Applying for Officer/NC roles at the same time

[LadyLaw]

Hi Everyone,

I've just been browsing the careers website thinking about what I might like to do if I don't get make the grade to be an officer and was wondering if it's possible to apply for officer/SNCO and airwoman roles at the same time?

Sounds like a daft question I know, and I'm sure someone will accuse me of being defeatist but I'd rather have a fall-back plan just in case. If I don't make it in as an officer I was thinking about applying as a student nurse (I do a lot of voluntary medical work so it wouldn't be a total change of tack for me).

Obviously I don't want the careers bods to look at my appication and think "Hmm, Flight Ops/Logistics/Pers Supt officer...and student nurse?! What's going on here then!" and have that jeopardize my chances because they don't think I'm fully committed to being an officer, but similarly I'm not getting any younger (26 on Friday) and don't want to spend ages going down the officer recruitment process then have to start all over again if I don't make it.

Also, as a bit of an aside, is Air Traffic Control the only trade for which you can apply directly as SNCO? It's the only one I could see on the careers website but please tell me if I've missed something obvious!

 

[Stevienics]

Just a word to the wise. One the the things always asked at OASC is what you would do if you were unsuccesful in your attempt this time.....looking for the response "Why, i would concentrate on my weak points and try again".

I can pretty much guarantee the right response is not "......oh, it's ok; this is just No 1 on a sliding scale of options".

To be clear (and as cliched as it sounds), they always look for a person who wants to be an Officer first, and everything else, including the selected Branch, second.

My advice (as a retiree mind) would be do one thing at a time, and see what other options it unearths.

 

[LadyLaw]

Eeek! DT_Xtremez_42:I didn't mean for it to come across like that!

Believe me, I want to join up as an officer and I think I've got/am developing the right skills and I'm doing everything I can to give myself the best chance at OASC (from SDT calculations and newspaper reading in my lunch break to post-it notes all over my kitchen/living room/car so I can memorise aircraft and station info).

A recruiter I spoke to a while ago suggested having a plan for what to do if I don't make it as an officer (I appreciate there is a chance the OASC guys will decide I'm just not suited, no matter how much I want it - I don't think that's defeatist, I think it's just realistic given how stiff the competition is) and that was what I was thinking about. Sort of an insurance policy if you like, because above everything I want to join the RAF so if I can't do it as an officer then I'd like to do it as something else rather than just sit out on civvie street and say "I failed so I gave up".

Sorry if it came across and not being properly committed - I probably just didn't phrase things correctly.DT_Xtremez_21:

 

[Stevienics]

OK well, there are criteria for Officer entry and other criteria for Branch entry. S'long as you make the officer entry criteria they may offer you your second or third choice if, either, the branch is oversubscribed already or you didnt quite make the grade for the first choice.

As for wanting to be a SNCO in a [particular branch or trade, I am not certain of the current ethos, but I understand it's more about wanting to do the job rather than wanting to be a SNCO first - others more learned than I will no doubt advise though.

 

[LadyLaw]

Was just curious about the SNCO thing - I thought it seemed odd that only one branch offered direct entry like that. I'm not a rank hound - promise!!! I've come across a few of those in voluntary organisations (*shudders at the thought*) so I imagine there are far more when there's a commensurate salary added into the equation!

Thanks for the advice though - guess I'll have to do my best and see where it takes me. You never know, maybe I'll make it after all

 

[wannabeNCaircrew]

Have you thought of being a weapons systems operator? You get the rank of sergeant once you have completed your inital training, and you get to fly as well.

 

[Reformed Scribbly]

When it comes to making a serious application there are only two routes, the P2 route which is commissioned entry, as well as non-commissioned aircrew (WSOp) and Direct Entry SNCO ATC. Believe me that role is just as much about being an SNCO as it is an Air Traffic Controller, as if you wear the rank, you must be prepared to take the responsibility as well as the pay packet, as opposed to the comments above.

Or there is the P3 route, which is standard non-commissioned entry, so including student nurse etc.

You can only take one route at a time. Your AFCO will advise you so please ask them if you are unsure at any stage.

Good Luck with your application.

 

[Yidmister]

You can apply for both Commission and Non Commision jobs at the same time, the only problem that could arise is that the Non Commission process is normally slightly quicker, so you might have a date to attend the Officer Selection Centre in a few months but you have also passed the Non Commission Process and the AFCO will want to know if you wish to accept the offer of a job in a Non Commissioned role. Therefore you have to decide to either take the job or stop the process and hope you get the Officer role. I would advise you go the the Officer Process first and if you are not successful you can the apply for the Non Commssioned route.

 

[wannabeNCaircrew]

I would say if you have the quals and attributes for officer/NC aircrew, then you will be frustrated in the ranks. If you fail OASC, go back and try a second time and have a look at doing AOSB/AIB (the selection boards for the army and RN). The reason being you may not be quite what OASC is looking for, but you may make an excellent army or RN officer. I know of someone who failed OASC, but then went to AOSB a week later (she had simultaneous applications to both services) and passed. She started RMAS (Sandhurst) a couple of months later.

 

[LadyLaw]

I definitely see your point about different services looking for different things in people - after all they operate differently and would be exepcting you to do a different job! Otherwise what would be the point of three different services (now there's a can of squiggly things for you).

I must admit I had originally wanted to join the Navy when I was younger but life sort of got in the way and I've just come back to the whole idea of military life some 12 years later (having discovered the boring pantsness and lack of jobs civvie street has to offer), and to be honest life on a boat doeasn't appeal so much! I did consider all three services and settled on the RAF as being the one I thought I would probably get on best with, but then again I suppose you never know until you find out more and try it. My other half is ex-Army and he does try and persuade me to go that route every so often but he and I are quite different people and I think I'd be better in the RAF. If, after a couple of attempts at OASC I'm getting nowhere then I'll have to decide what's more important - being an officer or being in the RAF. If the former than maybe it would be a good idea to try one of the other two, but if it's being in the RAF (which I think it is) then I'll have to see what else I'd be happy doing. Anyway, this is all pie in the sky talk - I'm still right at the beginning of the process waiting for trades to open!

I didn't know you could have simultaneous applications though. That must have been a bit of a nightmare on the research front - not just several different roles but two different services to remember a million facts for!

 

[tag_lincoln]

You need to bear in mind as mentioned above what view the OASC might take when they know you have a non commissioned application in as well, NCO aircrew or SNCO ATC you might be able to talk your way out of as a SNCO has to burden responsibility etc much in the same way as an officer and you could always re-apply for comission later (there's an interview answer for you already). If they asked you whether you would accept airman service if you failed in your commissioning attempt I would recommend a long pause and then say yes maybe that you wouldn't completely discount it but you think you could offer the RAF a lot more due to your personal skills and abilities as an officer than you could as an airwoman (ie stay on message). The answer to what you would do if you failed OASC is as previous about working on weaknesses and reapplying but there is nothing wrong with having a equally demanding option such as Army officer or something in civvy street at manager level (shows your determined but not putting all your eggs in one basket). Saying you'd be happy being an SAC of whatever trade wouldn't really tally with all the things you would have said previous in your interview about wanting to accept responsibility and be part of the decision making cycle etc.

 

[wannabeNCaircrew]

Ladylaw, in the army you are an officer first, and you dont know what arm of the army you are joining when you go to Sandhurst. Thus, all the prep my friend was doing for OASC (phys, planning ex, leadership tasks, current affair discussion etc), was actually directly applicable to AOSB. Although they do apparently ask you in your interview at OASC what arms of the army you are interested in joining, the focus is more on how you would make a good army officer through your personal qualities and leadership skills etc. If you want any more advice, pm me. In short, if you are a physically fit person who can make their voice heard and you interview well, you will do well at AOSB.
Again, I would dissuade you from joining as an airwoman if you have good A levels, a degree? and you narrowly fail OASC. Id give OASC two tries at least, and AOSB/AIB before looking at going down that route. Even if (which I doubt it will) came to that, look at joining the reserves so you can have the best of both worlds, civvy and military. There are many fulfilling careers in civvy street like SOCA, GCHQ MI5 and MI6 that will give you the feeling of "serving your country" as it were. I know of someone who combines a career in SOCA with service in the TA as a SNCO.

 

[Bims]

help

help

If it helps any I used here to get advice and background on passing the tests and interviews

 

[LadyLaw]

Aaah yes, got quite a few bits from them! They seem pretty good, even just as a starting point if nothing else Blimey, though, I didn't think I'd started a 2-page thread! Thanks to everyone who's commented - all your advice is much appreciated.

Again, I would dissuade you from joining as an airwoman if you have good A levels, a degree? and you narrowly fail OASC. Id give OASC two tries at least,

I do have both A levels and a couple of degrees, and what you said earlier about feeling frustrated in the ranks struck a chord, so I think I'm still well and truly determined to get in (to the RAF) as an officer, so here's to keeping everything crossed and doing a lot of hard work and prep!

It took me 3 attempts to pass my driving test so lets hope it takes fewer attempts to pass OASC! (but that was 7 years ago...)