Fighter Pilot + Age

[147]

Hi all, I am a big Military Aviation fan and i was wondering how do i go about becoming a Fighter Pilot, I am 22 Years old so am i to old to join the Royal Air Force. Thanks

Best Regards

[el_diablo]

hey there 147,well i dont really know the exact age limits etc but if you use the links on this website and go to the r.a.f site and then go to careers im sure it will be listed on there and it should give you a rough outline of the medical and the qualifications you need but i think (dont quote me on that) that the age limit is 17 and a half to 23 and you need 5 gcse passes c and above and 2 A levels.check out the web site anyways. el diablo

[rabby]

You will find that 99% if not all new fighter pilots will have degrees, that puts them at 22 after uni. A mate of mine has got very good Highers (A levels in England I think) and has been in the ATC and is a walking RAF dictionary, he went for an interview at Cranwell and they told him to back after he's been to uni and grown up.

[Sven]

Aye Rabby,
I went for a interview - just at the AFCO for RAF Regiment Officer. Was in the ATC for 4 years as a Cadet, am now a (erstaz) cadet Instructor, I`m in the TA, have good GCSE`s/ A-levels - studying for a degree. They told me to come back in my last year of University when I was more mature and confident.

Thats just the way the cake crumbles.

[rabby]

It's a bit harsh, puting the entry requirements at 2 A levels or whatever, but only taking on Uni graduates, why don't they just put Degree or Further study required, instead of letting younger people get their hopes up only to have them shattered.

[MSPAH1983]

yeh very true,

i myself have applied and heard nothing yet, but might have the chance to go to Cranwell. i think the maturity side of things all depends on what u intend to be. I.e Fighter pilot ur in control of dangerous weapons etc etc etc. Where as i s'pose with other trades in the RAF a sense of humour cud come in handy.

The way in which i thought about it was that i would like to become an Int. Officer and i'm 19, but by the time i finish training i shall be nearly 21, which i would have personally have thought would have been ideal.

But hey who knows.

All requirements for any officer position is 5 GCSE's C or above inc. Math & English (& in some circumstances Science) & also 2 A-Levels (E or above)

Age varies and some circumstance can change, what you can become, just have to go to ur nearest AFCO and have a chat.

[OJ]

hi

i'am going to OASC on tuesday. i going for pilot and i have only going a-levels. I'am 18 and due to finish school in june hopefully go into the airforce in september.

you don't need a degree for being a pilot and you got just as much chance of getting in without one. it takes so long to train you to fly jets, up to 3years the RAF want pilots as young as possible.

if anyone been put by thinking there too young i say just go for it now if you don't get it go to uni and try again after uni. if you want a degree the airforce now offer the in-service degree scheme for aircrew officers basically you do a open universty degree while in the airforce. thats what i am going to do.

[dan]

I think only really special individuals would be accepted for a commission or particularly important job without a degree. I got 3 A's at A-Level, was in the army cadets for 5 years and had my heart set on joining the Royal Marines since I was about 14. Got to my initial interview for being an officer in RM and was told fairly firmly that 95% of Young Officers have degrees. I'd imagine the same goes pretty much throughout the military. It's not impossible, don't want to dishearten anyone, but very difficult.

[voodoo sprout]

I think that's not certain though, these things are dependant on manpower needs. If they are short of people they'll lower the standards, if they've got an applicant surplus they will raise them. The last time I talked to an RM careers bloke he mentioned that as there were plenty of applicants they were picking out the best, but when I talked to an RAF one he said that they were short of aircrews which is why they had introduced the in service degree. So at the end of the day, the Royal Marines may have been more selective with regards to education simply because they could afford to at the time, not because it's general policy. I may of course be out of date, but this wasn't that long ago .

[dan]

Good point, but still, regardless of the needs it is tough to gain a commission without a degree. My advice would be to know all about the job you are applying for with thorough research, and to have excellent current affairs. Of course, a bit of charm and confidence doesn't go amiss either

[stefanwurwal]

I would love to be able to quote the percentage of serving aircrew that were University Entrants and those that were Direct Entrants from school...but I cant! All I know is that it is just as possible to gain entry to Officer Training as a school leaver as it is after Uni. The differences however are obvious. In my case, I can see that I am a very different person now 4yrs after starting University. Generally, Graduates will be more mature (believe it or not!) and have more confidence. At such a young age, school leavers will rarely have the confidence to lead groups of their peers. However, exceptions do occur and these are the direct entrants. Not everyone is suited to a degree and the RAF is aware of this. On my UAS we had a mix of students and also a newly incorporated Direct Entrant flight that were fresh out of Cranwell and doing their Elementary Flying Training along side us.

[Topper]

One word of advice about the RAF, they seem to like well rounded citizens, especially people who help in the community with voluntry work. Either do some or make some up, the more rounded and generally worldly experienced the better.

[Biggles1211]

It is a myth that the RAF prefers people to have a degree if they want to be pilots. From my understanding, the RAF prefers pilots to join as young as possible..that's why they offer the In-Service Degree Scheme.

If they tell you that you should go to University, then it's probably because they feel you are not sufficiently mature, confident or independant from your parents.

It's not the degree that counts, it is the maturity and ability.

I think many people place too much stress on the academic qualifications required....and too little stress on the 'other' aspects, such as; sport, hobbies, interests, adventure training, positions of responsibility etc (i.e. those areas where you can develop the foundations of the qualities that they are looking for at OASC).