Hello..

[PhantomPickle]

And my AST is on the 18th. I spoke to a man at the AFCO and he said that only my AST would be done on the 18th and not an interview. Whereas I thought it may be both

 

[TG9opsy]

I think only the roles that are vacant appear on the careers website... I might be wrong. If there's a load of people who have chosen FOA and are awaiting interviews or Phase One etc, they'll just shut off applications for a while.

It is a really good trade and one of the shortest Phase Two periods at only 10 or 11 weeks I think it is now. A lot of people in other trades will have you believe we're just officer's dogsbodies! Far from it! We play an important role. There's a lot of secondary duties for us around the ATC tower and the day-in, day-out job is, in my opinion, really interesting.

There's plenty of places to travel as an Opsy. I've done Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, El Centro in America, and of course the obligatory Falkland Islands; as well as quick trip away with the Navy on HMS Ocean for eight weeks. All very different, but all awesome to experience!

 

[Witty_Banter]

Have you sat the trade selection aptitude test yet? I know you've applied to be a mover, but when you get your aptitude scores back you may find that you qualify for other trades too - the guy behind the desk should have an up-to-date list of what trades are currently recruiting (the websites can be out of date sometimes). When I joined up I had originally applied to be a rock ape, but my test scores indicated I could do something a little more specialised (and in a higher payband).

It's probably also worth looking into the new pay scales, so you can see what each trade earns at a each rank level - this will give you a good idea of what expected earnings you may qualify for, but also your prospective earnings over your (potential) career! It's not until the top level WO that pay evens out these days.

As for the 'integrity' thing (and I apologise for dragging the threat back to the beginning, but this is important) - tell the truth. If you've had even the slightest brush with the law this WILL be picked up during your SC check, so if you haven't mentioned it then you're done for. They will ask you about drugs, and if you tell them that you just put out a spliff on the kerb before you came in then yes, you probably won't be offered a job. But they do NOT expect everyone to be shiny clean - you may have experimented with weed etc some years ago, and admitting this in your interview is not going to automatically bar you from entry - particularly if you have tried it and steered yourself away from it (this is actually a good indicator of willpower / personal strength). I know this because it's EXACTLY what happened when I signed up.

TG9opsy is right in that you will come across some 'unsavoury' characters in the RAF (people that take things from gym lockers, etc), because every now and then one or two people with no integrity slip through the cracks. But the point is that you should retain YOUR OWN INTEGRITY at all costs, so that you are not counted as one of them.

 

[PhantomPickle]

Hi witty banter.

Thanks for the response.

All that has happened so far is I applied online as the closest AFCO to me was about an hour away. Waited 5weeks to be contacted and told that I have an AST test on the 18th of April (6days time now) so not sure if it's a trade specific one or just general AST.

so also I didn't get very good grades at school and as soon as I left I started work. And have been in work ever since. And never really thought about improving my grades. As I work on the railway and have made my way up to being a lead welder. But if I do well in the AST would they offer me a higher position regardless of my grades?

 

[FOMz]

The trades are offered to you by the AFCO staff will all depend on how well you do in the AST.

I would look in here for threads about the aptitude Test.. there is a wealth of information about it.

 

[Stevienics]

They should tell you that you performed well enough fo your chosed trades, plus x, y and z. In times of less than plenty?....well, we'll see.

 

[PhantomPickle]

Ok that's good to know. As I feel Iam a lot more intelligent now then when I was a boy. So it hasn't really got to much to do with my grades then? Although being a mover sounds like an awesome job. I chose it for a few reasons one I love to travel but my friend has said that unless I get into AMW travelling will be very limited. And two it was the only in my opinion good job that was listed with only having to have 1 Grade G GCSE or above. And seeing as I have 3D's 1C and 1E it seemed the perfect choice for me. I don't want to sound as though i picked it just because it was the best out of the 4options that were open to me. it really does appeal to me as iv always had a big interest in military aircraft.

 

[Witty_Banter]

Ok that's good to know. As I feel Iam a lot more intelligent now then when I was a boy. So it hasn't really got to much to do with my grades then? Although being a mover sounds like an awesome job. I chose it for a few reasons one I love to travel but my friend has said that unless I get into AMW travelling will be very limited. And two it was the only in my opinion good job that was listed with only having to have 1 Grade G GCSE or above. And seeing as I have 3D's 1C and 1E it seemed the perfect choice for me. I don't want to sound as though i picked it just because it was the best out of the 4options that were open to me. it really does appeal to me as iv always had a big interest in military aircraft.

To be honest it sounds like you've already chosen what could be just the right trade for you (I sometimes wish I'd put job satisfaction over pay scale when I joined up) - though to truly see the world, you'd be better off in the Royal Navy - 18 months at sea, stopping off in ports all over the place, etc. A lot of the RAF's global reach is now far more limited than it used to be, but as a mover its likely you'll see more of the world than most of us.

 

[PhantomPickle]

Sounds perfect.

The he navy could of been good but I don't like the uniform or boats haha

 

[FOGHORN LEGHORN]

I've just replied. Apologies as I'm on exercise with limited comms...


This message was sent using my thumb.

 

[Warwick Hunt]

Have a look at this link here http://www.e-goat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?49601-RAF-Selection-Interview-Help&highlight=selection+interview that I put on here a couple of years ago. It is a video from an ex-OC London AFCO on the RAF Selection Interview. It's full of exceptionally good advice and tips and is direct from the horse's mouth so there is none of the hearsay and conjecture that you may, or may not, hear from others.

Good luck.

 

[Witty_Banter]

If you haven't got close to the Ed Quals for the trade then your AST score is largely a moot point, so it is very much to do with Ed Quals.

True, but I've heard of people re-sitting qualifications once accepted for the trade, if they're AST scores are good enough and the trade is at pinch-point. Usually it's maths / english / science GCSE (I also recall the Army using some sort of exam to get their guys up to this point - might have been key skills or something like that?)

 

[Warwick Hunt]

True, but I've heard of people re-sitting qualifications once accepted for the trade, if they're AST scores are good enough and the trade is at pinch-point. Usually it's maths / english / science GCSE (I also recall the Army using some sort of exam to get their guys up to this point - might have been key skills or something like that?)

Once upon a time when the RAF were desperately short of people, then Trade Sponsors took a punt on someone if they lacked required quals but had a good AST score, relevant civilian experience, etc. However nowadays with relatively few available posts and an abundance of applications, recruiters have the ability to be picky - very picky - about who can and cannot be progressed down the application process. If you do not hold the required GCSE/A Level grades in the subjects they want, then no matter how good your AST score is, how much civilian experience you have, etc then you will not be able to progress your application any further. The onus will be on the candidate to go back and gain those qualifications to redress the balance if they have their heart set on a particular career in the RAF. The rules are very hard and very fast with no room for manoeuvre.

 

[Witty_Banter]

I'm guessing you have more visibility of this than me WH, because I'm definitely not seeing 'few available posts' and I'm definitely seeing us as 'desperately short of people'. What I'm seeing is lots of gapped posts because we don't have the manpower, which are then stolen by Manning when the can't be filled after 6 months as part of the MODs financial savings (so I guess that's why they aren't available!)

Still, if that's the situation we're in now, then that's what we're in.

 

[vim_fuego]

My tuppence here is that if you find yourself lacking a GCSE here or an NVQ 'x' there take the time to get it now then join and do what you actually really want rather than losing patience and joining up in a role that could be construed as second best...It'll not sit right with you and you'll regret being impatient.

 

[PhantomPickle]

Hi all.

Just an update I had my AST yesterday and passed. It was a borderline pass but the corporal said it doesn't matter mate what your score was you have passed regardless. The test that I took I found so hard and had my head in my hands pretty much throughout the exam. Looking at the questions thinking 'I really do not have a clue.' Every bit of revision from the website and the numerous books that I bought didn't even scratch the surface on how hard this test was (in my opinion). I didn't know you were not allowed to make little notes, if you did unless told you could for the one numerical reasoning test, it was an instant fail. After the test I just felt like going home but I didn't obviously. So ye. I passed with not one mark to spare, I am annoyed at myself but also so relieved that I don't have to do it again. Lots of guys were turning up in trainers jeans and a hoody and were asking the sergeant some really basic questions and even he was like "have you not done any research yet?" But regardless I have been preparing and a lot of the stuff in the presentation was stuff I have already been revising with a few bits I have missed out and need to do some preparation for so fingers crossed I should be fine at my selection interview. Thanks for all the help again. And I will probably be asking some more questions.

 

[Blue72]

Well done!

 

[PhantomPickle]

Thankyou Blue72.

Such a relief I don't have to do it again. Unless some years down the line I want to re trade I believe?

 

[Stevienics]

Well done. It's not easy for anyone as far as I can tell. I watched someone fail for the second time a few days ago, and she's still determined to keep going. I also saw a guy on his second attempt pass - and the smile on his face was immovable.

In truth, you're probably going to fall over at some point in your career, but that doesn't matter. People are not interested in those that never fail - they're interested in those that never give up.

 

[Stevienics]

There's a place for every comment. It's what we fight for.

You might be well advised to look at the title of this thread, DS. There's a good chap.