RAF Application

[Gnomey]

As so of you guys know I have been in the process of applying for the RAF for a while now (over a year). Would of heard this news earlier but all my travelling put everything back around 6 months. I haven't got the letter yet but I have received word from the Careers Office that I will be heading down to the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre and Cranwell for the final stage of my application on the 25th of January 2009. Really looking forward to it and of course I will prepare well for it but any helpful pointers that those you who have been in the military and done this sort of thing before would be much appreciated. I know what I need to and will start working on it - mainly interview preparation and Speed/Distance/Time Revision etc, my fitness will be alright with all the Rowing (Crew) training have been doing).



So in around 3 months time I will find out whether I have been accepted into the RAF (or not) and then be given the dates for the start of my training - early 2010 hopefully.

[eddie_brunette]

All the luck in the world!!!

edd

[evangilder]

Excellent news! It sounds like you are doing all you can to prepare for it. The main thing is to sty in good physical conditioning and the rest you should be fine with. Keep us posted on this.

[timshatz]

Sounds like you are well on your way. Congrats to you. Only things I can think of are take the testing they give you seriously, this stuff will stay with you for your career, 2 years or 20, what you get pegged at this stage is looked at later for "potential".

Don't get drunk the night BEFORE, save it for the night AFTER (personal experience).

If you are wandering through in a daze, don't worry about it. So is everyone else. The only people who know what's going on are the guys doing the testing. If you don't know the answer or it isn't obvious, ask for clarification ("Can you give me a context/perspective/goal for your situation sir" is always a good one, might get an eyebrow raised but it will give you a little time to figure out what is going on in the question).

Play it like a game, the object is to win.

GOOD LUCK!

[Glider]

The only suggestions I have are to keep your fitness up and try to do some mental tests when you are tired.
No matter how fit you are, it will not be enough and mentally you are likely to reach overload, when you are so weary that 2 + 2 becomes difficult. The longer you can keep going the better.

Last tip, you are going to me monitored every minute not just in the interview. I did an officer selection course for the TA in my youth and don't let your guard down for a moment. They will monitor eveything you do at all times and how you interact with the others in the group. Don't say the first thing that comes into your head, take a second to get the words straight.

Be yourself, not someone who you are not.

Good Luck

[Thorlifter]

Wow, best of luck Gnomey. Hopefully they will have you flying Spitfire's or Hurricane's before long.

[Airframes]

Great news Hugh! I'm with all, and especially second the advice from Glider. As long as you are doubly mentally prepared, you shouldn't have a problem. Remembr though, even when you are not being monitored and assesed, you are being monitored and assessed, and this includes social interaction!
Best of luck mate.
Terry.

[wilbur1]

Good going Gnomey!!!

[Catch22]

Best of luck!

[rochie]

great news Gnomey best of luck

[Heinz]

Best of luck mate

[pbfoot]

Eat lots of fat food and smoke try to get high blood pressure it makes it easier to pass the centrifuge

There was a 12 hour show on discovery.ca on the making of a fighter pilot
unfortunately its unavaiable outside Canada I did find 2 cheesy links for vids on youtube unless you can figure out how . The show was called Jetstream
YouTube - Passing out in G-Force Simulator - Jetstream
YouTube - Jetstream Dogfights

[Glider]

Eat lots of fat food and smoke try to get high blood pressure it makes it easier to pass the centrifuge

There was a 12 hour show on discovery.ca on the making of a fighter pilot
unfortunately its unavaiable outside Canada I did find 2 cheesy links for vids on youtube unless you can figure out how . The show was called Jetstream
YouTube - Passing out in G-Force Simulator - Jetstream
YouTube - Jetstream Dogfights

That series is currently being shown on Sky, I watched one last night, The bad news is that it was the last one but it may well be repeated if you keep your eyes open.
Never was an airbase better named, Cold Lake sums it up pretty well.

[pbfoot]

That series is currently being shown on Sky, I watched one last night, The bad news is that it was the last one but it may well be repeated if you keep your eyes open.
Never was an airbase better named, Cold Lake sums it up pretty well.

2 exciting years in Cool pool exactly 2 km away from getting isolation pay meaning IIRC 200kms away from a town over 10k

[Gnomey]

Cheers guys. Yeah I know I will be under assessment the whole time and to be myself. I'm actually really looking forward to doing it and if I do run into any problems in my preparation I will ask some questions.