simi_av8r 0 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Hi all, As you may, or may not, know... and if you read my signature its hard not to know by now!.... I've been selected to attend the RAF's Officer Selection Centre for tests to see if im up to the standard. If so, then i could progress to my ultimate goal - RAF Officer Selection!! Why do i bring this up, well the time is now getting extremely close to the day where I get myself off to RAF College Cranwell for the RAF Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre... in fact its this Sunday, the 25th November!! :mrhappy::wink: If all goes well, and I pass the first two days tests (the first being 6 hours of grueling psychometric testing, the second a full - and bl***y hard!! - fitness test) I'll be there the rest of the week undergoing selection. So i ask that you please don't think I've left you all for another forum, but instead spare me a thought and wish me well, as I'll need all the help and backing I can get at this crucial point of the process..... wish me luck fellas! Simon Link to post Share on other sites
Martyn 9 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 You'll do fine Simi! Its not as hard or scary as they make you believe, thats just the first test they give you...will you have the confidence to go through with it after they tell you how hard it is. I had a great time there, you will meet plenty of nice guys/girls and generally have fun. My tips would be: -Always assume you're being watched(because you are). -Be very careful of how you act in the mess. They will encourage you to spend the first evening socialising at the bar with the other hopefuls. The barman pays very close attention to how you integrate with the other people. Don't be too confident/loud but also dont be too quiet. -Get an early(ish) night on the first day. As I said above, they encourage you to stay late and drink beer. But remember that you will be woken up at 6:30 the following morning and will be going into 6 hours of aptitude tests. Don't go to bed too early or too late. 10pm seemed about right -Don't be too fearful of the aptitude tests. The biggest mistake you can make is panicking. No-one can complete all the questions perfectly. They are seeing how well you can prioritise tasks and how easily you lose your cool. Don't spend ages on a question you know you cant do, move on to the next and get a mark for that one. On the other hand, don't skim read questions and move on. There are plenty of misleading questions, which you only understand after reading a few times. -You don't have to excel in the fitness test, just try your hardest. They want to see someone who is motivated and someone who can improve. -Have good manners, open doors for others and don't scoff your face in the mess. Remember...they are watching you! Officer's sit down and eat like gentlemen...not pigs :mrhappy: -Show interest, ask others about their backgrounds and ask officers/staff about their jobs. They want an enthusiastic recruit. But the main tip is....enjoy yourself! I can't begin to explain how much I gained from attending OASC. It has given me so much more confidence and self-believe. You have to be very promising to make it to OASC, so don't ever feel inferior to the other recruits. There will be plenty of young, academic, 'perfect' recruits alongside you. Its easy to feel inferior and lose confidence, don't! The recruitment Officer has already shown he believes in your ability, so prove him right. Link to post Share on other sites
contentd 0 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Not for me to offer any advice except... enjoy and all the best. I had my one and only go back in the mid seventies. On returning to my unit at Marham I was summoned for an interview with the Station Commander who informed me that "You blew it and most notably the Interviews didn`t go too well" He quoted a few responses, but apparently the real clincher was something along these lines... Gold Braid People - "How would you feel if your first squadron posting was as a Victor Co Pilot" Me: "Perfect, fighters (as we tended to call them) aren`t really my thing" Nuff said I was just being honest...For me all this high G stuff is great to watch, but not my thing. Between us we arrived at the right result for all concerned. :mrhappy: Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,495 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Hi Simi, I'm sure that all the "Hangars On" wish you success in your selection and hope you gain from the experience. I can only agree with what Martyn said you are likely to be continually judged throughout your time there so be on your guard. So best wishes we are all routing for you! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Simi, A good luck wish, too, from this side of the pond. I think you're going to be fine. Keep in mind this is going to be a lot more about potential than current capabilities. The military has a way of teaching what they want you to know; at this point they're more interested in attitude, aptitude and integrity. All the advice above is very good. John Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Only thing I can add, Simi, is to do your best, but most of all, be yourself! Good luck, mate!! Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
reef 3 Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Good luck simi :mrhappy: steve Link to post Share on other sites
simi_av8r 0 Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 guys, I really cant thank you enough for your very kind words, they really do mean a lot to me. It's all down to me now, and having gone through 18-months of selection to get this far its going to be all to easy to blow it away with something i do, rather than don't do, on the day. As with the whole process so far, it'll get its 110% effort from me and hopefully things will brush off. I'll be back - if all goes well - next Friday (29th Nov), but wont know if i was successful until after Xmas, but will most certainly let you all know how i got on when i return. Again, thanks so much for your support... and Martyn for the advice, its really appreciated!!... Keep rooting for me until i return! Simi Link to post Share on other sites
hello_basil 0 Posted November 23, 2007 Report Share Posted November 23, 2007 Looks like I'm a bit late! I'm in no position to offer advice but good luck! :mrhappy: Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,495 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Not long now until Simi's back, I wonder how he's doing ? Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
Martyn 9 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Cheap beer in the Mess...I think he will be doing fine Link to post Share on other sites
simi_av8r 0 Posted November 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 WOO HOO, im back and all went (i really do hope) quite well. It was an absolute roller-coaster of emotion, adrenaline and extreme pressure the whole time, but the unbelievably cheap beer at the Officers Mess put any downers of the day to rest - how does £2.80 sound for a round of 1x 330ml Bottle Becks, 1x Malibu & Coke (1/2 pint) AND 1x Bacardi & Coke (1/2 pint)?!?!?!?! There were some really excellent people there too, and i'd made friends by around 5 minutes into the bud trip from Grantham to the OASC at Cranwell - good start! The exercises we were given to complete (practical and mental) were just so challenging, but at the same time really pulling the best out of you, not only have i learnt a lot about what i'm good at, i also learnt more than i had ever expected about myself as a person and how i conducted myself around others - a truly unforgettable experience and an awesome way into the RAF, it really was such good fun. If any of you guys (or girls - we had 2 on our intake) have thought about it, or are thinking about joining up - GO FOR IT i really do recommend the OASC process, so much fun and so many hurdles and challenges (mentally and physically) to overcome but oh so worth it for the prize at the end.....and if you're ever feeling down, the Beer (or rather the prices) will pick you right back up again! All that i need to do now, it sit back, keep extremely fit, and wait for my OASC de-brief letter due in three weeks. Hopefully it'll be a great Christmas, but i'll keep you all engaged as to how i get on....keep 'em crossed for me! Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,495 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Wow Simi, That's great news that you got such a buzz from it and it sounds as though you were on top of the situation. I'm not sure I can keep my fingers crossed for 3 whole weeks but I will try! All the best Simi Link to post Share on other sites
reef 3 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Great news simi, sounds like you had a blast steve Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Simi, Sounds good. Shouldn't you be on oxygen at that height? Hoping for a good outcome for you. John Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted November 28, 2007 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Simi - sounds absolutely magic - wish I was your age to have a go. My flingres are corssed for yuo (It affcets my tpynig!) Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
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