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Ive been thinking as applying as non-commissioned aircrew as i have interests and expierience in Acoustics and am technically minded and obviously the pay has to be looked at! the only thing worries me is the selection process at Cranwell as i have a small feeling im not quite officer material as of yet and my knowledge on current affairs isnt the hottest! what im trying to find out is if you apply for airman aircrew and go to Cranwell, do you still have to make the same 'grade' as officer applicants in the test to be selected for aircrew or are they a bit more lenient?

also, ive been reading threads about the 'modernisation' of the RAF, are people still finding its taking along time to hear replies or has it picked up now as ive seen TV ads for the RAF.

any help would be great, cheers

to add onto my previous questions......

id consider myself a fit and sporty person been members of a number of teams and am still an active person which i would hope would bide well with the interviewers, would they look to this as a more positive than knowing loads about current affairs?! you see im more a socialable and active person than into reading daily broadsheets!

Picking up a quality newspaper every day isn't so hard if you are sufficiently motivated.

Think of it like a game. They want to know if you are truely motivated to gaining a place in the RAF as a WSOP. In order to test that, they ask you to learn about current affairs (amongst other things). If you've bothered to do it, then you've shown some motivation.

Biggles1211 wrote:Picking up a quality newspaper every day isn't so hard if you are sufficiently motivated.

Think of it like a game. They want to know if you are truely motivated to gaining a place in the RAF as a WSOP. In order to test that, they ask you to learn about current affairs (amongst other things). If you've bothered to do it, then you've shown some motivation.

Well said...

Brush up on your weak areas before you apply. If your current affairs knowledge is lacking, then read some quality papers and watch Sky news! It isn't a lot to ask is it?

The final interview is 40 mins. Half of that is spent talking about yourself, education, qualifications, social activities etc. The other half is broken down again into 2 sections. First they ask about your chosen branch, so make sure you know how long the training is, where it happens, what aircraft you want to fly on and where they're based, that sort of thing. Also be aware of what the RAF is involved in at the moment. You get max 10 mins on current affairs, so really don't stress about it too much. They only want to see that you take an interest in the world around you rather than sitting in front of the tv watching soaps.
If you need any info, I'm halfway throught the NCAITC at Cranwell, but got injured so I'm home for a couple weeks and hoping to restart course in July or September.

I was all set to go to OASC, when I wanted to ba a loadie, unfortunatly the man at OASC he say "sorry specky your too blind"

Its a good idea to swat up on current events, as it is the global politics that effect were we go and who we decide to slap about in the world! basicly youll do the same selection stuff as officer/pilot entrants, you will be scored on a point system and basicly you need x amount of points to be a pilot, y amount of points to be a NCO aircrew! I got the Idea that there looking for a good team player, switched on, motivated, just like the rest of the RAF! Although you do have to do eye-hand co-ordination test ( good excuse for playing video games)!

Just wish Id got my chance, but acording to the RAF Im too blind

Its not all bad news though, Im well on the way to being accepted as An RAF Regt Gunner! however youll be pleased too know im not thinking of goin to a rapier squadron, "sarge is that a mig or a nimrod?" Bang too late!

Cheers people, thanks for all the info. like i said id consider myself a team player and swited on so id better go get some REAL newspapers lol

thanks again

Being aircrew isn't easy. But if you want it, like hyperlith said you can get it. I passed out on thursday and its not been easy.

Halton is fine, but getting to Cranwell things really hot up. After doing the full 10 weeks and being told you've failed hurts. But to show true determination (Which they want) you've got to pick yourself up, dust off and do the 10 weeks again. It's do-able, look at me and many others before me who have done it.

If you're commited, you'll get it.

Good luck.

tom