What is joining the RAF Really like ?

Joining up groundtrades for Airmen and Airwomen

I will take you through the whole joining up process from initial visit to the careers office through to your first day of basic training at RAF Halton near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire...

Joining the RAF can take from between 5 months upto 18 months to get from initial application through to being attested and actually being a serving member of the RAF. This is mainly due to the high demand that the RAF is currently seeing in interested applicants. Also the RAF is going through a restructuring process and this means that they are trying to balance the numbers between future manning requirements and ensuring that the existing manpower requirements are met.

So you have checked online and looked at the various trades open to you. These will be subject to your existing qualifications and current availability. Call the RAF Careers Hotline to start the process of making your initial application. Or visit your local RAF Careers information office.

Once you have been successful in your initial application you will be invited to a Careers office to undertake an aptitude test and a selection interview. These are carried out to allow to see whether you are suitable for your chosen trade. For Ground Trades Airmen/ Airwomen the AST (Airmen/ Airwomen Selection Test) is relatively easy and consists of :

Verbal and Numerical Reasoning- How you understand written information and basic maths I.e fractions, decimals, formulae. Skills in interpreting tables and Graphs.

Work Rate- Your Speed and Accuracy of carrying out work tasks.

Spatial Reasoning- Understanding how shaped and objects fit together and interact.

Electrical and Mechanical Concepts- Can you understand and work with some of the basic principles of Electrics and Mechanics.

Memory- Accuracy of memory and recall.

Next you will be called in to have an Occupational Health Assessment.

This Medical Assessment will determine whether you are able to serve in the RAF. It will go over any current and any previous health issues you may have had. It will also test your eye sight and whether you have any colour blindness. (This will affect your choice of trade e.g Aircraft Avionics techs must be able to see the colour of wires etc)

This will include your height, weight, BMI, reflexes and checking for any Hernia's. This is an indepth examination. You must check out whether any existing or previous medical conditions will prevent or limit your application.

You will have to undertake a Pre Joining Fitness Test.

This can be carried out either at the AFCO or at a local Gym. Usually a 2.4k run on a Treadmill followed up by completing sit ups and press ups. For Men between the ages of 17-29 you will be expected to complete the run in 11 minutes 11 seconds. For Women between 17-29 completion within 13mins 23 seconds

14 press ups 25 sit ups for Men and 7 press ups, 22 sit ups for Women

Next Step is Selection Interviews.

You will be invited back to the AFCO to undertake a formal interview in which you will be questioned about your background, your family situation, Education and Qualifications that you have. Leisure time and about any clubs that you belong to.

Sporting activities and interests are also of interest to the interviewing staff. You will be questioned on your existing knowledge of the RAF organisation and it's equipment and any current deployments the RAF are currently undertaking. This is really the chance to sell yourself and show the staff just what you have to offer the RAF.

After passing your initial interviews and Pre Joining Fitness Test you will be invited to attend a Pre Recruit Training Course. This will enable yourself and your parents to have a look around and ask questions. You will be expected to do some training and your Pre Joining Fitness test again . This course will help you understand the recruit training process and you will get to meet the 'discip staff' You will get some great tips on how to survive your 9 weeks of Recruit Training.

Acceptance and offer of Service.

Subject to you having passed all the above steps. Congratulations! You will be sent an "offer of Service" letter. This is a legal letter, effectively a contract between you and the RAF, indicating just what the RAF expects from you. You will then have a final interview just to make sure that this is what you want and that you understand what is being required of you and to answer any further questions that you may have. You will then be arranged yor date to start recruit training at RTS ( Recruit training Squadron) at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.