Anyone in the RAF? Looking for advice for DS on applying.

[SirChenjins]

After a somewhat challenging year with DS (18) not knowing what he wants to do when he leaves school this summer, he's finally set his heart on an aviator role in the RAF to do an apprenticeship, ideally in engineering. He doesn't have the best qualifications as he's found it difficult to pass exams, but he has some Nat 5s and is doing Highers this year.

He's registered his interest and has spoken to someone by phone in recruitment, so we're aware of the process ie he can choose 3 roles and then the DAA will show which of the three he's best suited to if he passes.

Has anyone got any advice/tips/suggestions for him in terms of the application?

I'm currently serving :) tips I would give are;

• Fully read the RAF website for the role/s he is interested in. He'll be asked about them in the interview stage so the more he knows and understands about them the better. They're not going to want to know absolutely everything but at the very least he'll want to know what phase 1 and 2 training he'll be completing (where is it, how long is it, what kinds of things he'll be doing, any specialisation he could do). Again, just the stuff you can find online will be sufficient. He should also make sure it's definitely what he wants to do as it's a pretty hefty commitment if he finds he doesn't really like it much after all!

• For the interview he'll be asked about the RAF as a whole and why he wants to join. Have a swot up on current affairs, UK and overseas bases and what their role is (eg QRA roles), any ops the RAF is involved in, any incoming aircraft etc. Again, just stuff that he can find on the website will be fine. There's also a sub Reddit that has a lot of information about roles, training etc which is pretty helpful.

• Finally, a bit of a silly one but try to have a bit of a sense of humour about it. I don't know if it's got better since I've been in but the application process can be a real long slog with delays and whatnot so try not to get to disheartened if it takes a while!

Hope this helps, and best of luck to him! :)

It’s also worth him starting on preparing for the fitness test, it’s not easy! My DD applied and ultimately didn’t pass the fitness test by a small margin but not passing is not passing regardless of the margin. She wanted to be air crew and has now joined an airline as cabin crew so is doing what she wanted to do by another route

Thank you both so much - that’s really helpful! I’ll get him onto the website and Reddit - both are really good shouts. I’m hopeful that his fitness is ok - he goes to the gym every day, runs, and plays a lot of football and other sports, so 🤞