Confusing- leadership training in the ranks, with the aim of going for a commission.

[stuart_955]

Some of you may have read a previous thread of mine asking about info on joining the reserves.

Well, I've changed my mind and I want to join full on straight away. My college course can be put on hold and carried on later if I ever feel the need - accountancy or RAF, which would you choose?!

So my question/problem is this:

Essentially what I want is a commission. Some of you may remember my interest in becomming a pilot, but I know how over subscribed this can be and am happy to consider WSO or Regiment Officer too. Or failing that, any of the NCA roles.

My problem lies in that I can currently openly admit I am not ready to go through OASC yet. I haven't the previous 'life experience' or examples to back up my application when it comes to general evidence of me being a leader/planner/role model/organiser etc.

So what I want to do, and have discussed with an RAF careers advice guy, is join in the lower ranks to build up a general knowledge and understanding within the air force, and work on the areas I personally need to build on for the officer application until I am ready. I'm going to India with Operation Raleigh over summer which should give me some good experience with team work and organising etc, and am going to look into going back with Raleigh in the future as a volunteer leader, which should hopefully teach me a good amount in the way of leadership, along with anything I may learn while serving.

I was told that this is possible, as long as I 'stand out' and appear to be worth recommending for a commission while I'm working my service.

I'm most interested in joining the regiment as I'm a very active and hands-on person, so my main question is this; In terms of training and opportunities, how much chance will I have to build on my own personal leadership/officer qualities while I am in training and serving as an airman? I understand there are opportunities for promotion within the lower ranks, which must surely mean there are leadership/management courses to go with them. Is it possible, once I'm in, to tell the people in charge about my plan, to see if they can assist me on building skills for OASC, if they think it's worth pursuing?

Hope that makes sense in some way.

Thanks.

 

[Stevienics]

Well, you are coming across as a little confused. Is it WSO, NCA, Regt Officer, Airman entry?

I think most people will agree that with Airman entry, if you get accepted, there is very little chance of you commissioning for quite a few years - and that's a really big "if" right now.

Probably the best bet is to have a little think about what you want and then go for it - and by that I mean really want to do it. Not simply use as a vehicle for some alterior motive. No matter what you choose, if you are insincere about your choice you will be read like a book by the specialists, and you will fail.

(BTW - I would sort of drop the "lower ranks" bit from future posts. It rankles some of the gentry around here. he he)

 

[stuart_955]

Essentially what I want is a commission with the RAF. And what I'm saying is that I'm sure competition can be fierce, so if/when the time comes to go for it, I'll most likely consider Regiment officer, WSO or pilot, rather than just going for one select position - I just minced my words up a bit in the last post!

As I said, I don't feel ready to apply for a commission yet and am working on the various aspects which I feel need improving. However instead of wasting my time waiting till I feel prepared, I want to join up now so at least I'm in and doing something useful rather than the borderline pointless job I'm working now.

I'm quite happy to work several years before even considering an officer application and am certainly willing to accept that it may never happen at all. And I absolutely would not just trudge along waiting for the time to move on - that would just be...ridiculous and wrong?! I could even end up quite happy and settled in what I do and decide against any of my previous hopes or plans. The main point of my 'problem' was that I'd like to join asap, don't feel prepared yet for any form of officer entry, but have my sights on it for the future and want to know if it's worth getting in as an airman and then taking it from there. I'd hate to wait a year or two just going on as I am now in my current job until I feel ready for OASC then fail anyway, so I'd have wasted the period of time where I could have at least already been in as a serving airman

Apologies for the 'lower ranks' bit, I didn't mean to offend, at all!

Hope that kind of clears things up a bit.

 

[RAF_Nurse!]

Okay, from someone who know's....DON'T join up as a 'vehicle' to Commissioned Service. It may not ever happen- Its a huge if, with lots of variables- lots of which can be outside of your control!

By all means apply for Non-commissioned entry (could be a long wait at the moment though) or apply for Commissioned Service- but do one or the other!

There are lots of ways of demonstrating leadership potential in civvy strasse- Being an Airman will not neccessarily give you copious opportunity, particularly in the early days/years (in my opinion).
...
If you do decide to 'join up' with a view to Commissioning later, you could contact 'Penfold93' on here who Commissioned from the Nursing ranks a few years ago, or me (who is about to go to Cranwell after 12-13 years in the Nursing ranks). PM is best.

Good luck!