RAF Aircraft technician
Discussion
Hi - I posted a similar topic a year ago. Ill doing out some of the info that was shared with me then.
This past month though I've realised that I've wasted a year, I moved jobs, a short term respite to the boredom. I effectively bottled it, and never properly applied. I must do it, times ticking. Time to visit the Afco again, pull my finger out my arse and do something productive i'n my life.
Have you been to the Afco yet? They are really goodie my experience.
Good luck - you've made me think about what I really need to do too.
Have you
This past month though I've realised that I've wasted a year, I moved jobs, a short term respite to the boredom. I effectively bottled it, and never properly applied. I must do it, times ticking. Time to visit the Afco again, pull my finger out my arse and do something productive i'n my life.
Have you been to the Afco yet? They are really goodie my experience.
Good luck - you've made me think about what I really need to do too.
Have you
Yeah this will be my 3rd application but first time for this role, first I failed due to hayfever in 2006, next I failed my aptitude at Cranwell in 2010, however during that time I realised I was severely under qualified for what I was applying for (basically just scraped through with minimum requirements but they still had to be checked) and when I looked at strengthening my application to the standards of those I was competing with, it cost an awful lot of money and time, which I don't have, so I have chose a role in which I am interested and I think I will be good at!
Visiting AFCO tomorrow morning, in my experience they do just enough and look down on everyone who walks through the door, this can be quite intimidating first time around!
Visiting AFCO tomorrow morning, in my experience they do just enough and look down on everyone who walks through the door, this can be quite intimidating first time around!
I don't think they will look down on people! Do a bit of research and be pro-active, they will like that.
Good choice going for a techie trade - better pay. Although with the AMM (I assume that's what you are applying for) trade, you might have a bit of a wait as they have a further training scheme in place.
Have you looked at Weapons/ICT/Gen Tech? Straightforward - one course at Cosford, then 18 months later, bam, high pay band. With the aircraft trades I beleive you have to go back to Cosford and complete a further course.
Any qs give me a shout and I'll answer on here.
Good luck with the application you won't regret going for it.
Good choice going for a techie trade - better pay. Although with the AMM (I assume that's what you are applying for) trade, you might have a bit of a wait as they have a further training scheme in place.
Have you looked at Weapons/ICT/Gen Tech? Straightforward - one course at Cosford, then 18 months later, bam, high pay band. With the aircraft trades I beleive you have to go back to Cosford and complete a further course.
Any qs give me a shout and I'll answer on here.
Good luck with the application you won't regret going for it.
Yeah visited AFCO this morning and there were different staff, uniformed? on my previous visits they were all non uniform? any way much friendlier and better atmosphere the guy was very helpful! He talked me through Aircraft technician mechanical and said avionics is a very similar path, he also explained about returning to complete a further course but i didn't enquire about the pay at that stage, i just went off the careers website. I have to apply via phone and then it will be organised from there! 
Have you applied?
I know money isn't everything, but please bear in mind what I said about waiting for the technical pay..!
If I could have joined as anything else it would be as a weapons technician; if this trade is open I'd advise going for that. Many of them work alongside ac techs on the sqns.
I know money isn't everything, but please bear in mind what I said about waiting for the technical pay..!
If I could have joined as anything else it would be as a weapons technician; if this trade is open I'd advise going for that. Many of them work alongside ac techs on the sqns.
I had to fill out a so called 'interest form' it was formatted in the same way as an application but not as in depth, not sure what the next step is the guy at at AFCO just said they would be in touch after this is done. I put Weapons Technician as my 3rd choice, I understand what you said about the pay scales but I made the decision to stick with Aircraft Technician as 1st choice as it was what I had previously decided, I didnt want to then change my mind and have that nagging feeling I wasn't doing exactly what I wanted! 
Find out what entry levels are available, it's probably all changed now but I joined as a Direct Entrant, basic at Swinderby, Trade at Halton for about 15 months then on to Junior Tech.
You could also come in as a Mechanic but I'd avoid it if possible as you have to come back in a couple of years to do your J/T course.
Dunno if they still do Apprentice courses but they lasted 3 years and you came out as a Cpl
Push for a commission asap too
You could also come in as a Mechanic but I'd avoid it if possible as you have to come back in a couple of years to do your J/T course.
Dunno if they still do Apprentice courses but they lasted 3 years and you came out as a Cpl
Push for a commission asap too
have my interview on friday, things seem to be coming up quite quickly but apparently organising the medical takes a bit longer!
Just to even this up a little. I have just completed 12 years in the RAF. I had a full and varied career working on front line Sqns and in 2nd line, I loved my time in the RAF, the people I met and the places I went will stay with me for ever or until alcohol/rugby induced Alzheimers robs me of those memories.
However.....the RAF is on it's arse, redundancies are in progress, camps are being closed, sqns being axed and some one decided that Libya was a cracking place for the summer holidays. For years our (i suppose their now) can do attitude has played into our/their masters hands to the point where we/they are quite capable of taking on small wars with nothing but paper planes and the good will of a host nation. If you don't like sand, dust (they do reckon in a 2 month tour of afghan you will inhale the equivalent of one healthy mans daily sh*te)and 2 months away on a regular basis this may not be the job for you.
If after all my doom and gloom you still want to join, you will come across some of the best people you will ever meet, accomplish things that will make you smile with pride in years to come, and also give you an instant hatred of most civvys.
Think hard before joining up, look at Egoat to see what are the issues currently being faced by the RAF (prison officer training anyone?)
Oh and as an ex-rigger, i would thoroughly recommend not joining as an armourer, you will be forced in endless games of uckers, drinking tea, and the occasional game of freckles. You will be expected to do cock all for most of the year, then on APC load a few jets, then get special thanks for it!!!! the feckin cheek of it!!!
However.....the RAF is on it's arse, redundancies are in progress, camps are being closed, sqns being axed and some one decided that Libya was a cracking place for the summer holidays. For years our (i suppose their now) can do attitude has played into our/their masters hands to the point where we/they are quite capable of taking on small wars with nothing but paper planes and the good will of a host nation. If you don't like sand, dust (they do reckon in a 2 month tour of afghan you will inhale the equivalent of one healthy mans daily sh*te)and 2 months away on a regular basis this may not be the job for you.
If after all my doom and gloom you still want to join, you will come across some of the best people you will ever meet, accomplish things that will make you smile with pride in years to come, and also give you an instant hatred of most civvys.
Think hard before joining up, look at Egoat to see what are the issues currently being faced by the RAF (prison officer training anyone?)
Oh and as an ex-rigger, i would thoroughly recommend not joining as an armourer, you will be forced in endless games of uckers, drinking tea, and the occasional game of freckles. You will be expected to do cock all for most of the year, then on APC load a few jets, then get special thanks for it!!!! the feckin cheek of it!!!
Edited by Bosshogg76 on Sunday 29th May 00:36
Edited by Bosshogg76 on Sunday 29th May 00:52
Flew through the interview this morning and passed! 
interview was booked for 10, I got there 9:30 was in by 9:40 and out by 10:05, I basically just had to bullet point my answers and hit all the key words! I think this was later explained walking down the stairs back to main office as the corporal mentioned they had been out last night, were hungover and the flight sergeant wasn't in today! anyway over the moon! 
hopefully medical and fitness test will be squeezed in the end of this month!
interview was booked for 10, I got there 9:30 was in by 9:40 and out by 10:05, I basically just had to bullet point my answers and hit all the key words! I think this was later explained walking down the stairs back to main office as the corporal mentioned they had been out last night, were hungover and the flight sergeant wasn't in today! anyway over the moon! hopefully medical and fitness test will be squeezed in the end of this month! Lucky bugger. Im currently applying to join the army, the guys in the recruitment office are brilliant, but it is taking forever! Ive done my paperwork check, the longest bit was waiting for the medical form, GP's sure like to take their time with those... Tomorrow is my BARB/numeracy/literacy tests, going to ace those and then another interview, and then hopefully off to scotland for 2 days.
I cant wait, I just wish things would happen faster!
I cant wait, I just wish things would happen faster!
Hmmm will be a difficult decision if thats the case and the US citizenship is important to you! I know the terrorism clearance (not sure of its correct name) requires family background checks too, I imagine this will be one of them needed for intelligence! anyway good luck and let us know how it pans out! 
Well I really dont want to give up my US citizenship, its a very useful backup, theres a lot of people who would love to have one. Also, I like those american girls 
My second choice was MP, but I really want to give the paras a go. The thing is, you have to run 1.5 miles in under 9.18 and thats fast. Soooooo time to ramp up the exercise.
Is your RAF application taking as long as my army one? Ive been at this for almost 3 months, and still havent even done selection yet.
My second choice was MP, but I really want to give the paras a go. The thing is, you have to run 1.5 miles in under 9.18 and thats fast. Soooooo time to ramp up the exercise.
Is your RAF application taking as long as my army one? Ive been at this for almost 3 months, and still havent even done selection yet.
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