Officer Selection...

[sarah_j]

Hey,
Currently im at college, in my lower year, and am hopefully going to go to cranwell this summer for officer selection. im really interested about becoming an intelligence officer, if anybody could give me more info it would be greatly appreciated. I'd plan to go straight after college, but parents are pushing for uni grrrr, though i have read tht u can get a degree while ur an intelligence officer? is this tru? I'm a little bit confused and could really do with some help or advice as my AFCO are really not helping too much, but hey thats Stoke! (no offence to anybody... ) erm but yeh, so general tips about the selection woudl be good, but mainly about the intelligence officer kind of things, thanks ever so much!
Sarah xxx

[rawli]

Were all those kisses for me?! Its quite a varied role but the most common role is the Station Int Officer who will prepare a weekly brief for the execs on the current situation around the world. They would also supply int to squadrons and units before deployment. You could specialise in something like HumInt (Human Intelligence) and do things like agent handling as well as other bits and pieces.

With regards the degree side of things you should really look to the future and decide how long you think you might want to do. If you've got short service on your mind then go for a degree so you are in a better position to find employment when you leave. I personally would go to OASC and fill out a UCAS application as well. At least that way you will still have a choice all the way through college as to what you want to do.

[sarah_j]

Thanks ever so much!

Yeh our college run the whole UCAS thing, i reckon i'd be looking at it long term hopefully. anyway thanks again for the info!

[rawli]

No worries.

[sarah_j]

Also i heard that they're far more likely to accept somebody with a degree compared to somebody having just come out of college. Is this true? Or rumour? And if I didnt get accepted whats the minimum amount of time til i could re apply?

Thanks again xx

[TJD]

Also i heard that they're far more likely to accept somebody with a degree compared to somebody having just come out of college. Is this true? Or rumour? And if I didnt get accepted whats the minimum amount of time til i could re apply?

Thanks again xx

Generally speaking the Armed Forces do prefer those who have a degree. However, you still stand as good a chance as most by not. I didn't have one and went to OASC at 17.5 years, got in first time and grad from IOT at just over 18.5. It can be done, but I would say you have a better chance if you have a bit more 'life experience', something which university can offer.

If you fail OASC, it depends on how badly you fail it, on when you get an offer to reappear. 1 year=just missed the cut, 2years=failed it big time so you need to prepare a whole lot better, and then of course there is please don't bother us again.

[sarah_j]

Thanks ever so much, i also read somewhere you can gain a degree when your "being" an intelligence officer, or that was what was suggested. Think i read it in the officer booklet they give out to anybody who's interested. Is this true? Whats the set up? xx

[rawli]

Well its an OU degree you can study for and you get something called standard learning credits and enhanced learning credits. Standard I think is £180 a year to spend on education and courses and enhanced I think is £3000 to spend on education which you can get as a lump sum. I don't really know the ins and outs but if there's an Admin Trainer or Scribbly on here then they should have some more info.

[Hyperlithe]

Really don't want to put a downer on things for you, but a little heads up from Cranwell, they only take on about 4 Int Officers a year. Make sure you get as much info as you can from your AFCO, come and visit some bases, there's an open day here at Cranwell on the last Thursday of every month for people going for OASC to get more gen. If you didn't get accepted as officer you could still join up as something else to get the experience and reapply later.
Good Luck!

[harry hackedoff]

Hypers, long time no hear from How you doing? Why you no answer PMs you crabette you
Nice to see you enjoying yourself S

[Big Cheese]

Hyper,

Can you post some details about that open day for OASC held on a thursday?

I'd be very keen to attend this, even if I live in London!!

[Rich0684]

Hi,

I have created a website aimed at OASC candidates. It is in its early stages but will provide you with most of what you need to know about the selection days. If you have any questions or comments on the site please email me.

www.oascprep.co.uk/oasc_introduction.html

admin@oscprep.co.uk

Cheers
Rich.

[Hyperlithe]

BC, basically you can get the contact details through your AFCO, and if you phone and say you want to come to the P2 open day for whichever month and you're coming from London, they will send you a rail warrant, and arrange for a room in the candidates' block for you for the night previous. There's even a bus to pick you up and drop you off at Grantham station.

H, sorry, been really busy learning my radio comms stuff. Got to try and figure out how all the engines work etc. now. They're actually going to let me up in the blue stuff in about 2 weeks time....
Scary or what!

:multi:
That's me attempting take-off!