Career in the Forces? (IT Related)

I've got my formal interview, medical and fitness test on the 13th next week. Im going for an Aircraft Technician(Mechanical), wish me luck :D

I would be interested in the answer to Hedge's question too since we seem to be at the same stage.
 
Begbie said:
Did you get a few weeks off between RTC and going to Cosford? Not too bothered if I don't, just don't fancy sticking round Halton those guys seem to get really crap jobs.
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Yes Cosford have their own holding flight, so you'll be moving there the day after passing out. We arrived there and were sent on leave immediately for a week before we started our course. We came back off leave and started straight away so we had no odd jobs to do. Your course could be quite different, depending on how full it is/if they're waiting for people (people who have been back-coursed at Halton) to catch up. Anyway yes you will almost certainly not spend any time at ADF at Halton.

Begbie said:
So yeah go for a couple of pints, if we ever get a day off :p
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There'll definitely be time, it's great here.

Hedge, I was given my PRTC date and RTC start date the day after my fitness test. If I recall correctly it was about 3 weeks until my PRTC and a month after PRTC I started at Halton. So it's likely to be around 2 months.

Your trade is a strange one though, a few of my buddies had their dates brought forward/had their PRTC and then started a week later, so it could be as little as a month away! It's basically pot luck :p
 
Thats pretty good news for me. The idea of being in the RAF officially before this summer sounds great :)

Doesnt give me long to sort my fitness level out, but I should be fine

I was rather suprised at how tricky the aptitude test was, certain sections with 20 questions and only a short time to complete them kept me on my toes... then the last section for memory, where you get the sequence of letters on the screen then need to remember how many numbers were between two others... bloody insane. that pickled my brain completely.

I got 78-80 on 4 sections, I needed 60 for the techie trade. I did okay :)
 
Zefan said:
Yes Cosford have their own holding flight, so you'll be moving there the day after passing out. We arrived there and were sent on leave immediately for a week before we started our course. We came back off leave and started straight away so we had no odd jobs to do. Your course could be quite different, depending on how full it is/if they're waiting for people (people who have been back-coursed at Halton) to catch up. Anyway yes you will almost certainly not spend any time at ADF at Halton.



There'll definitely be time, it's great here.

Hedge, I was given my PRTC date and RTC start date the day after my fitness test. If I recall correctly it was about 3 weeks until my PRTC and a month after PRTC I started at Halton. So it's likely to be around 2 months.

Your trade is a strange one though, a few of my buddies had their dates brought forward/had their PRTC and then started a week later, so it could be as little as a month away! It's basically pot luck :p
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Glad to hear it sounds great. More time off then RTC then :p

Hedge said:
Thats pretty good news for me. The idea of being in the RAF officially before this summer sounds great :)

Doesnt give me long to sort my fitness level out, but I should be fine

I was rather suprised at how tricky the aptitude test was, certain sections with 20 questions and only a short time to complete them kept me on my toes... then the last section for memory, where you get the sequence of letters on the screen then need to remember how many numbers were between two others... bloody insane. that pickled my brain completely.

I got 78-80 on 4 sections, I needed 60 for the techie trade. I did okay :)
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If your fitness test aint up to scratch the PTI's will get it there! A few folk on my PRTC couldn't do 1 situp!! I failed the bleep test by a few bleeps :( My fitness is no where near what it should be, very worried about it - but just means I will be going through more pain than others :p

Yeah the memory test was very tricky indeed. Although my maths is normally ok, I didn't do particularly well in that one - the time goes in so fast.
 
Begbie said:
Yeah the memory test was very tricky indeed. Although my maths is normally ok, I didn't do particularly well in that one - the time goes in so fast.
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Now idea how but the Numeracy was the one I got the highest on, followed by mechanical then electrical sections. I did myself proud considering I havent done anything similar for a number of years.

The kids who just done GCSEs shoulda been sharper than me by a long shot
 
Hedge said:
Selection Interview tomorrow morning, Anyone got any words of advice?

Im reading up on the RAFs roles etc. A word from someone whos done it would be cool

Thanks
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Mine wasn't hard, infact it was very casual. To prepare, know more about yourself than the RAF - that was most of the questions he asked me. Well first half was based round me, as in school, what you done there what activities you done. What clubs you have been a member of, what you do in your spare time. Jobs and the roles you have played in those jobs.

The second half of it, which was much shorter, was about the RAF. Why you want to join? RISE! Nato, and what bases are here and overseas. TBH I couldn't answer some of it as my mind went completely blank. He also asked me questions on the next stages, what RTC will involve etc.

He asked me if I had used drugs, which I admitted and had to go to another interview with the Flt lieutenant, which was actually ended up in my favour as come the Final Interview he told me there was no need! :)

So really just be enthusiastic and be yourself, no reason you will fail it - even if you can't answer some of the questions.
 
Begbie said:
He asked me if I had used drugs, which I admitted and had to go to another interview with the Flt lieutenant, which was actually ended up in my favour as come the Final Interview he told me there was no need! :)

So really just be enthusiastic and be yourself, no reason you will fail it - even if you can't answer some of the questions.
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This is a bit that worries me. Now I was gonna just lie and say that Ive never touched drugs, but I have, So you think i should admit it? seems risky lol
 
Hedge said:
This is a bit that worries me. Now I was gonna just lie and say that Ive never touched drugs, but I have, So you think i should admit it? seems risky lol
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Why would you lie?

Unless your still doing them, whats to worry about.

Everyones dabbled*

*Note, not EVERYONE has obviously, but you get the picture.
 
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Don't lie about the drugs but just be comfortable to tell them, they will appreciate your honesty. Andr3w is a bad liar anyway, he told me he was good looking and then I met him... :(

My best advice I can give you now = GO TO SLEEP! ;)
 
Hedge said:
This is a bit that worries me. Now I was gonna just lie and say that Ive never touched drugs, but I have, So you think i should admit it? seems risky lol
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Few guys at PRTC said they lied about it. I can't lie, and prefer to be honest.

TBH though I think they were only concerned about myself as within a year (well just).

Actually worked in my favour, at the end of the interview with the 'boss' his words where I appreciate your honesty and its what's getting you in. Also didn't need to have a final interview.
 
Begbie said:
Few guys at PRTC said they lied about it. I can't lie, and prefer to be honest.

TBH though I think they were only concerned about myself as within a year (well just).

Actually worked in my favour, at the end of the interview with the 'boss' his words where I appreciate your honesty and its what's getting you in. Also didn't need to have a final interview.
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Did they ask what drugs it was?

Because if Im honest and admit what ive tried, then i think ill be doomed
 
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