Helloooo

[Brad.]

Hi all, i'm 17. Names Brad as the username shows

I'm looking at applying to be a Weapon Systems Operator (Crewman). Can't seem to find much more info on the job, and the RAF have been useless in terms of providing info.

Any chance anyone on here can shed some light?

 

[shettie]

Welcome - you could have a shufty here: http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-271394.html

 

[Brad.]

Thats very very very helpful.
Thanks alot.

This poses another question though; after the intial couple of interviews, do you get assigned by the RAF to a position within the WSOP group without any say, or do you have some say on which position you would like to go for?

 

[Portcullis]

It's going to be a bit more than a few interviews unfortunately.

First you go through basic recruit training, then onto a holding flight. After this you go up to Cranwell to commence training. Here they will ask you for your preferences, but you must realise that not every WSOp can go Chinook crewman - if they did there wouldn't be room for anyone else!

Aptitude is the key. No matter how much you want it, if you are just not cut out for it there is no way that you are goning to get it! Find out where your strengths lie and concentrate in that area.

Oh, and vacancies. It seems to escape many posters on here that the RAF is limited to manpower. Therefore they will recruit to fill a gap. If there are 10 slots for C17 loadies, but 15 suitable candidates, 5 are going somewhere else!

Good question though!DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Brad.]

Yeah the vacancies thing is someting that plays on my mind.
I'll take a trip down to my local AFCO, well i say local, it's about an hours drive away.

Cheers for the info though, very helpful.

 

[vim_fuego]

WSOp (Crewmen) is the right area to be aiming for at the moment...There are no courses for EW or ACO for the next year or so anyway and I know we are short of the former...Trouble is every day that you delay your app going in is another day that dozens put theirs in and get in the queue for interviews, testing and eventually, a very long way down the route, a place at RTS then Cranwell as an aircrew cadet ahead of you...In that time we might end up not being so short or re-structure in some way to mean we need less.

In summary crack on with it or perhaps regret delaying...In the present financial climate one thing I can perhaps predict with some confidence is that we, the armed forces, aren't going to get any larger...

 

[Brad.]

I'm gonna apply tomorrow.
Deffinatly
Never though of it like that, thanks

 

[dowelly]

Hey all,
Great post to start off with because I'm looking to join myself so the info on here is very helpfull.

I was wondering if there is anyone on here who is married and has been or is going through their training at the moment?
I'm married so being posted together is very important. I'm aware we'll be seperated for the initial training but I was wondering if anyone knows about housing for the WSOp specialist training?
I asked the careers but they just come out with the standard "If you're posted on a base for 6 months or more...." and they dont seem to know about the training stage.

And how about if me and wife both join up? Is there more chance of us being posted together even if we are in different roles? The careers are a little light on the real life information side of things!

On a personal note I'm 29 so I imagine a little older than most of the guys n girls who'll be applying or are already in the role. Hearing any advice, thoughts or experiences would be great.

Cheers
Dowelly