Weapon Systems Operator

[hollis91]

Hi guys, my first post here after reading up on quite a few threads for hours.

I'm looking at joining the RAF as a Weapon Systems Operator (preferably crewman), the only problem being that i have a few questions. I called the RAF careers line but they weren't 100% sure on a few things so thought i would ask here. I'll lay the questions out as bullet points so that it's easier to answer and gets straight down to the details.

Is the area i'm looking at going into fairly saturated or are there a lot of gaps open?

Do you get to choose what you go into in terms of crewman, electronic warfare, acoustic or linguist?

Finally, how long should i expect the whole process to take from application to basic training?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Jack

[Hyperlithe]

Hi Jack,

I'm a WSOp(L), and us Linguists are the only ones who know in advance which route we'll be taking, due to the extra aptitude required. Everyone else gets streamed, mainly according to what demand there is in each branch, but you do get to express a preference throughout your training, which is more likely to be taken into account if you're among the best in your course. Currently most people are going crewman, but that changes fairly regularly. There's usually a mixture from each course.

From first walking into your AFCO to starting at Halton could take up to about a year. The people you need to speak to are the NCA Liaison Team at Cranwell, but I don't know the number off the top of my head, and as I'm currently out of the country I can't really get hold of it for you! The AFCO should have a contact number...

Hope that helps a bit!

[BucksBoy]

Hello mate, re: your last question I have been in the application process for RAF Regiment Gunner since last September, with no delays or hold-ups. I have been told over the phone that I am down as starting at Honnington in early August (still not had this in writing yet ), appreciate its a different trade though.