OASC - Advice, tips, or general info

[Blackhawk]

Hi everyone. My first post here after being given a link by a mate. (Though I do recognise a few usernames )

I have OASC on September 20th for Pilot. I know this branch is massivly oversubscribed for applicants and that securing a place on IOT is not going to be a walk in the park by any means. I've been doing my homework and in the last few months have managed to get 4 base visits, (still time to squeeze one more in though!) done a couple of pre OASC briefings, started a fitness routine that will hopefully see me well at OASC, and studied studied studied. Despite all this I am naturally nervous about it. I was wondering if anyone who has been through OASC, especially pilots or pilot candidates waiting to start IOT, could give me any advice at all about what to expect. I'm not really sure what I'm looking for and I know I'm leaving this thread rather vague, but if anyone has any tips or information that may be useful then I'm all ears!

[gr4pilot]

Although I have no personal exerience with OASC I can safely say for you - Stop worrying! You'll be fine. You have some major head starts on a lot of the other applicants there. Like I said to you yesterday YOU WILL GET IN.

[Blackhawk]

haha I'm not so sure. We'll see but I still want to go in as prepared as possible. I don't know about headstarts, I've really worked for all the experiences I've had so far with the RAF.

[gr4pilot]

Sorry BH, by headstarts I meant that you'd been working on it longer than most and judging by TSR know a lot more than most.

[newman]

Firstly, make sure your confident and prepared in the interview, there were a few guys going for pilot on my selection who did really well on the apptitude and fitness and passed the medical but didnt get through to the exercise phase because of poor interviews.
Secondly, when your doing your leadership task in the exercise phase try to keep your head and maintain control of the syndicate throughout. Its easy to let the occassion get to you, as happened with a few of us on our course.
Im only speaking from the experience of attending OASC recently for the first time (also going for pilot), but the best piece of advice i was given was to go with an open mind and plenty of enthusiasm.
Hope that helps abit anyway.

[Blackhawk]

Yeah, that does help actually. It's easy to read things in black and white about what OASC will be but I don't obviously have the experience that others might do. It's easier for me if I understand what it was like for other people. If that makes sense at all! My interview I'm feeling pretty good about. I've done well in previous ones. I think it's the hanger exercises that are a bit offputting!

[chrisburden21]

Just to reiterate newmans thoughts. Go in with an open mind!!

During the hangar exercises, which are daunting at first, stay relaxed, once again it is not necessarily whether you complete a task its how well you managed the syndicate within the task. This section can be the helpful extra push over the edge for a candidate securing a place who may have scored weakly in earlier stages of OASC. That said go into each stage wanting to achieve the maximum!!

Good Luck with OASC.

Feel free to PM me about anything, I will try and help, as I have successfully secured my place in November.