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hey,

i joined the air force last year, as a driver, a crap trade, but once you have your foot in the door, done well throughout your training, you stand a good chance of knowing the air force and getting to aircrew after 24 months of service. You only need 3 gcses instead of the 5 when joining from civvy street. I myself got crappy gcses at school, but i'm going on 2 crammer courses in maths and english later in the year, ive got my science. they only last 5 days long each, because its education your flight cant stop you doing them, i get paid for the time off and you get 80% of the course fee back. Ive been on loads of pax flights with the helicopters where im based, its great fun. Im putting alot of work into starting my selection process covering every angle of a question that might be asked at the afco. You go through the same selection as someone joining from the start, with an interview at the afco then selection at cranwell.

I know its not the best way to get to NCO Aircrew, but its the best way if you haven't got great gcses but want to join the air force. You gain a better knowledge and satisfaction at the end of it.

Yes you may have your foot in the door but this still doesnt mean that you will pass the aircrew tests at Cranwell nor does it mean they will offer you aircrew unless there are places.

Also it all depends if your trade is going to let you go easy. Bare in mind the RAF in your case has spent quite abit of money on training you to get your different CATS on your licenses.
Lets face it they arent extactly screaming out for aircrew at the moment, people are applying everyday for WSO trades, the only advantage you have over a guy off civvy street is that you have 12 months knowledge of the RAF. Which not to sound harsh is not lot and you could pick that up from the net and other sources.

I would have suggested approaching different 6th forms etc and seeing if they will take you any way, I know that my old 6th form did and gave you the chance to resit maths/english and science if you didnt get the best grades while you where doing either GNVQ's or A/s levels (it was a conditon to get grade C on your resits in order to progress to Alevel)

Also how about evening classes to get the GCSEs and get a job? Get some money behind you for when you start and then go for aircrew?

Best of luck

RAMK1

Good luck with getting aircrew.

Personally, I would say the best way is to do them again, at college. Then join straight up, looks like you are more focused on it, and you are committed by taking rhe time to go get them. Being in the RAF doesnt mean you can easily jump between branches. Like rockapemk1 said, it is weither they are needing people for aircrew and if you will be allowed to change by your current branche, and its requirements.

I have looked at these options pretty deeply, as I was in the FAA in the RN, but wanted to become a pilot. The most important factor is, the RN would not pay for me to get any qualifications, unless I needed them to apply to get my papers rasied. They will not pay for you to go and get qualified in something which has nothing to do with what you are going to do, or would like to do, and they will only pay for the minimum you require. If you want 5 A-levels, but only need 3, they will pay for 3, no more.

I left and started college 4 days ago, to gain 3 highers so I can apply for DE into the RAF as a pilot.

MM.

Cheers for repling dudes it nice to know others have considered the options, many aircrew ive spoken to joined straight from civvy street! But I have got a couple of facts for you that are up to date! Being a driver like myself i hate sitting in silence on long journeys so I ask questions . . . . the oc of a helicoper squadron told me that they are down on NCO aircrew needing 19 aircrew. I was also talking to a instuctor who is at cranwell and said that NCO aircrew are 40% down on applicants from april 2004 - april 2005!

Once ive achieved my 2 gcses in november, ive got to wait till ive done 24 months before I can apply anyway.
It worth the effort anyway!