Damn Fitness Test

So, as per my PRTC post, one element was passing the RAFFT.

For my age group (and being male) thats a level 9.10 in the MSFT (or bleep test), 20 press-ups and 35 situps in a minute. Press-ups and situps were no problem for me, you've only got to get 4 press-ups and 7 sit-ups to get through PRTC (personnally I think that turning up for RTS being able to do less than 15 press-ups is discusting). I did the full 20 and 35 not the wimpy 20% pass PRTC asks of you.

The bleep test however caused me a slight problem. Until PRTC I had NEVER run a bleep test in my life, so although i knew what to expect, I'd never practiced it really. Personnally, as an ice hockey player, I'm build for short (45 - 120 second) bursts of high intensity work. The bleep test on the other hand requires you to start slow, reserving energy, and build over a period of time until you physically can't do any more. So, I reached a 8.0 on the bleep test (quite bad in my eyes).

Sadly, this means I now need to re-take the MSFT to reach at least a level 8.6 (yes, 6 shuttles off) to be accepted for RTS. I have been sent a date in January and I'm off to RAF Wyton (I hate that place) to try again. This time I shall be practicing the bleep test itself along with my regular aerobic and Fartlek exercise program so that I know what I'm doing this time around but if anyone has any tips, feel free to let me know.

That's it for now, if anyone wants to know the particular levels they need to reach on PRTC just leave a comment with your sex and age, I have the tables right here

PRTC

So, I've just back from my Pre Recruit Training Course at RAF Halton. To be honest, it wasn't great, but it was an essential part of the process. Basically, it's a chance for applicants to see the station and facilities, meet current and ex recruits, ask any questions that may still be nagging, get boots issued so they can be worn in and to take the RAFFT.

To be honest, I knew more about recruit training then I did about PRTC before I turned up. Apart from getting boots and doing the fitness test, I really didn't know what to expect.

Arrival was on the Thursday between 10 and half 11, wearing nice smart clothes and carrying everything you're asked to bring on the kitlist. Now the kitlist isn't great at all, I took a bunch of stuff I really didn't need. First thing we all did was fill in 'next of kin' forms, read and sign some orders and get some lovely coveralls to wear for the 2 days. They really are horrible.

After a couple of quick briefings about what's going on, we were all 'marched' (more attempting to walk in step really) to out barrack block and told to chance into something more comfortable underneath our coveralls. Then it was back to the classroom for a spot of lunch and yet more briefings (lots of these over the 2 days). Lunch was sandwiches (in containers that didn't close, because "the RAF doesn't waste money on things that work, otherwise we wouldn't need mechanics"), a pasty, crisps, apple and a couple of juice drinks.

After that we were split into 2 groups. One group went to get boots and the other went a took this little test thing. The test was a simple literacy and numeracy test that had absolutely no bearing on your application or training. Something to do with finding out if you need extra help with keyskills or something.

The boot fitting part then. We got marched off to supply where we sat in little cubicles and took our shoes and socks off before being sized up and having a pair of boots and thick socks thrown at us. This is the forth pair of Assault Boots I've owned in my life, and I still hate brand new ones. They're stiff, tight and generally painful. The idea is that by issuing them to you in advance, you can have them worn in and save yourself from some discomfort and injuries when you get to training. Thankfully I have become quite good at this so mine will be fine. If anyone wants any tips, ask away.

After all this is yet another brief. This time about the evening and morning. Timings, the social evening, bed, reveillie etc. And then it's off to the mess for dinner and then back to the barracks to prepare for the social event.

The social event is a 'dry bar' event, meaning no alcohol. It's basically a chance to get to know each other a bit better and talk to the staff and any current recruits that are mingling (who generally try to scare you with talk of beatings and 20 mile runs). I spent most of the night in the smokers shed chatting to the recruits about training and got some pretty good gem to help with training.

At half 9 it was time to head back to the barrack after one last fag and start getting ready for bed. The beds are horrible. I've had better nights out in the field but I should have remember what those beds are like really. Reveille is 0545 and everyone is expected to be showered, dressed in PT kit with coveralls over the top and formed up outside at 0615 ready for breakfast.

Unfortunately, the fitness test is straight after brekkie so as much as I was looking forward to the messes full English, I felt I should refrain and have a nice bowl of cereal. At the gym, we were split into 3 groups. First group was to do the fitness test and the other two had a couple of briefs (sensing a theme here?) before all swapping round. I took the fitness test first and it's by no means easy. Level 9.10 on the bleep test, 20 pressups and 35 situps in a minute. For blokes between 18 and 29 that is.

Be aware that the gym queens hate anyone that doesn't run EVERYWHERE or doesn't stand upright in the 'at ease' position in the gym. And they constanly overuse the following phrases; 'max effort!', 'good form', 'bad form' and 'happy days'. Play their game and it makes everything easier and for gods sake don't lie about your test scores, they WILL know if you only got 8 pressups.

Back to the barracks for another shower and change, and a short chance to start packing and cleaning your bedspace and amenities before lunch. A final couple of briefings and a last chance to get any questions answered and it's back to the barracks yet again to make sure everythings spotless for a mini inspection. Providing you've done enough to make the CPLs happy you get to go home.

And that's it really, lots of information and question asking, bit of social and of course the boots and fitness. You do get to do a bit of 'walking in step' and there is an element of discipline but be aware that's it's nowhere near the amount you'll encounter on training. You're still a civillian so they can't give you full on military discipline.

There's nothing more to say about the PRTC really unless anyone has any questions. I do have a short list of things not to say or do that I'll post up soon, though I'll probably keep updating that throughout my career as I'm sure there'll be plenty more. I'm sure any RAF or military guys that read it will recognise some of the very same things aswell.

That's it for now from me. More soon

Education

With all of 2 days before my PRTC I have one final update about the past. After this it'll all be updates about what's going on with training and such, with the odd extra if I feel the need.

As I'm sure I've said before, I decided the military was for me quite early on in life. At several times it almost happened sooner than planned. My ultimate (viable) plan was always to go in as an engineering officer. I hadn't decided between RAF and REME, but I wanted to work on aircraft, helicopters specifically.

This meant good GCSEs (which I got), good A-Levels (I'll come to that) and then a degree (lets not go there).

As you can guess from the 'viable' statement earlier, engineering wasn't my favourite dream. I wanted to be a fast jet pilot (of course) at the age of about 8 and, after seeing Britiains first Apaches arrive at Wattisham when I was a cadet, I decided I'd quite like to fly those. Unfortunately I found out I'm pretty short sighted and so I'd never make pilot.

There were also backup plans, I always fancied combat, so infantry or RAF regiment were high on my list, but my mum was dead against me joining up and not earning decent qualifactions (she's a careers advisor, I had no chance). Or there was always joining up as a mechanic if things went pear shape. Which they did.

The closest I got previously was on A-Level results day. I didn't do too well during my AS Levels (except a C in maths) but I'd managed to charm the lead lecturer at one uni and they'd dropped their requirements for me to get in. All I needed was 2 Cs and a D. Should have been fairly easy but instead I walked away with 2 Es and a D instead.

Genuinely gutted with the results I didn't even bother checking with the uni and discussed joining up with my mum and went out to get wasted with everyone that was celebrating. By the time I actually went out I was over my results and had decided to head to the army careers office in the morning to join the REME.

In the morning however, I found out I'd been accepted to my uni even with my bad grades. So I was back to my original plan of officer. I did plan on joining the TA whilst at uni but decided not to as I wouldn't have been able to go to Iraq or Afghanistan whilst at uni anyway.

Uni for me was not really what I wanted. Sure, the parties were good, I met some of the most amazing people and had some great times. I also had an amazing house for my second and third year and some pretty special housemates. I do miss the 'happy house'. Most importantly, I met Em whilst I was at uni (though really I met her back home) and I've been in a very happy relationship since.

The main problem for me was the sheer amount of spare time I had to do my own thing and sort myself out. It was too irregular to fill it with paid work and too much to enjoy fully. Somewhere along the line I got fed up of doing uni work in that time and found I enjoyed having a workout program instead.

It was around about the time I started playing ice hockey. Having a level of fitness and skill to work at easier to get into than advanced maths and fluid dynamics (can't imagine why). Eventually I found I'd much rather train than do anything else.

In addition to the loss of enthusiasm over my course, lack of money was starting to get to me. I was getting more and more in debt and was starting to struggle with it. I figured what I needed was to work rather than study, even just for a year out. I've always been more of a worker than anything else so I applyed for a placement year, hoping to earn some money and experiance in the industry.

After the interview process and everything was over nothing really improved, after waiting a while and hearing nothing I decided to talk to someone at uni over my concerns and bought up the RAF. Being ex services, my tutor suggested I just go for it as it would be more benificial for someone like me and after talking to my parents I began the joining process.

And that's where my blog began. So even if it's not in the order it should be, the story that leads up to where I am now is all here, more or less. I'm sure there are gaps but I can live with that. I can always answer any questions you might have.

This week is my Pre Recruit Training Course at RAF Halton so I shall blog about that over the weekend.

The fun

The first thing I did as a flight sergeant was begin a new course. Advanced Field Training was created at out squadron to promote and refine leadership and teamwork skills through fitness, drill and fieldcraft. The idea was to bring future NCOs forward and prepare the rest of us for the Junior Leader course or military basic training.

It was hard. 20 stared the course, 4 passed and 1 made it through to the end but had to retake it in the second year. We began with solid fitness sessions that pushed us to our limits, and a good kicking if we didn't push hard enough. Eventually those of us that made it through started further field training (laced with more fitness). We were taught tactics, battle drills, building clearances, everything and anything we could possibly need in the field but that the corps would never really teach us.

Phase 3 included the biggest naughty. We used 'airsoft' to furthur our training. Being able to engage in semi-realistic scenarios and get used to moving with and looking after a weapon in the field was a major part of what we'd aimed for. The final part was a night exercise on a local farm using all of our skills to recce an enemy and later attack them. 4 of us vs 9 of them. Whilst not technically a complete success, we did complete out main objective and survive so we won. After that was a simple fitness test and written exam and the 4 of us had passed the first AFT course.

Matt and Sait ended up as my Sergeants and together we ran the squadron well. We brought the Wing Field Day and Drill teams up and reached 4th in the year before I left. The band began to move back up to where it was years before and we became more and more recognised for our squadrons abilities. Sadly neither of us ever went on the JL course (we never got paperwork in time) but we did run the AFT course for another 2 years. It was never quite the same as the first one though.

I could go on all day with stories of Matt, Sait and I on exercise or during the course but I won't bore anyone wIth all of it. Though if anyones that interested I might start a whole other blog about it.

Then at 19 I left the corps to go to uni. I'd reached as far as I probably could go without getting CWO (which I'd been told I wouldn't get because the Wing Co pretty much didn't like me) so there was nothing really left for me to acheive. I'd got staff cadet, a gliding scholarship, heaps of band, drill and fieldcraft stuff and I decided to take some time off from it all to concentrate on my studies.

That's enough for today, more next week.

Change of focus

With 6 weeks until my PRTC I feel I should quickly finish this off so I can continue blogging about the process rather than the past. I hate trying to recall things as it is.

There's nothing really to say about my time as an ATC corporal, nothing exciting happened and it was only 3 months before the powers that be gave me another stripe to wear. I don't think I was ready at the time but I got into the role before long.

During my time as a sergeant my focus shifted from the blues side of things and band to fieldcraft. It all started with my first Easter camp. It was my first real experiance of full on fieldcraft and as a SNCO I was expected to show a good example and lead. I ended up in a bit of trouble at times and got stuck with a few extra duties. It's also where I first became good friends with Matt.

Although he was the same age as me, Matt was still a gobby cadet and I spent the week keeping him out of trouble (and getting him into a bit more at times). We bonded well over the week and have since become best mates. More like brothers at times.

The rest of my two years as SGT was spent building my skills, my future NCO team and getting into trouble with the staff for various reasons. I loved my rank dearly at the time, there was a CWO and FLT SGT above me so they made all the big decisions and I had CPLs below me to do my bidding. Two of those CPLs were Matt and Sait.

I was a SGT for 2 years before my CWO and FLT SGT left and I was promoted again. I had a lot under my belt at this point. Several Easter camps, a summer camp, leading the Wing Field Day team and drill team and all the band stuff on top of that. This time I was ready for that promotion, I'd been moulded and grown by the staff and held back until I was exactly where they wanted me to be.

Flight Sergeant was where the real fun began

More about me

I'd been a cadet two years when we won the wong band competition. We'd recently got a new bandmaster who drilled us hard to get things right. And with the new numbers he bought and the ones we made up with his help, the other bands were simply no match for us.

I was still waiting for my stripes but at this moment I didn't care, winning was that good.

Not only did we win, but we were doing band parades and 'gigs' every weekend. Sometimes as many as 3 or 4 per weekend. And we enjoyed it. When we weren't playing we were practicing and when not practicing we were hanging out. BBQs by the river, parties, you name it. Those were the days.

Winning the band competition at wing level meant going to the regional competition at Wittering and out performing the other winners in out region. Unfortunately, we came second by one single point. We out-played and out-shone the opposition in every aspect except one. Our slightly mismatched number 1 uniforms.

That one point would prove to be out downfall the next year when we'd be robbed of out title due to 'overcockyness'. But that's another story.

Something else happened at that very competition that finally earned me my stripes (although they still took another few months to get to me)

It happened to one of the other corporals and a new cadet. Sitting on the bus after playing and awaiting results we were all just having a laugh and eating. The corporal in question was sat next to this new female cadet with his number 1 jacket over his lap. None of us really thought anything of it.

And then the Warrent Officer walked onto the bus and demanded to see all the NCOs for a brief. The cadet jumped up and whipped her hand out from under the jacket and it dropped to the floor, revealing the corporals flies low and causing the two of them to turn very red.

To say the shit hit the fan is a massive understatement. We were all ordered to leave the bus whilst the WO torn strips out of them. Not that there was much point us leaving, everyword was heard as clear as day outside. And in fact cadets in other buses could probably hear.

But as funny as it was for us, it lost the guy his stripes. And then, a couple of months later, I was finally given mine.

The Kopp-Etchells Effect

Just wanted to share this amazing picture with you all.



The 'halos' on the helicopter blades are caused by friction between the blades and dust. basically static electricity but very cool.

You'll find more about it and where the name came from on the website of the man that took this and many more pictures on the frontline Michael Yon Online

A little about me

Given the fact I really don't have much to blog about until my PRTC in December and I don't want my blog to become stagnant and disused, I've decided to write a little about myself, my background and my decision itself.

This should take a few posts as my experiances with the forces and such are quite long and one post would be a rather boring essay.

I suppose the best place to start would be when I decided to join the Air Training Corps at the age of 12 and a bit.

I'd always been drawn towards the forces for some reason, and living quite close to Duxford IWM gave me a love for things that fly. Naturally, I wanted to be a pilot and so decided to join the ATC for that chance to fly.

I went along to my first parade night just after my 13th birthday and they began teaching me the basics of drill and how to behave whilst at the squadron.

I remained a fairly quiet kid for the first few months whilst I was starting to fit in. Although there were a few school friends at the squadron, I had a late birthday so the others had already formed friendships and it took time to feel comfortable and accepted.

The biggest difference came when I first put on that blue uniform. Even though I was a chubby lad and didn't look anywhere near as smart as I should have, it gave me a sense of really being part of the squadron and I made every effort to get better.

Fast forward a year and I was now a fully fledged member of the squdron and a snare player in the band. Joining the band really bought out a competitive streak in me. I HAD to be the best.

Between joining the band, taking part in field excercises and being a part of the wing field day team I was beginning to look for the next step in cadet life. Promotion.

It took a long time for me to get my corporal stripes. Every excuse was made by my CO as to why I wasn't receiving them. Everything from 'too many NCOs' and 'just promoted a new corporal' to 'as soon as you pass your JNCO course, you'll get them'

I'd done everything I could including my JNCO course but there were still no stripes for me. I was even doing the jobs a corporal would do but it wasnt getting me anywhere.

Funnily, the thing that finally go me my stripes was the actions of another corporal. Actions that got him demoted.

I shall update again soon to continue the story. Stay tuned

The long wait

Just a brief update on where I am with my RAF application.

My official dates for training have come through and I'm not off to Halton until Feb 17th. Bit of a long wait but I'm told this is due to a sudden influx of recruits so there's not alot that can be done except to wait for it now.

For the next 6 months my plan is to find temporary work so that I'm not bored and obviously to keep my fitness up. The plus side of the wait being that I can play ice hockey for a while longer.

I have my Pre Recruit Training Course on the 3rd and 4th of December so I will make sure I post a blog covering my 2 days at Halton.

Between now and then I'm not sure if I'll have much to blog so all my readers shall have to bear with me. May do a questions and answers blog if the interest is there.

I am officially fit

2 months ago, when i started this whole process, I was unfit. So unfit that i struggled to think about running, let alone actualy do it. So I was more than a little paniced when I was told at my interview that I'd have 4 weeks to prepare.

My training basically consisted of quitting smoking, eating a lot more, lots of weights for my lower body and lots and lots and lots of running. The press ups and situps are easy. So training to do those is q bit of a waste unless you're a weed.

To reach 2.4 km in 12 minutes you need to average 12 km per hour on the treadmill. You can do this however you like at you own pace. I worked out that I could split the run up with 8kmph walks if I ran a little faster and threw in a 30 second sprint every so often. My theory was watertight and great for training. It definately helped to change my program every time I ran as I quickly got used to running at various speeds and lengths of time.

Weights I didn't push it too much with but you shouldn't wimp out. They still need to be built up for running. I also did a fair bit of other cardio stuff aswell but I usually just ran. I find cardio workouts very boring, but neccessary.

The night before my test I was quite worried. Although I'd improved alot over the 2 months, injury, illness and a week of drinking and smoking took it's toll on my fitness and my progress began to slow off. My final gym session before my test ended at a disappointing 2.2 km in 12 minutes so I was more than a bit wary over failing. I ended the night early with a muscle soaking bath and a good nights sleep to recover properly.

Things weren't much better when I first arrived at the test though as I was told you're not allowed to listen to an iPod or anything. You just had to run.

After doing all the medical forms and the usual crap that must be done before you can use a gym, I was left to warm up and stretch. Something I don't often do but probably should. And then it was just a case of getting down to it.

I started running at 12.5 kmph as I had planned previously but after the 4 minutes I usually run for I just decided to keep going steady. The trainer counting every minute that passed was a big help. When I got to 9 minutes I was almost there so slowed down to my walk for about 30 seconds to grab a drink of water and wipe my face and then pushed on again. I gave the last 50 metres a final sprint and finished in 11 minutes 27 seconds. Which is a solid result since I've been struggling until now.

You have an hour from the moment you start you run to complete the entire test. So after a 5 minute cooldown I still had quite a while before my minute of pressups and situps had to be started. But why wait? I chose to just jump straight in and do it. 10 pressups and 18 situps is nothing so I did 16 and 20 in about 30 seconds each. Not really wanting to do too many even though I could. Lets face it, there's not really much point at this stage.

After the assessors congratulaions and getting my paperwork back it was all over. I celebrated with a fag whilst I phoned the AFCO to tell them. Now it's just a case of waiting for my joining dates and then I get to go sign my contract.

With all that over, I'm off to play a spot of ice hockey tonight and get injured in celebration.

Not the doctors!

As I have my fitness test tomorrow it's probably about time I wrote about the medical. There's not much to say really as, to be honest, it was a pretty big waste of time.

To start off, I hate the doctors, of any kind. So I was more nervous about the medical then I was about the AST and interview put together. To make matters worse there was a confusion over how to read at the AFCO on the day of my medical. I received a phone call asking where I was and then telling me (at 1410hrs) that I was late for my appointment. Upon telling the bloke my appointment wasn't until 1440hrs he responded with "20 past 2 yes, but you need to be here 15 minutes early"

After explaining to Mr RAF how to tell the time he appologised for the confusion and told me that despite what my letter from them said, the medical was a little way from the office itself but I still needed to go there to pick up my paperwork. So unorganised this lot.

So I get to the office at 25 past, bang on time, and the bloke that has to sign me in has gone out for lunch. It must be such a hard job buzzing people through that door. To make matters worse, whilst I'm trying to phone, some woman appears, says to me "isn't it annoying when they do this?", swipes herself in and closes the door behind her, leaving me downstairs still.

When I eventually get hold of the AFCO to let them know I'm downstairs a man appears with my paperwork and a map showing me where to go to get to the doctors, and off I go.

My hatred of doctors worsens as I walk through the door and some delivery boy is talking rubbish whilst I'm waiting to sign in. Then I'm told to pee in this little sample bottle. I went to the toilet before I came dammit! And the stupid thing is too small anyway. My frustration at this point is beginning to boil over.

I sat in the waiting room for all of 30 seconds before noticing the funny looks. There was 3 pregnant women sat in the waiting room, another about to sign in and another just appearing from one of the doctors rooms. I, with my fancy BlackBerry and holding RAF paperwork, was takig up valuble doctor time on pregnant lady day. The nurse couldn't have come sooner.

The medical itself was dull. She tested my urine sample for something, weighed me, took my height (2cm shorter than I am at any other time, ever) and began with the real thing. Questions. That's all it was. Have you had this? Have you had that? Blah blah blah. I'm sure these questions were on he application form! Then I had a sight test, even though I had a prescription from a real optician that was only a week old. And some hearing test which bored me half to death.

After that it's upstairs to Dr Feelgood for the pysical check up. Yes you appear to have a heartbeat. Oh you can breathe, wonderful. No bones missing? All done. He checks my prescription (which the nurse didn't), writes "fit for RAF service", signs it and hands it back.

And off I go to the AFCO to give it to them and it's a done deal. And I hate doctors even more now

Timescales

Just a quick update on time scales so you have some idea of how long the process takes.

I started my process in April with my initial visit to the AFCO. I didn't apply at the time as I was interested in an NCO aircrew job but slightly cautious about where it might lead in later life (hint: not far). I went back in a couple of weeks to apply for the Aircraft Tech.

When I went in the second time and said I would be applying, I was booked in for my AST for mid-may. That gives you between a month and 6 weeks from deciding to apply and the process really kicking off. What happens next depends on your choice of trade. If it is currently unavailable (as my first choice was) you must either wait for recruiting to reopen for that position, or choose one that is currently open.

Choosing to wait may take a long time. I currently know someone that started the application before I did and now has to wait til April before her trade choice opens up. So be prepared for that wait. Pick a trade thats open however, and you'll get straight on with it. My formal interview was within a week of my AST.

After my interview, my medical was within two weeks and my fitness booked for mid-june. Meaning to this point, initial appointment to fitness test was two months. Sadly I was injured so my fitness test had to be re-booked.

Some trades have a 'specialist interview' to make sure you're completely suitable for the job at hand, but then that's your lot. All thats left is waiting for your 'offer of service' and your dates for going to Halton (someone recently accepted has her start date end of October so still a little bit of time)

Unfortunately, I only have experiance in the enlisted airman/airwoman process so for anyone going officer or NCO aircrew, you'll have to find someone who's done it or rely on the 'several months' the RAF careers site mentions.

Any questions, let me know =)

That quick?

I left my AST appointment with a selection of job discriptions for the various technical trades that were recruiting, but still thinking about Aircraft Tecnician as my trade of choice. The only others i could really choose were Avionics Tech (avionics are far too fiddley and boring) or ICT Tech (which sounded like the guy at the end of the technical support phoneline)so I'd already pretty much decided to wait it out.

My mother had other ideas. Being a careers advisor she gave me the 'look into all your options before you decide' talk and so I had to actually read though the information I was given. Avionics Tech still look like a crappy job so I tossed it aside.

ICT Tech on the other hand, started to look quite good. I won't go into the boring detail of the job or anything, but it was the bit that said about going into areas before the rest of the troops to set up RADAR and communications. Sounds like the kinda job where I could see some action to me.

Anyway, a couple of days after my AST, I had just made my mind up to go for the ICT Tech job when i received a phone call from the AFCO themselves. That was Tuesday night. I told the careers guy I wanted to apply for the job and he arranged an interview for me....... for Thursday morning.

This is where those notes I told you to take come in. Unlike me you should have been reading them from the moment you got them so you're prepared for a rush interview like this. Luckily from all my experiance from cadets and knowing a great deal about the forces and RAF, I got through it fine with a bit of blagging. That said there were a few things I really should have remembered and would have if I had read my notes.

The interview is not hard. Mostly it's questions about you and your life, family, school, holidays, hobbys etc etc. so just relax and be confident about your answers. The only bit you have to think about really is the bit about your chosen trade and why you want to join the RAF. Remember the RISE (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence) thing, its always good to have as an answer, as is the role of the RAF.

One thing not to do, is tell them you originally wanted to do a different trade, or thought about officer. As far as the interviewer is concerned this trade is your first choice and mentioning other trades leads to more questions that you really have to blag your way out of. I fell into this trap and had to explain why ICT Tech was not 'second best' to Aircraft Tech and once again that joining as enlisted ranks was not second best to having a commission. Believe me, even for a seasoned blagged like I am, it's not easy.

At the end of the interview you'll be told how you got on. It's not official but your interviewer will either recomend you for RAF service or not, simply as that. They'll also go over any points bought up in your interview, mainly bad points.

You'll also be given one final piece of good news. You now have to have your medical done within 14 days and your fitness done within 14 days after that. That gives you a total of 4 weeks to get your fitness together so if you haven't already joined a gym and started running on a treadmill (it look some learning for me) you might want to think about it now.

Test time

After weeks of putting it aside, i finally got around to filling in the RAF application form...... the night before my AST.

The forms greatly confused me. Some of the questions were quite vague and the supplementary booklet basically reworded the questions instead of explaining them. Guess that the form is the first step to finding out if you're a complete idiot or not. Thankfully, I think I did ok.

So off I trot to the AFCO on the day of my test with my application form proudly filled in and an A4 wallet full of documents and certificates that I didn't actually need at all. I found myself in a room with the biggest bunch of numpties I've ever met. One girl had a tattoo on her neck which she was trying to keep hidden ( not gonna work at the medical love ) and one of the guys turned up in a tracksuit. Idiots.

Anyway, after handing over our forms, certificates, ID and whatnot we were herded upstairs to the dreaded 'test room'. Despite the careers guys kind words and encouragement, nobody except me could remember how their vocal cords worked so we just gave up and got on with the test.

The test itself is pretty simple. If you have yet to take it, don't worry about it just relax and don't rush yourself. It's all multiple choice and just a case of understanding the example and then making sure you read each question properly. You don't need huge scores for any trade so just do your best (corny bit over)

After the test we were all sent out for a fag/drink/fresh air and then gather back into the test room for a presentation all about the RAF and the sorts of things you'll need to know for your interview.

TAKE NOTES. It sounds simple but if they tell you that you're going to need a certain piece of information, you are going to need it. Don't ignore the professionals or you deserve to fail the interview.

And feel free to respond to the questions and stuff when the guys are talking to you, I was the only one talking in our presentation and had a very good laugh with the bloke taking it.

I am told that the presentation is sometimes given to you before you take the test, on a different day, whatever. But the gist is still the same so it's all relevant.

The final part of the day is the results. One by one we were called out of the test room into a little room where the two sergeants had all the results and other paperwork we handed in and some good news or some bad news. Or maybe a bit of both in my case.

I scored a whopping score of 97. The best they had ever seen in their time at the AFCO. The bad news, however, was that currently the recruitment for Aircraft Technician (mechanical) was closed and I was instead faced with a choice. Choose another trade from the list of available ones, or wait it out until my chosen trade was available again before carrying on with the applicaation.

So, whats the deal here?

4 years ago, I left sixth form with some pretty bad A-levels. Despite the fact i was clearly not qualified to even think about aircraft design, I took a gap year and then headed off to the University of Hertfordshire to study Aerospace Engineering.

As you can imagine, the experiance was great and filled with a shed load of drinking, partying and general good times but due to the lack of prior ability, my degree quickly went down the pan. What is one to do when faced with such failiure? We're in a recession, there are no jobs. I'm too old to go back to college (I'm not but it'd feel odd). I have too many expensive habits to be unemployed or work a pitiful one day a week.

As a youngster, I had a whole lot of experiance with the armed forces and it was always a career prospect that kept coming up throughout my life. Unfortunately, my dearest mother exploded everytime any sort of combat role came up in conversation (I went through alot of clones) so I always knew I wasn't going to be a Royal Marine Commando, and ships don't really do it for me so my choice was simple. Army or RAF.

Having been half way though and Aerospace Engineering degree, I opted for the RAF route. After explaining my situation and discussing the pros and cons of being a doorgunner (pro: best job ever, con: not much market in the civilian world) I decided to apply for Aircraft Technician (mechanical) and took home my application form, and abundance of information and a date for my Airman Selection Test.

Note to anyone wishing to join up, the forms are horrible. There's so many forms and so many questions.

Anyway, that's enough blabbering on for today. More coming very soon

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