The RAF

[tris-]

i have just seen a job in the RAF that got me very excited, as its the type of thing ive been looking for for a few years now. i just wanted to know a couple things for anyone that went through the process of joining up.

1. what is the written test like?
2. did you read up a lot before you went into the interview, as ive read they ask you questions about what you know (i dont know that much about the RAF as ive never been interested before)
3. what type of Qs did they ask, anything that was hard to answer?
4. do you have to be fit to do a trade job (like engineer etc)? as im not exactly that fit, i weight nearly 17.5 stone and havent done any running since senior school.
5. what was it like fitting in with new people? did you find a lot of people went as groups of friends that new each other and stuff?

cheers.

BTW, i plan on being an Aerospace Systems Operator.

 

[Whipped]

I doubt they'd make you run up Snowdon to be a Sytems Operator.
Other than that, sorry. My only experience with the RAF was my Uncle, who was in it, for a while, then retired.

The End

 

[tris-]

well i dont mean to be big headed but i think the only thing holding me back really is being a fat nacker

 

[Damini]

Erm, not meaning to piss on your parade, but won't having narcolepsy slightly interfere with having to constantly follow and track the speed and movements of planes on radar?

 

[tris-]

i dont have the type of narcolepsy where you get tired and fall asleep in the middle of the day. i can stay up for days on end with no sleep. i have the type where you get hallucinations when you wake up or just after falling asleep.

 

[Summo]

Try the US Air Force.

 

[~Yuckfou~]

i dont have the type of narcolepsy where you get tired and fall asleep in the middle of the day. i can stay up for days on end with no sleep. i have the type where you get hallucinations when you wake up or just after falling asleep.

If flat feet will prevent you entering I'm fairly sure this will.
Others lives may well depend on it, I'd check the medical requirements if I was you.

 

[tris-]

ive looked on the website and could not see anything on my condition but the list is also no exhaustive (SP?). i will fill out the form truthfully of course.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Very snap decision isn't it?

One second your a techy next you want to be in the RAF. And it really wouldn't surprise me if they turn you down as soon as you mention that condition. They are harsh.

 

[tris-]

Very snap decision isn't it?

One second your a techy next you want to be in the RAF. And it really wouldn't surprise me if they turn you down as soon as you mention that condition. They are harsh.

ive wanted to be in the RAF for a few yrs but i never looked for anything because i didnt think there was much past pilots or engineers.

 

[Tinky]

err, there are hardly any pilots any more, there's a lot more to the RAF than flying these days. If you were really interested, you'd have known that I'm afraid. You will have to have a certain physical fitness, are you prepared to serve the time ?

 

[bigbb]

Try the US Air Force.

Hehe

 

[tris-]

alright alright youve all took away any hope i had for getting in, now maybe someone can answer a few of the questions?

 

[RandomBastard]

If flat feet will prevent you entering I'm fairly sure this will.
Others lives may well depend on it, I'd check the medical requirements if I was you.

Thought that was only the army, and thats due to the fact you can't march.
The technical term for it is "fallen arches" btw as ive been told i have it. (Which explains why my feet hurt when i walk long distances)

 

[xane]

"There's nothing cushy about life in the Womens Auxiliary Balloon Corps."

Captain Darling.

 

[Uncle Sick]

I have flat feet and served two years in the infantry... never had any problems.

Are there recruiters? They must have some sort of information center - just call em up and ask. Asking doesn't cost you a penny.

 

[Cdr]

Yeah, go speak to the RAF Bods at your local AFCO (Armed Forces Careers Office), they tell ya all you need to know.

 

[Monkee]

i'm applying to join the Oxford University Air Squadron in a few months which would mean becoming an enlisted RAF volunteer reserve, so i guess when i have been to my interview/medical i could tell you a bit more! But i wouldnt give up all hope m8, good luck if you have yours before mine

 

[tris-]

well i went to speak to a recruitment officer and we filled in the application and she arranged my airmens test, medical and final interview for the 4th of may. i was looking through the fitness leaflet and i need to do some serious work . only thing i need to work on is jogging so i have decided to start off doing 4 minutes jogging/1 minute walkng for 25 minutes. does anyone have some good tips for building up stamina, what food to eat etc?

cheers.

 

[Will]

If you are worried about jogging, the best thing is to do lots of jogging. For general fitness, I'd recommend a combination of swimming, cycling, and jogging. That will tone, and improve cardiovascular, without bulking you out.

 

[throdgrain]

I , on the other hand, suggest doughnuts

 

[tris-]

Will, i will be doing 25 minutes of jogging a night for the next 4 months or how ever long it may take to get in. i have been going to the gym for months but i stopped the cardiovascular and started doing weights. i think the only time i can go swimming is the weekends but i might try to fit it in early before work too.

 

[Will]

Being a skinny bastard, I've probably got a different take on excercise from the average person. I'm built for endurance and CV work, I can't compete on pure strength.

I do a lot of cycling, I find it very good for CV, it is fairly low impact too. Jogging is what you are saying is your problem, for that, you'll need good CV, and you'll need to work the muscles you jog with (hence the jogging). However, jogging is high impact, and swimming will help to strengthen the important support muscles around the knees.

 

[00dave]

Nobody think to ask me, I've just completed basic training so its all still fresh in my mind.
Ok, for your first interview just make sure they like you and you know all your details, it's like any normal interview, for the second interview make sure you read up on all the info they give you and you'll be fine. The apptitude test is easy, I missed a section by accident and still passed but still make sure you can read questions quickly coz you don't get much time.
With reguards to fitness, it's not that hard if you're determined, as it turns out I have breathing difficulty when I run (mild asthma, not sure yet) but I still passed the fitness test whish is: 9.9 on the shuttle run, 13 press ups in one minute and 30 situps in one minute, easy really. They do take you out on cross country runs but they have three groups, group one run like fuck for a long time up hills, group 2 run for a long time, and group 3 (my group) run a long time but with breaks in between. If you do join you will learn to hate 2 letters, PT. I forget what else you were curious about so I'll read it again in a minute. I have to go back to base tomorrow but if I get time I'll check again if you want to ask me any questions.

 

[tris-]

hey 00dave thanks for answering my Qs. so its not as harsh as i think then? from reading what you say, the people there realise we arnt all super fit so there is different groups and things, is that right? i can do anything but running and that is what im training. thing is i am 6ft2 and weigh around 17.5st i think, that makes it hard to run as it is, carrying all that weight around . whats it like when you first start, did you find people are friendly and willing to be friends and help each other or was it like every man for him self?

 

[SheepCow]

It's not like you're applying to the SAS

 

[tris-]

went for an hours swim this morning and noticed one of those weight/height machine thingys, got my self test and my BMI is 31.4 clinicly obese apparently. anyway im gonna keep training till i kill my self and just hope i can knock maybe half a stone off in 2 weeks

 

[Doh_boy]

Re: your BMI. I've been on machines that calculate your BMI and it always read 32-35. When I started the gym I was tested using a machine that (I think) uses a small electrical current to get your bmi. And before any exercise it was 29.


Also if you're going to the gym I'd not recommend only doing weights. Always do at least one CV.

 

[tris-]

when i first started the gym nearly a year ago, i used to do CV then i thought i dont wanna do it much more as i dont need to train for anything, big mistake now i think about it im gonna stick with swimming and jogging with some circuit training, seems to hurt the most.

 

[Deadmanwalking]

Your Clinicaly obese and you have a week?

I hope you don't have any thing planned for the next 7 days. You know like sleeping, or eating.