RAF

lemonkettaz · 13 Feb 2006 at 18:06

Anyone in it.. interested?

ive just been considering my options really.

was wondering what options theyd give me after i finish uni (ill be 23/24 then)

is that too late for a career in the raf? is it a good career or rubbish.

any thoughts welcome

lukechad · 13 Feb 2006 at 18:10

At 24 you still have lots of otions avaliable in the RAF, I dconsidered a career in there a few months back but decided it wasnt really what I was after in the long run.

What career are you looking at taking on within the airforce?

panthro · 13 Feb 2006 at 18:14

If you join up while at uni they will sponsor you.

I am still considering a future in the RAF as an engineer. have a look at the website and give them a ring or email and they will send you through a brochure of options available to you.

What are you doing at uni?

lemonkettaz · 13 Feb 2006 at 18:20

erm... obviously going in as an officer...

intelligence officer seems really interesting...

but would a degree in computing be any good? or would you need specific qualifications

i have 11 a-c's and am doing a btec in IT now...

i dont want to be sponsored because then i will have no choice.. if you get me

zain · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:25

they invest in you and its enjoyable at first - what I was told by someone who goes there. Now he works for them and all him and his mates discuss is "how can we get out of this" :S You're there property then lol

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:28

Degree isn't necessary for a career in the RAF (apart from Engineering Officer, Phys Ed Officer, Medical Officer, Catering Officer, and a Nursing qual for Nursing Officer)

Intelligence wasn't recruiting until recently, and they've reopened the branch. The only 'requirement' for it that I can think of is perfect eyesight.

The RAF offers a great career. I am currently neck deep in the selection process, if you have any questions about the selection/joining side feel free to ask me.

lemonkettaz · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:32

ok.. what happens in the selection process.

p.s. could i go in as an engineering officer.. surely you would need some engineering course under your belt? i know a friend who does mechanical engineering at northumbria and its solid... i.e. the maths and science that is involved

and i still want to get a degree just incase of something else.

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:34

lemonkettaz said:
p.s. could i go in as an engineering officer.. surely you would need some engineering course under your belt? i know a friend who does mechanical engineering at northumbria and its solid... i.e. the maths and science that is involved

and i still want to get a degree just incase of something else.

I'm not sure as to the exact qualifications they would accept, your best bet would be to ask your local Armed Forces Careers Office, although it lists 'Degree'. I'm assuming something Scientific or related to Engineering would be ideal.

ok.. what happens in the selection process.

Where do I start!

I'll compile a brief list of what it entails and get back to you.

lemonkettaz · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:36

yeh, ive sent off for an information pack... see what it says in that.

so what happens in the selection process... ive heard its tough to get in?

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:38

lemonkettaz said:
yeh, ive sent off for an information pack... see what it says in that.

so what happens in the selection process... ive heard its tough to get in?

As far as I remember the information pack says the exact same as the website. Your best bet is to ask a careers advisor at your local AFCO.

MrMatteh · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:39

im interested in going to the RAF after i finish uni

doing a degree in physics, so hopefully ill be some use somewhere

My brother is currently in the raf, and is thoroughly enjoying it, makes it sound a really nice career

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:50

First things first you apply (standard application form, qualifications, employment history, the usual).

Then if successful you'll get asked along to a 'filter interview' at your local AFCO. This will be taken by an Officer (most likely a Flight Lieutenant) and will cover areas such as your Family background, achievements, your motivation for joining the RAF, knowledge of current affairs, and your knowledge of the RAF.

If you're successful at this stage (I didn't find the interview difficult, but some fail at this point obviously). Then you will be invited to attend the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. This is a 4 day course which encompasses (in part one)
- an Aptitude test (4 1/2 hours long, armithmetic, multi tasking, hand eye coordination etc)
- a comprehensive medical (they check your balls)
- a fitness test (bleep, press ups, sit ups)
- Interview (like AFCO interview, but much much harder).

If you pass part one of this (held over the first 2 days) then you move onto part 2 (funnily enough). This is mostly group based, and judges your ability to work within a group with and without a leader, and with yourself at the helm. There is a
- group discussion exercise (debating and the like)
- group planning exercise (distance/speed/time, find a feasible solution to a practical problem)
- group leaderless exercise (involves getting an object across a 'course'), an - - individual planning exercise (simpler version of the group planning, but on your own)
- Group leadership exercises (take it in turns to do similar exercises to the leaderless one, with each of you taking it in turn to lead).

After this circus you find out about a month after attending if you're in or not. Part 1 of OASC is like a hurdles race, if you fail one component you leave there and then, Part 2 you do to completion and you have no idea how you did when you leave.

I passed part 1, but my eyesight wasn't up to scratch for my branch choices (Pilot and Navigator) so I needed to change my application to other branches, then go back to do part 2 later (if I'd failed outright I would've had to wait a year, butI only had to wait just under 2 years). I'm back to OASC on March 8th.

Puzzled · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:50

I was speaking to a guy at work today that was in the RAF for 23 years. Left at 40 with full pension

Made it sound like a great career, I'm now looking into it myself. Although I don't have a degree.

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 19:52

MonkeyMan said:
I was speaking to a guy at work today that was in the RAF for 23 years. Left at 40 with full pension

Made it sound like a great career, I'm now looking into it myself. Although I don't have a degree.

You don't need one

lemonkettaz · 13 Feb 2006 at 20:00

hmmm

sounds intense and difficult.

how top notch does your eyesight have to be... i dont wear glasses... dont need them.. and i can usually read a bus number from a good distance away

lemonkettaz · 13 Feb 2006 at 20:01

also how difficult was part 1.

and also also.. after all that do you then do the basic training? (probably the bit id like best)

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 20:02

lemonkettaz said:
hmmm

sounds intense and difficult.

how top notch does your eyesight have to be... i dont wear glasses... dont need them.. and i can usually read a bus number from a good distance away

Unless you have an eye test before you go you'd really have no idea. I though my eyesight was good, but something to do with one eye being ever so slightly worse than the other means I can't be a Pilot, Navigator, Int Officer, or Weapons Systems Operator. I was told it will have no bearing on my every day life, and I could even become a civvy Airline pilot.
Put it this way, for the above branches your eyesight must be Perfect

-Neil- · 13 Feb 2006 at 20:04

I'm looking into doing this as well. Currently I'm studying towards a Foundation Degree in Aircraft Maintenance and completing EASA Part 66 modules (B1 - Mech).

This summer if things all go well I should be doing 10 weeks work experience down in Bournemouth at BASCO, a company that specializes in aircraft maintenance. If I get offered a job I'll probably take it, if not I'll sign up for the RAF.

My current course consists of modules (EASA) such as Maths, Maintenance Practices, Gas Turbines, Digital Systems, etc... These are primarily civil aviation based, but with the RAF possibly buying A330's as tankers in a few years could stand me in good stead.

I personally prefer a hands on job so I'll be looking into the more hands on side of maintenance, such as this:

http://www.rafcareers.com/jobs/job_files/jobfile_aircrafttechnicianmechanical.cfm

Neil.

Stringy · 13 Feb 2006 at 20:07

-Neil- said:
I'm looking into doing this as well. Currently I'm studying towards a Foundation Degree in Aircraft Maintenance and completing EASA Part 66 modules (B1 - Mech).

This summer if things all go well I should be doing 10 weeks work experience down in Bournemouth at BASCO, a company that specializes in aircraft maintenance. If I get offered a job I'll probably take it, if not I'll sign up for the RAF.

My current course consists of modules (EASA) such as Maths, Maintenance Practices, Gas Turbines, Digital Systems, etc... These are primarily civil aviation based, but with the RAF possibly buying A330's as tankers in a few years could stand me in good stead.

I personally prefer a hands on job so I'll be looking into the more hands on side of maintenance, such as this:

http://www.rafcareers.com/jobs/job_files/jobfile_aircrafttechnicianmechanical.cfm

Neil.

Sounds like a good career choice, and although I have no idea about the non-commissioned ground crew selection, I have no doubt you'd be ideal given your qualifications.

Carl · 13 Feb 2006 at 20:38

lemonkettaz you need to do your research, you obvoiusly need a better insight into the RAF. You seem to be looking at the job from the wrong point of view.

Get yourself down to a RAF recruiting office, see what they can do for you.