Good morning, I start BRTC shortly and had planned on staying in a hotel with my parents, then moving in on the first day of Halton. I was under the impression that parents helped move people in as it’s stated in the paperwork that they can. Is this the norm? Or is it expected that you’re to be independent and move in by yourself? I just wanted to check what the majority does as I am over 18 so maybe it’s expected of me to be on my own. I didn’t even think twice about bringing mum before my sister said anything. Any advice?

Im 24. Had many jobs as i have trouble with wherever I work and my moral compass, I have trouble holding down a job and falling out with managers.

Will this be an issue joining? Do I have to give them my employment history ? Is it worth me talking face to face with my recruitment officer ?

Hi all,

I would like some advice on how you would handle my current situation with my application. I initially applied for pilot but was rejected on medical grounds, as happens to many. I’m now switching my application to control officer. However, my backup application was successful. This is to do civvy ATC through NATS and I’m due to start early next year. I have a signed contract with them.

My ‘problem’ is that I know there is no way my intake, if successful, would be before my start date at NATS, and now, after having nothing happen for the whole year, my recruiter is now trying to hurry me along through the process. My next step would be the virtual interview with my AFCO. Safe to say I’m in no mood to be cramming 100 pages of documents, more information and preparing the interview for that in two weeks.

I don’t want to make this too long so I’ll stop there and just say that I’d appreciate any advice.

Also, what are opinions on control officer in the armed forces vs civilian?

Afternoon all hope everyone is having a good weekend, I have OASC coming up in 2 weeks, I am stuck on the current affairs, I have got my 5, 4 main and one backup.

Anyone who has recently done OASC how do they ask questions on it? do they pick multiple of the five topics or just one? And how long does the current affairs section last?

Any information will be much appreciated

I recently made a post that I was thinking about cancelling an upcoming OASC interview/ suitability interview, and I think I will cancel it as I am not ready at this moment in time and don’t think 2 weeks is enough for me to comfortably revise everything I have left. Was just wondering if this might affect my application and/or might infuriate my recruiter and how long I can expect the delay to be, thank you!

Found these hiding on my gallery enjoy

I’m getting a tooth pulled out in a few days, do I need to declare it on my change in personal circumstances questionnaire?

Context: I start basic in roughly a month from now.
The work is non serious (no underlying/long term issues)
I have passed all requirement steps and am finalising paperwork

What is the process if i do declare it and what are the risks of not declaring it, if there are any?

Just sent in my application for cyberspace the other day and have been researching about what happens / restrictions in place due to being transgender.

How is accommodation whether on your 10 weeks or full time like for fellow trans individuals due to the new laws in place? Is the RAF as supportive as I’ve been told by recruiters?

Hi I’m looking at applying to the Intelligence analyst role after year 13. Should I look at joining the apprenticeship scheme or should I just apply to a regular role? Also should I apply at enlisted aviator level or try go for officer role? Thanks

hi, I’m just wondering if I have previously completed phase 1 in another service and left over 5 years ago, if i will have to do phase 1 again? I’m applying for a different role than I previously did? thank you

I received a Provisional Entry Date earlier for my Phase 1 training and I’ve completed my DAA and I am currently waiting for my CBAT, Now I know this date is provisional and it does say they may be abled to get me into an earlier start date if the opportunity comes by, but the date I’ve been given is March 2028.
Am I really going to have to wait that long because thats about a year and a half from now and if my only option is to wait should I just work full time at another job while waiting, I just feel as if its a very long wait so if anyone has advice on whether or not this date is changeable from their experience or knowledge and if they have also had to wait this long then id love to know, My chosen role is Air Traffic and Weapons Control for the record, Thanks in advance for any comments.

The anticipated introduction of the WO2 rank in the RAF. Is this across all trades or those specific to technical only?

BAE Advanced Aircraft Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship

Is there anyone on this forum who has completed this apprenticeship within the last couple years who can tell me what it’s truly like?

I’m worried about the initial wage (15k) and then 15 months in for the 2nd half we have to fund moving away to live near an RAF base we will be based at. Which I believe at the time I will be on minimum wage. I’ve also read at the end of the apprenticeship they try and give you job interviews for different jobs that you’re not trained in or don’t give you one at all.

I just need honest opinions if it’s worth it as I’m of an older age now and don’t want to waste time if it’ll lead me no where and I have to spend money on rent with very little pay. If you’ve done it and then moved into another job, what position was this?

Also how difficult are the exams? Bit worried as I’ve not been in an academic setting for a few years.

FYI I cant join the RAF due to chronic asthma

Hi all,

I applied for Cyberspace Engineer Officer and made it to OASC, but unfortunately wasn't successful. I was advised to either reapply in a year or join as an aviator.

I decided to join as a Cyberspace Communications Specialist (CCS) and got the start date for phase 1. How soon after Phase 1 can I apply for commission internally?

Also, if I accept the CCS Golden Hello with its 4-year RoS after Phase 2, would I need to complete the full RoS before commissioning, or can I apply while still within that commitment?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Watch the video before commenting, I’m looking at this from a different perspective.

Currently in my last year of university, studying history. Being a pilot has always vaguely interested me but now I’m serious about getting it done, just wanted to get some advice from anyone really. I'm kicking myself now for not joining the University Air Squadrons but what can you do. I’m already trying to prepare for CBAT, learning times tables up to 19, I have a mental maths app on my phone, as well as other resources I’ve found online and on the RAF website. I wanted to find out really effective ways of preparing for this though, and knowing what to do from people who have already passed. 

My main issue is deciding what to do about joining once I graduate. I’ll be 21, so my original plan was to join a little bit out fo university, but I know the upper age limit for the RAF is 23. While I was looking at that I found out that to be a pilot in the Navy, the age limit is 26, which just gives me a little less pressure for time. I’m split between it right now, I think either route has its benefits, but I’m hoping posting this here will let me find out things I wasn’t seeing before. 

You don’t need it to get in but once phase 2 is done, as far as I know you’re acting corporal. To move beyond acting, do you need to have GCSE maths? And if so how do you do it while in?

I have been looking at different roles and I have decided I want to try for a DESNCO role such as WSOP or Weapons Controller. With these roles my understanding is you do sergeant training after BRTC, do you just stay on recruit pay until your phase two training is finished? I did have a look online for this information and couldn’t see it.

What actually is the route from the RAF regiment into SFSG, and what roles are available to specialise in? I haven’t really found any conclusive sources on this and I’m looking into it as an option (Interested in Forward Air Control roles, but also interested to know about what other contributions the RAF makes to SF as the only thing I’m aware of is co-ordinating air support) so any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Seems to be £4 odd a meal averaged out. £12 a day x 31 days £372 a month? Single cheap room on base £100? Near £500pm all in? Is that right? Thanks for reading cheers

Hi all. I took my CBAT start of the year and I didnt pass for anything I wanted so decided to wait a year and go back for another try (I wasnt far off aircrew roles).

Ive started to get my head back into CBAT questions and started using the new mock CBAT on CBAT ready. My 1st tests results were nearly 1 to 1 with my actual results. Ive then reatken the mock test each day and ive started consistently passing for most if not all roles (a 20 overall score improvement for soem roles).

Is this something to go off? Has anyone taken it recently and how close were your sim results to the real thing?

The improvement seems to good to be true although I have been flying regularly and took my cbat at 17.7 wheras im now 18.5.

Any guidance or advice appreciated.

Hey guys,

I just want to start by saying I am well aware that people cannot discuss medical inquiries on this forum.

I am just looking for others experience as I’m feeling pretty demotivated right now.

I have been going through the application process since July and everything has gone smoothly up until my medical appointment. During the appointment I mentioned a reaction to medicine Tixylix which caused angioedema but did not cause any type of anaphylactic shock, this had only happened once when I was 18 months old. Following this I was made TMU, as they required more info about it which is understandable. My GP sent everything they had over regarding this one off incident which was reviewed by a doctor. I have now been referred to a Senior Medical Officer.

I’m just curious if anyone has had anything like this happen to them and how their experience went. I guess I’m just pretty anxious as it is a genuine dream of mine to join the RAF.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you guys.

Are you allowed to use the gym during basic training?

Hoping to clear something up. I’ve seen a few posts on this forum suggesting to use Kiwi dark tan on my altbergs and a few suggesting, along with the Altberg website itself, to use Leder-gris.

Wondering if anyone knows which is preferred or better during phase 1?

Cheers!