Final Interview @ Afco For Intelligence Officer

[Live]

Hello all,
I have only just become a member of these boards after a few months of using them as a reference point, as up until now, any questions have had have been answered in previous posts.

I am due in for my AFCO Interview with the FLT Lt on wednesday for a commission in the RAF as an intelligence officer. I have looked at the recent replies to chris19's post and they have helped me in my final planning and research.

What I am keen to find out is the intake dates for cranwell, e.g over a year how many intakes are there and when do they occur. Also if my interview goes well what is the likely date I will attend cranwell for OASC.

Furthermore, aside from the information on the careers brouchure, is there any other information anyone has regarding intelligence training as the leaflet is a little thin on the ground.

I previously applied in July 2004 for commission as a Pilot but due to haveing hayfever I did not get beyond the officer presentation. I was advised in my reply from the medical board to look at a groundtrade and spent 4-5 months looking at my options, whilst also taking advantage of my time to get fitter. Intelligence seemed like the most interesting ground trade for me and so I have reapplied.

I want to be as prepared as possible so if anyone has any information they can give me it would be much appreciated!


Thanks Alot

Live

[sublime_envy]

don't know the intake numbers but you will go to cranwell 2-3 months after your filter int. Filter int are not amazingly diffucult, just let me know if you want any help at all. As for pilot, I am one in uas and I have hayfever too. If your hayfever isn't bad, give pilot a shot. I wore glasses too but when I sat oasc medical they said I didn't need them. I didn't care what anyone else said as long as cranwell was ok with that stuff. What do you have to lose?

[rockapemk1]

Intel good on you and the best of luck

Your AFCO should have sent you station visit request for the Joint School of Photo Recon (cant remember where it is now). It might be worth asking with they can arrange one for you as it will show willing to learn about the trade as you spend a day there and you can quiz the Ruperts there.

At the moment there are 3 intakes this year, Feb, May and Nov if memory serves correct (TJD - Feel free to blast me on this one lol).

[Live]

Thanks for all the comments guys, very quick and informative responses as ever.

Fingers crossed I can get onto one of the OASC courses before May, I think if I can get the opportunity I will try and get a day visit to chicksands over the next few months. I have had some base visits to Lyneham for a week and to Honnington on a day visit (I have a brother training to be a rockape) but never really had the oppertunity to discuss with the Int community at either station.

Looking around the Net for info on Chicksands the RAF seems to hold very limited information, the army intelligence corps have a website that goes into alot of detail about what they do there, and there is alot of information on the history of the site and its USAF links.

The information regarding the general process from TJD was vey helpful, but I would like to go into even more detail.

Regarding the interview, things like current affairs, I have been following closely with the Tsunami disaster and the situation in Gaza and the death of yaser arafat. I have also researched the 2nd Gulf War and the role of the R.A.F, the Iraqi Elections, the ukraine elections, Chinas economic boom, downsizing of UK Armed forces, things like the R.A.Fs role in todays flooding in south Scotland and North of England..... Is there any other major current affairs I should be looking into?

Thanks Again

Live

[sublime_envy]

Thanks for all the comments guys, very quick and informative responses as ever.

Fingers crossed I can get onto one of the OASC courses before May, I think if I can get the opportunity I will try and get a day visit to chicksands over the next few months. I have had some base visits to Lyneham for a week and to Honnington on a day visit (I have a brother training to be a rockape) but never really had the oppertunity to discuss with the Int community at either station.

Looking around the Net for info on Chicksands the RAF seems to hold very limited information, the army intelligence corps have a website that goes into alot of detail about what they do there, and there is alot of information on the history of the site and its USAF links.

The information regarding the general process from TJD was vey helpful, but I would like to go into even more detail.

Regarding the interview, things like current affairs, I have been following closely with the Tsunami disaster and the situation in Gaza and the death of yaser arafat. I have also researched the 2nd Gulf War and the role of the R.A.F, the Iraqi Elections, the ukraine elections, Chinas economic boom, downsizing of UK Armed forces, things like the R.A.Fs role in todays flooding in south Scotland and North of England..... Is there any other major current affairs I should be looking into?

Thanks Again

Live

lyneham is a nice base, quite near mine. Their medical services are excellent!

[Live]

Another question to tickle your brains, its regarding financial situation. On entering service do the R.A.F expect you to be free of any financial obligations? I have 9 months left of a 1 year car loan to pay, car insurance and a contract mobile phone which ends in July. When the R.A.F refer to financial embaressment does that mean CCJ's and the like? I have never had any problems paying back any money and as far as I am concerned I have no "Financial Embaressments" will the fact I have a car loan im repaying affect my application?


Thanks

Live

[sittingstress]

Feel free to PM me too re Chix as I am currently posted here/there!

Regards

ss

PS No guarentees but I can always ask a (wo)man that knows.

[Chris19]

Just one point mate, I spent absolutely ages going over current affairs, knowing about every gun, where the deployments and bases are, and I never got asked anything like that. I asked him why and he said you only need to know that stuff at the actual interview at Cranwell. The interview at the AFCO is just some very basic questions to establish what type of person you are and to go through your family/educational/outdoor activity life. Therefore don't get too hung up on loads of foreign affairs stats etc, as long as you know exactly why you want to be an officer and the branch that you want to go in you will be fine. Goodluck mate

[Live]

Thanks again for all your help,

I had my interview yesterday (12th January)

Chris my interview was quite a different experience in comparrison to what your saying.

The flt lt was very down to earth, but did question me fully on my family and history to getting to where I was. He asked alot regarding the training whats involved the different phases at cranwell and then branch training.

He questioned heavily into the Motivation and reasons for joining, and also was keen on current affairs himself, so we had discussions about the Tsunami, the physics of what caused it, the aid being given, the fact that although goverments give aid, they specify that a british company has to have the contract for the repair work etc so technically they are giving there own country business. We also discussed the middle east in full, including palestine and israel, iraq and Iran.

We discussed the aircraft and weapons in use, whats replacing what, when are things coming into use etc. Seems that we had different types of interviews.

Overall it went well and I feel good about how it all went and found it good practise for the rest of the process.

Thanks to everyone for there help.

Live