the world since the fall of the Soviet Union?
Give me some news stories that have struck you recently at home? (again, be able to reel off a **** load, make him stop you. Go for a wide range of topics but be able to back them up with some understanding just the same as world topics)

Then the 'Standard' questions (he may pretend to read them off a card) dont let you guard down, these count too.
If you failed in gaining a commission, would you be interested in a NCO position?
We realise that in this day and age many of are younger applicants may have had some experience with drugs. What if any contact have you had with drugs?
Have you ever used drugs yourself?
We operate a random drugs testing program in the RAF how do you feel about that?
Do you feel that infringes on peoples privacy?
What are your veiws on drug taking within the armed forces?
What are you view on drug taking in the general population?
Have you ever faced a criminal conviction/ had a/ have a outstanding court order on you etc etc.?

========================================

Errrm ...good luck kellicous.. that looks fookin solid/impossible.

Have you done any of that yet?

Kellicious

I've had the BARB tests, and passed.

I've had 2 medicals, and passed.

I've had 3 interviews, and passed.

My application is now being screened by the MoD and sent to RAF Cranwell, where a board of judges will decide who was successful and who was not.

If I'm successful, I'll be joining the RAF Police, so what you've listed above won't necessarily apply to me. That is for OFFICER applicants only. However, a lot of what is listed I have already completed.

It is very demanding, and you have to be incredibly fit. And it ISN'T an easy life by any stretch of the imagination, so I'm led to believe!

But if it's what you want, good luck mate

chaos.

Really?
Well done, looks V. hard.
I could pass the med and fitness stuff, but more than likely fail with the interviews.

Kellicious

I found the interviews hard, especially when they want you reel off all the sections of the trade, and what you learn in recruit/trade training.

Other than that, piece of **** so far. But it won't be like that for long

chaos.

sounds scaaary

gso

stop being such a ***** and go for it