ATC Officer

[baywaller1]

Hi all, I am thinking about re-mustering into ATC as an officer and have a couple of questions for the floor before I finally decide. Firstly I was wondering as to whether they are likely to re open the branch any time soon. I have a fantastic job offer in civvy street on the table when I get back from Herrick at the end of this month which I would not like to turn down unless I have a realistic chance of applying with only 12 months left to serve. Secondly, I hear on the good old RAF rumour mill that OASC haven't been selecting ex rankers for commissioned appointments for various reasons. Finally (sigh of relief from the crowd) I was at Sandhurst for 40 weeks after 10 years in the RAF but my platoon said I just wasn't Army enough ( I didn't see the point of shouting to get my message across and I was too RAF apparently) and my Colour Sgt said I was a lovely bloke but just not infantry enough. Will this adversely affect my chances in this time of severe cut backs? I have been told to apply by my JengO and the Sqn Ldr but I would like to know the availability for the near and medium term future of recruitment into the branch before I give 100% into applying for it.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from you all.

 

[True Blue Jack]

I don't know when the branch is likely to open again; I could hazard a reasonably educated guess but ultimately a guess is what it would be and I wouldn't want you to pin your hopes on it.

However, I can say with certainty that neither being a serving airman or what Sandhurst said 10 years ago will go against you in the selection process. If you decide to go for it the decision whether or not to accept you will be based on your present application and nothing else.

 

[Stevienics]

I hear on the good old RAF rumour mill that OASC haven't been selecting ex rankers for commissioned appointments for various reasons.

This is monkey poo. Ask Foghorn Leghorn.

 

[FOGHORN LEGHORN]

This is monkey poo. Ask Foghorn Leghorn.

Thanks for tagging me in stevienics. I'm on the current first term of IOT of which half of the 30 personnel on course are ex-rankers. If anything OASC have upped their percentage of ex-rankers. Maybe they seem them as less of a training risk? But that's pure speculation.

 

[baywaller1]

Cheers guys, It was March this year when I was RTU'd for not being Infantry enough so I was wondering if they would see a training risk or someone who has recently been in the training environment and would be receptive.

As for ATC, I realise it would be a guess but if I were to register online now, would it be reasonable to guess that I would get a shot at OASC before this Christmas?

 

[engchimp]

They are always looking for Aerospace Battle Managers, yeah not quite the same but opens the door to commissioned service

 

[True Blue Jack]

As for ATC, I realise it would be a guess but if I were to register online now, would it be reasonable to guess that I would get a shot at OASC before this Christmas?

Unlikely to be honest, the process you have to go through is as follows:

1. Wait for the branch to re-open.
2. Make your initial application.
3. Pass the airman's selection test (now mandatory for controller branches).
4. Attend a P2 presentation at the AFCO.
5. Pass the filter interview.
6. Be called forward to OASC for aptitude testing.
7. Be recalled to OASC for the exercise phase.

With a branch which is presently open, e.g., ABM, you will now be looking at November at best to get through to the exercise phase at OASC. If you do decide to go for an open branch then expect to be asked questions on your time at Sandhurst but remember that infantry skills are not top of our wishlist so - in my opinion - it won't be a problem.

 

[Flybynight]

Weighing a doubt against a certainty I wouldn't lose the chance of the civvie job for the sake of something that's unlikely to happen this year. ABM isn't so very different from ATCO other than you wouldn't be spending time in the 'greenhouse' watching aircraft take off and land, and the airmen working under you would have to have higher educational qualifications (how are you with maths and IT?). In fact, I've heard of air defence personnel being sent to work temporalily in ATC, and in my opinion it's a better than 50% chance that the specialisms one day will be combined. But if it doesn't appeal don't apply, it will dug out of the back of your brain during the selection process.

One thought at the back of my brain - you seem to be switching around a bit. Do be able to demonstrate that you've thought long and hard about this and are clear and determined.

 

[baywaller1]

I see your point about switching round a bit, I mainly just want to commission. Post Sandhurst I know that I am not an SAC anymore and refuse to settle for the easy life and coast as such. There are only a few branches I would like, ATC and ABM are the top two. I did the aptitude tests for ATC in 2010 and it was the one I scored highest in. The other would be MSO as I was to commission into the RAMC. Maths and IT are good, I will have to do my GCSE again through TDF to get the B, even though I have BTEC and NVQ level 3 in Engineering which includes A level maths but I am already sorting that out.

 

[Flybynight]

I see your point about switching round a bit, I mainly just want to commission. Post Sandhurst I know that I am not an SAC anymore and refuse to settle for the easy life and coast as such. There are only a few branches I would like, ATC and ABM are the top two. I did the aptitude tests for ATC in 2010 and it was the one I scored highest in. The other would be MSO as I was to commission into the RAMC. Maths and IT are good, I will have to do my GCSE again through TDF to get the B, even though I have BTEC and NVQ level 3 in Engineering which includes A level maths but I am already sorting that out.

All looks good to me!

Interestingly (to me, switch off or have a quick game of uckers if you wish), out of idle curiosity last year I took the online aptitude test, saying nothing about about my age (then 69), education (postgrad - eventually), career or what have you, and nothing about whether I was looking for commissioned or non-commissioned service. The analysis of my answers was that I like working in a team getting my ideas across but also sometimes liked doing my own thing. The suggestions of suitable jobs were ATCO, SNCO ATC, ABM, FOO, and MSO. Snap (more or less)! Given that I had been a SAC Ops Clk then AATC (now FOA) when I was commissioned as ATCO, and when I left became a mental health nurse, it was also pretty damn accurate. Go for it, that man!

DT_Xtremez_26: