RAF Interview - What to expect?

RAF Interview - What to expect?

Author
Discussion

Steve_W

1,486 posts

176 months

Monday 10th August 2009
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JJCW said:
Papa_Hotel said:
wadgebeast said:
They're likely to ask if you're prepared to kill someone. Or at least that's a common question in military interviews
Is it? What branch of the forces did you serve in? They certainly never asked me that in the army.

ETA - apologies, it seems you were a bootie.

Edited by Papa_Hotel on Monday 10th August 10:45
They asked me this at forces interviews too.
Many moons ago, when I did several days at Biggin Hill (OASC), they asked this. IIRC, the actual words were "How do you feel that your role may mean you have to kill preople?" My answer of "I don't think any of us would be here if we hadn't come to terms with that sir" was met with a "Good!"

The leadership tests were the worst bit for me - obviously a follower not a leader! smile

On the train up I met an old boy who' served there in WW2; we got chatting as I was reading through the bumf again - his advice was to walk round with a clipboard and look busy! LOL biggrin

Rockape

264 posts

178 months

Monday 10th August 2009
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Some of the RAF's best fighters operate on the ground. wink

wadgebeast

3,856 posts

210 months

Tuesday 11th August 2009
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Rockape said:
Some of the RAF's best fighters operate on the ground. wink
Guarding tarmac!

smile

Dixie68

3,091 posts

186 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
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If/when you get in - if an RAF Police Dog Handler asks to see your I.D., show it to the dog. Much hilarity will ensue. We used to say the DHs were the smartest RAFPs because they had a brain on a lead.

ben_h100

1,546 posts

178 months

Friday 14th August 2009
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If you are after some gen on your filter interview, pm me, I'll be happy to help. Am currently serving, but am going through the process myself. (Have been through it before - although that was nearly 5 years ago!).

Oh, if you haven't already done so, photocopy ALL your application forms. If you get to OASC the interviewers use the supplementary (Aircrew/Officer) green form to ask you about your personal history. You should know all the dates you did things off by heart, as well as how old you were at the time.

What trade/branch are you applying for?

Good luck

Stedman

7,213 posts

191 months

Friday 14th August 2009
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ben_h100 said:
What trade/branch are you applying for?

Good luck
What he said smile

Hope you got in. Im currently in the process of going for a WSOP-Crewman.

ben_h100

1,546 posts

178 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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Going for WSOp, looking at being streamed towards the Sensor/EW roles though.

Have you been to the NCALT Open day at Cranwell? Last Thurs of every month. Good opportunity to obtain all the latest info on training, direct from the people who know.

Dixie68

3,091 posts

186 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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Good luck thumbup
I was groundcrew on the Nimrods for 9 years and they are fantastic for detachments - you name a country I probably visited it with them. Stuffed full of sensors etc they are.
Of course you do have the problem of them occasionally falling out of the sky, but you have to take the rough with the smooth.

crossle

1,520 posts

250 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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Good luck!

When I went for officer selection (aircrew), back in the 1970's, I too was asked by one panel member "So, young man, why do you want to kill people?"

The Vietnam war was still on at the time, so I was asked my opinion about that - expect questions on the UK's role in Afghanistan these days?

One of the panel asked me to identify the aircraft in the picture behind his chair - I stated it was a Vulcan (it was), he argued that it was a Lightning, until he was blue in the face. When I pointed out that I was looking at a picture of a large delta-wing bomber, he finally turned round, looked at the picture and apologised. He'd been in a different room earlier, with a Lightning on the wall.

One panel member asked me to describe the proudest moment of my life, and as soon as I'd answered his oppo asked me what I was least proud of...

I also remember being asked to point out several places on a blank map of the World.

Don't get me started on the initiative, aptitude and leadership tests we went through!



Edited by crossle on Tuesday 18th August 14:05

Yertis

18,016 posts

265 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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I got the "How would you feel about dropping a nuclear weapon?" question. I answered something like "Oh well if things had got to that stage it'd be no problem."

Obviously I failed.

Though worryingly I made it through to the Hangar Tests. I was utterly hopeless at the "use only the white-painted planks and oil cans" stuff, and my entire syndicate drowned or were eaten by crocodiles.

littlegreenfairy

10,133 posts

220 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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Dixie68 said:
Good luck thumbup
I was groundcrew on the Nimrods for 9 years and they are fantastic for detachments - you name a country I probably visited it with them. Stuffed full of sensors etc they are.
Of course you do have the problem of them occasionally falling out of the sky, but you have to take the rough with the smooth.
Dad worked on Nimrods for a while (the AEW system)

Best piece of advice I can give you is put good creases in your trousers. They like this.

I suffered from creases in my jeans until I took over my own ironing.

Being anally retentive about things will also score points - the more OCD you are about organisation the better. (Dad also has a shadow board in the garage for screw drivers....)

difontaine42

272 posts

209 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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big_lad said:
ETA: Good luck mate, hope it goes well for ya! Just be honest and be yourself. Don't come across as arrogant but at the same time not a shrinking violet. If you're cut out for it they'll see it. If you're not you're not!

Good luck again!

[/footnote]
I've just been through my AOSB for the Army and i was told by the interviewer to "be yourself on a loud day". I've had tonnes of interviews for application and regimental interviews (and because the Army like interviews) and found the main thing is to be completely honest about everything. They're not looking for the perfect article you just have to show potential to do the job.

Good luck! Polish your shoes too! They like that!

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
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It's considered bad form to wear a white scarf, wellies and a big moustache....

deviant

4,316 posts

209 months

Thursday 20th August 2009
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How old are you OP?

I remember in another thread very similar to this one in the planes & trains forum only the OP was a bit older than the average recruit, just short of the cut off age for flight crew. He was advised that the first question he would be asked is something like "If you want this so badly why did you wait until now to join?"