I know different Wings do different pre courses. Some
Weeks some over months.
To be fair the survey does suggest a review of OASC to ensure it’s fit for purpose and options for training such as remote/distance,. regional options as as per what has been said, attending a week can prove challenging for a multitude of reasons.
From what I’ve heard from colleagues, the interview was ‘just as hard as their regular interview’ and didn’t think it was very Cadet focussed and it did not cover the areas they said it would in the JIs
No, the ILM stopped a few courses back.
I did the ‘old style’ OASC back last year, before it became a one day thing and a 12 minute interview. My interview was approx 30-45 minutes and it was difficult. I can recollect that the only cadet focussed questions was about what I have I done in the past and something safeguarding related, otherwise it was mainly RAF and NATO focussed. The interview was difficult, but a good experience.
Did mine when it still included standard RAF fitness test.
Interview was a fixed one hour for each.
Interviewed by 3 officers. Nothing on the aircadets.
Still feel like I achieved something by passing it and deserve to be commissioned.
I would be embarrassed to be of the gp Capt hand shake generation and looks like watered down OASC isn’t much better.
The CVQO prospectus still says you get a qualification out of OIC (plus likely some additional work) a level 4 from memory, which I think is equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree.
Which is what it should be imo.
However as we just have a cadet force commission, I feel it should be more ‘cadet’ focused or go back to VR(T). And yes I appreciate it’s not that easy!
For what the commission is worth now just give candidates a colouring book.
I’ve never really understood this argument… It’s not as if the VR(T) was in any way prestigious or hard to get…
By the book the route to commission is as follows;
- Express Interest
- Submit paperwork
- Wing Filter Interview (Locally these take place once a month for SNCO / Officer / CWO on an evening at WHQ)
- Book onto OASC - This is where the first true wait occurs I think I had 6 weeks between board & OASC available date, and I had no problems booking it off. I did a 2 day (Mon/Tues) so drive up to CRN on Sunday PM and left CRN at ~ 11am on the Tues, back to work on the Wednesday.
- Await OASC Results… 6-10 weeks
- Now an Acting Pilot Officer
- Complete initial Kitting - this took 6-8 weeks to come through
- Book onto ATF Course - I recommend aiming for a course 6-12 months after commissioning date
- Review the ATF Requirements, including Drill sign off by WWO
- Complete ATF OIC - Sun > Fri incl travel
- Now badged as Pilot Officer
- 12 Months following appointment date, entry in London Gazette and Pilot Officer promotion processed on HQAC Weekly Spreadsheet
I think from expression of interest to Pilot Officer should be circa 18 months.
Extra Wing courses should be optional, and maybe recommended but not mandatory.
I really enjoyed OASC, and anyone that attends should throw themselves into the day.
Personally I think the way forward would be to bin OASC, and move to an ‘all staff’ WHQ based system.
Candidates attend an assessment weekend either in their wing or another wing local to them who have a slot - it’s entirely ACO focused, it’s about their suitability and potential to be CFAV’s, with briefings from people within the ACO - an OC, a Sqn Sgt, an Adj - that helps candidates decide, with the help of the DS and their own OC’s which uniformed role they would (if any) be suited for.
The crux being that only once someone had been assessed as being suitable to be a uniformed CFAV would they be streamed, and then trained, for the role they would be most suited to within the CFAV sphere.
You could do three weekends: 1) assessment for uniformed CFAV. 2. Training for uniformed role - drill, uniform, defence writing and smoozing in a Mess, MOI. 3) stream-specific training - Officer stuff and NCO stuff.
The important thing is to have regular, geographically convenient options for potentials to access that are about what the ACO needs, not what is relevant to the RAF.
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That idea is all well and good, but rather pushes the selection/assessment burden onto the grassroots CFAV’s who should be allowed to focus on delivering the cadet experience.
Something along the lines of what you have suggest at a region level however . . .
Who are already overworked and for the majority probably don’t know how to assess effectively!
I like the idea of regional training hubs or distance learning as suggested in the survey though.
Or, the people who are trained in how to assess could come to us…?
have to agree, between goalposts being moved (paperwork requirements) and now corona its nearly 2 years since I inquired about returning to the organisation and don’t see light at the end of the tunnel, am seriously considering withdrawing the application
You can do it at OIC, but it is no longer funded and you have to pay upfront on your arrival at Cranwell. No one on my course did it; I’m not sure what the uptake is on other courses.
Ah they kept that bit quiet! From my reading it seemed like something you’d automatically get! That’s a shame as it would be nice to get something from the week away (in addition to the commission of course).
I thought that too, but there was actually a lot of paperwork and essay stuff involved that, when I looked at it, had geoff-all to do with leadership or management. A substantial part of it was parroting the party line about what the ATC’s goals were.
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How very disappointing!
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You are commissioned on passing OASC - so technically you are just passing probation by attending OiC.
You also get a certificate that looks like it was thrown together by a 12 year old with WordArt.
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