Engineering Recruitment

[Joss]

Hello all,

Does anyone have any idea what the state of recruitment is for new engineering officers, especially Aero Systems branch?

I've got my OASC on the 12th September and would like to know some likely scenarios in terms of start date if I get through this time round.

Cheers for any advice/help :fadein:

Joss

[2nd time round]

Hi Joss,

I can only give you what I have learned !, the recruitment for next year is supposed to be 'healthy' for engineering officers and as for Aerosystems / Communications Electronics, it doesnt matter anymore. During engineering specialist training you will cover both in order to post you where you are needed most, so you could get either field.

As far as getting in, my fate along with others on here will be decided tomorrow in a meeting and we will find out in the next two weeks. I have gone for engineering officer and have been told the most likely date for starting IOT would be around April of next year !. I went through OASC in June of this year and was shortlisted although from what I have heard from the group who got through to stage 2, only 3 of us got a shortlisted letter and no one got a definite yes.

So, good luck at OASC and be ready for a long wait.

[Joss]

Hi,

Thanks alot for your advice 2nd time round, I hope you get good news in the next couple of weeks from the outcome of todays meeting .
Have you seen the engineering course desciptions from DSGT on the Cranwell website? The RAF certainly know how to train good engineers.

As far as waiting goes 9 months ish is not ideal but it'll give me a chance to sort my finances and maybe squeeze in a bit of traveling or another short course of some kind (if I pass OASC that is!).

If you dont mind me asking, did you apply for any other branches apart from engineeing? And, were the others at your OASC engineers or various branches?
I put down a engineering and a few other branches when I applyed although I've recently been thinking that after 5 years of engineering education it would be a shame not to use it.

Cheers.


Anyone else at Cranwell 12th September?

[Vladek]

Hey,

I'm going for engineering too, got my filter interview this month, could anyone give me any advice on what they ask please, i want to be really well prepared for it.

Good luck with your OASC!

[Joss]

Hey,

I'm going for engineering too, got my filter interview this month, could anyone give me any advice on what they ask please, i want to be really well prepared for it.

Good luck with your OASC!

Hi Vladek,

At my filter I was asked about:

1) My personal circumstances e.g. parents, who I live with, my financial situation, any convictions, drink and drugs, where I've studied and alot about what I do in my spare time.

2) RAF knowledge - structure, equipment etc This was tricky for me as I'd learnt alot about what squadrons where based where, personel numbers, new equipment etc however in the end i was asked about the type of rifle the regiment uses.

3) IOT - you need to know what will happen to you if you get accepted onto IOT

4) Motivations - You'll be asked why you want to join the RAF and probably some question that will give an indication of how much you've thought about what the role entails e.g. how you feel about one day going to war, or, potentially being shot at, or, yourself leading others into dangerous situations etc

5) World events - Some things, not necessarily about military operations, that have happened in the UK and around the world.

Also, make sure that your application form is filled out really well with everything filled in or it'll be picked up on. This may not be to much of a problem now but the same application form goes to OASC where you'll be judged much more harshly for any mistakes. Memorise the information you put on the form as you'll be asked questions on it.

Personally, I found the filter a bit nerve racking because I'd tryed to predict what would be asked. I'd learnt some stuff about NATO and the UN but it didn't come up and I got 'Excluding terrorism and the Iraq/Afgan wars tell me about some world events that have taken your interest in the past 12 months' as the world knowledge question which meant thinking fast - I mentioned the military involvement in the UK firemans strike and the eviction of white farmers from Zimbabwe under Mugabe's regime.

I think you'll be fine if you know your own history well and are confident throughout, especially regarding motivations for joining.

Hope this helps although this may have just been my experience, best get some second opinions from some of the other guys on this site.


JOss :fadein:

[2nd time round]

Hi Joss,

I didnt put any other branches down until I got to OASC, once there I got talking to others and put down training officer when it came to my final debrief interview as it sounded interesting. I was advised to put it down after my final debrief interview as I would not be questioned about it if I did it then.

As for numbers at OASC for engineering : 4 started, 1 was booted at medical and the other 2 were booted after the interview prior to starting phase 2. So, I was the only one to get through to phase 2. Incidently, I was also the only other person on phase 2 to have training officer on thier form.

The RAF trains good engineering managers in the field of areospace, but the training on IOT is invaluable as you will learn more about management than anywhere else apparently !.

As for filter interviews, your advice is spot on Joss, make sure that you have an opinion on the subject matter. Quoting from a newspaper is not enough anymore am afraid, you have to be able to have your own opinion on affairs and be prepared to back it up.

[icklecathy]

I was the only one to get through to phase 2. Incidently, I was also the only other person on phase 2 to have training officer on their form.

There's no WAY they can turn you down !!!!

[2nd time round]

Hi Cathy,

There's no WAY they can turn you down !!!!

I certainly hope your right !!, well are fate is now decided I just hope the bloody post office pulls it's finger out for us and puts us out of our misery soon.

All I can say is good luck to you Cathy and Vikki, lets hope we all get through because WE DESERVE IT !.

If you have any other questions Josh, I'll do my best to answer them for you.

[icklecathy]

Hi Cathy,

There's no WAY they can turn you down !!!!

I certainly hope your right !!, well are fate is now decided I just hope the bloody post office pulls it's finger out for us and puts us out of our misery soon.

All I can say is good luck to you Cathy and Vikki, lets hope we all get through because WE DESERVE IT !.

If you have any other questions Josh, I'll do my best to answer them for you.

Well after a few weeks off i'm back to my favourite game of STALK THE POSTMAN !!

Maybe we could just ring OASC and ask for our results over the phone?!

[Joss]

Hi,

I have a question somewhat unrelated to the title of this forum; at the OASC during the bleep fitness test did the assessors run you until you miss the beep, i.e. cannot physically go on any further? Or, do they stop you once you've met the required fitness standard?

Just wondering because I heard somewhere that you can improve your chances of selection if your well above the required fitness standard.

Cheers, :fadein:

[2nd time round]

Hi Joss,

You have three chances before you are stopped on the bleep test ie, when you miss the line three times. As for scoring, you will get a bonus point if you reach 'excellent' on the bleep test. The information I got from AFCO on the scoring system has now changed completely as I checked my bleep test and thought I had a very disapointing 'average', however I was informed on my de-brief that I had moved into the 'good' category !.

The scores relate to your age group and it also differs between men and women.

Hope the info helps.

[Hyperlithe]

I was told that I got 6.9, which was 2 runs short of good, but when I got hold of my feedback they'd put down that I got ACCEPTABLE on one page, and 6.10, GOOD on the next.
The board President did mark my FBG up a grade though, from 3 B-, to 3B if anyone knows what difference that makes?
The bleep test didn't seem to make an awful lot of difference, but it is taken as a whole with your performance in the hangar etc. For example, if you did a really good job of the group exercises, got stuck in in the hangar, volunteered for jumping off barrels and over minefields etc. without getting out of breath/collapsing, they won't fail you because you didn't get a really good time on the bleep test. I don't think it works the other way round!

[MikeB]

They stop you if you miss the line three times in a row.

If you miss it once going down then hit it on the way back you go back to zero, if you miss it on the way down and miss it on the way back then hit it on the way up you will go back to zero.

On our PGAC no one missed a line and the test was stopped when we reached the required level ie 9.1 which was easy, very easy.

If you do lots of phys you'll be fine.